Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential NL West Trade Partner For Joe Musgrove

With the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to trade starting pitcher Joe Musgrove, could the San Francisco Giants be a potential trade partner?

Last week, during MLB’s Winter Meetings, the Pittsburgh Pirates were not very active. The team made some moves in the Rule 5 Draft, including adding two pitchers who are now among their top pitching prospects. However, there were no trades or major free agent signings.

While no trades were made, odds remain high that starting pitcher Joe Musgrove and second baseman Adam Frazier will be traded this offseason. It would not be a surprise to see the Pittsburgh Pirates trade away other MLB talent to help to continue to add talent to the farm system, these are the two Pirate players currently generating the most buzz in trade talks.

One team that could be a potential trade partner with the Pittsburgh Pirates when it comes to Musgrove is the San Francisco Giants. Currently, the Giants only have three starting pitchers on their roster. These three starters are Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, and Logan Webb, all of whom come with their own question marks.

During the 2020 season the Giants were in the bottom half of the National League in production from their starting pitchers. San Francisco’s starting staff ranked 11th in the NL in ERA (4.99), 7th in FIP (4.18), 9th in strikeout rate (22.6%), and 9th in fWAR (4.1). While these numbers are not horrible, they are also not good enough to be a postseason team. Additionally, the Giants have lost Drew Smyly (3.80 ERA in five starts) and Trevor Cahill (4.05 ERA in six starts) to free agency this offseason. They also non-tendered Tyler Anderson who posted a solid 4.23 FIP in 11 starts last season.

When looking at the starting pitchers who return from last season, Gausman is the only one of the trio who posted an ERA under 5.00 last season. Cueto (5.40 ERA, 4.64 FIP) and Webb (5.73 ERA, 4.14 FIP) both struggled in 2020.

As we said above, each of these three pitchers come with their own question marks and concerns. Cueto has made just 25 starts the past three seasons due to Tommy John surgery, and has pitched to the tune of a 4.49 ERA and 4.80 FIP in these starts. Gausman owns a career 4.26 ERA and 4.06 FIP, not exactly top of the rotation results, and Webb has pitched in just 21 MLB games, posting a career 5.35 ERA.

It is clear to see how Musgrove would be a fit with the Giants. So, how do the Giants fit in as a potential trade partners with the Pittsburgh Pirates? Outfield prospect Heliot Ramos, who has an ETA of 2021, would make sense in trade talks with the Giants for Musgrove. So would fellow outfield prospect Hunter Bishop. Left-handed pitcher Seth Corry would likely be high on the Pirate wish list as well. Right-handed pitchers Sean Hjelle and Gregroy Santos, as well as left-handed pitcher Kyler Harrison could be intriguing pieces as well.

If Heliot were in any trade for Musgrove, then the Giants would likely need to add just one other piece. Without either of them, it would likely take three pieces to entice Ben Cherington and the Pirates.