Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Game Plan for the Trade Deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing semi-decent baseball this year and are improving. While they might not be playoff contenders, they shouldn’t be sellers during this year’s trade deadline.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been sellers at the trade deadline for the last few years. Last year was their biggest trade deadline fire sale in quite a while. They traded the likes of Adam Frazier, Tyler Anderson, Richard Rodriguez, Austin Davis, and Clay Holmes. But this time around, the Pirates shouldn’t sell at the trade deadline. They might not be in a prime position to buy or compete, but they should not be sellers.

The Pirates have been a respectable team this year, having a 24-28 record. Although it may not wow anyone, they’re currently on pace for 74-75 wins but are improving. Since mid-May, they have been a .500+ team while facing formidable foes like the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers. They’re only getting better as well.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted the likes of Cal Mitchell, Roansy Contreras, and now Travis Swaggerty over the past month. Contreras has looked like a stud so far, with his last start whittling his ERA to a mere 1.93 mark. The Swaggerty promotion has multiple implications. Not only are they getting one of the minor league’s hottest bats into the majors, but they’re adding a guy who has the potential to win a Gold Glove.

But this also dramatically improves the infield defense. Swaggerty’s promotion led to Rodolfo Castro’s demotion. Castro has been a butcher at shortstop this year, and Tucupita Marcano has mostly played left field so far. With Swaggerty now in the major leagues, the Pirates can move Marcano back to the middle infield, giving them a much more competent infield defender.

The starting pitching has also been solid. Contreras Zach Thompson, José Quintana, and JT Brubaker have combined for a 2.31 ERA since the start of May. That 2.31 ERA would mean they’ve pitched better than Gerrit Cole and Julio Urias as a staff in the last month-plus. The fifth spot needs some consistency, but they’ll get Cody Bolton here sooner rather than later, considering how well he has pitched this year.

The offense has been lacking lately, but that’s another thing that should greatly improve this month. Oneil Cruz has demolished Triple-A pitching for the last month, having a 149 wRC+ since May 5th, as has Ji-Hwan Bae. Those are two very notable bats that could take over line-up spots by the end of June. The Pirates also have Mason Martin knocking on the door.

It’s also worth considering that the Pirates have nothing of significant value left to trade. They’re not going to trade anyone in pre-arbitration or in their first year of arbitration, so stop thinking that David Bednar or Bryan Reynolds are going anywhere. Since Ben Cherington took over, the only player they have traded who had more than two years of control remaining has been Jacob Stallings, but he is also the oldest player they have traded, being a 32-year-old catcher. The only guys that may have a chance of being sold are Chris Stratton, Jose Quintana, and Ben Gamel.

The only one out of that group that I would trade is Gamel, and that’s only because of the amount of MLB-ready outfield depth. Currently, the Pirates have Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski, Travis Swaggerty, and Cal Mitchell on the 26-man roster. Tucupita Marcano is also a potential outfield option. Plus, Canaan Smtih-Njigba and Bligh Madris have done very well at Triple-A over the past month. Even then, it would have to be for the right package.

That’s not to say the Pittsburgh Pirates should start buying. Unless they get a bargain they can’t refuse on a proven MLB player with multiple years of, the best option might be to stand pat. The Bucs might not make a playoff run, but they’re making very noticeable improvements. They’ve played .526 ball since May 15th.

It’s only been a little over a half month of a sample size, but if they keep plyaing at the rate they have since May 15th, they’ll finish with 81-82 wins. The team looks a whole lot different than it did in early April and is only getting better. This is the start of the end rebuild and the Pittsburgh Pirates should indicate that by not selling at the trade deadline.