Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Veterans Who Could be Traded by 2023

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher, JT Brubaker

One of the stables of the rotation over the last couple of years, JT Brubaker could be a trade candidate.  Brubaker is entering his first year of arbitration. The former Akron Zip will be a free agent after the 2025 season.  So he has there more seasons of team control.

So why trade him?  Because realistically speaking Brubaker may not be a part of this team’s window.  The Pittsburgh Pirates Front Office needs to be smart with how they allocate their limited budget.  Brubaker is projected to make around 1.5-2 million dollars this year, but obviously, that number will just continue to climb.

So should the team look to trade him being he may not be worth that future price tag for the Pittsburgh Pirates? Brubaker is coming off this best season at the Major League level, pitching to a 4.69 ERA.  While that number is not great, his FIP was below 4 suggesting he had some bad luck and should have better numbers. Brubaker struck out 23% of hitters, which is what his career mark is at.

Brubaker will not net a monster return by any means. The Bucs would likely get two top-30 organization prospects in return.  A solid return for a backend of the rotation starter.  The fact that he has been a consistent starter, will be cheaper than most free-agent options in terms of money, and is controllable for three more years, could suggest a stronger return than above.

Right-Handed Relief Pitcher, David Bednar

The Pittsburgh Pirates consistently have had some of the better 9th-inning guys over the last decade.  The team also always moved on from the closers, getting value back for a one-inning pitcher.  They did this with Joel Hanrahan, Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, and Richard Rodriguez.

Could the Pittsburgh Pirates look to trade closer David Bednar?  I honestly think he could have been traded at the 2022 Trade Deadline had he not been sidelined with an injury.  Teams are always looking for cheap, but effective bullpen arms and Bednar represents a good one.

Bednar was a National League All-Star this past season and got a chance to pitch in the game.  Quickly after that, rumors started to swirl of teams being interested in acquiring him.  It made sense with the year he was having.

Bednar pitched to a 2.65 ERA across 51.2 innings pitcher.  In his 45 appearances, he struck out 69 hitters. This was impressive given the fact that he was not 100% healthy for most of the second half of the season.

Trading Bednar would likely bring back a huge package.  Teams are always willing to get up serious prospect talent if it means locking down the backend of their bullpen.  Bednar will not be a free agent until after the 2026 season.  However, relievers are highly volatile and in my opinion, they should be traded away when having top value.  Bednar has that value and honestly what value is a good closer on a team that will not be truly competing?

Outfielder, Bryan Reynolds

Last, but of course, not least is outfielder Bryan Reynolds.  Reynolds has been a part of trade rumors dating back to the 2021 Trade Deadline.  The veteran will not be easy to part with or for an opposing team to acquire.  However, there is a real possibility that Reynolds has played his last game with the Organization.

The Seattle Mariners and the Miami Marlins have shown the most interest in Reynolds up until this point.  However, both teams may not be in the running now.  The Mariners traded for Toescar Hernandez and now have a log jam in their outfield.  The Marlins are a team that will likely be looking up in the standings at the Braves, Mets, and Phillies, so for them to invest in a Reynolds trade would be overly bold.

Last year it was reported that the Bucs were asking for Julio Rodriguez and Noelvis Marte from the Mariners.  Those two entered the year as two of the top fifteen prospects in all of Baseball. Obviously, a high price that would be challenging for any team to come up with.

Furthermore, adding to his value, even more, is the fact that Reynolds hit a career-high in home runs in 2022.  Also with the over-shift going away Reynolds projects to put up even better numbers offensively.  He is not a free agent until after 2025, making him one of the most valuable outfielders in the National League.  With the team having several internal prospect options to play in the outfield, trading Reynolds for the right price may be on the board.