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3 outfield prospects the Pittsburgh Pirates should target in trades

The Pittsburgh Pirates are lacking young outfield talent in the minor leagues. They have a chance to add a decent outfield prospect at the deadline, and these three could make an impact as soon as 2026.
ByNoah Wright|
Sep 16, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates hats and gloves in the dugout against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Sep 16, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates hats and gloves in the dugout against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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Gabriel Gonzalez

Gabriel Gonzalez ranked as a top 100 prospect by Baseball America heading into 2024. Although he had a down year after getting traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Minnesota Twins, Gonzalez is now rebounding on a team that already has a stacked outfield. On top of a stacked MLB unit, they have even more high-end outfield talent in the minor leagues.

Gonzalez is slashing .327/.394/.502 with a .411 wOBA and 148 wRC+ in 258 plate appearances for the Twins’ High-A and Double-A minor league teams. Gonzalez has always avoided strikeouts, but his 12.6% K% is the lowest of his career. Another positive is that he’s walking at a respectable 9.1% rate and owns a .175 isolated slugging percentage. Gonzalez has the potential for more power, but currently sports a sub-30% ground ball rate.

Gonzalez isn’t much of a fielder. He’s an average defensive left fielder, and his below-average speed limits his range. However, he has a powerful outfield arm. MLB Pipeline gives him a 65 grade for his arm, while Baseball America gives him a 60. Gonzalez missed a chunk of last season due to a lower back injury. He is now healthy and in better shape than before.

The Twins could spare an outfielder right now. Harrison Bader, Byron Buxton, and Matt Wallner have been a productive trio. Trevor Larnach can also play both outfield corners and act as a utility man, and 2024 All-Star Willi Castro can play all three outfield positions. Their two top prospects, Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, are both outfielders and two of the best prospects in baseball. Gonzalez could be a prime trade candidate in an Andrew Heaney swap, as the Twins need another starter behind Joe Ryan (with Pablo López down for the count). As we’ve seen before, similar pitchers to Heaney can net a decent prospect like Gonzalez.

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