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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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Bo Davidson

The San Francisco Giants are making a serious run for the National League West. They just made a huge trade to acquire Rafael Devers from the Red Sox, and probably aren’t done. The Giants have plenty of young and controllable outfield talent, both in the Major Leagues and minor league system, which makes them a team the Pirates should make a deal with. Bo Davidson is one batter the Pirates should target in a deal with the Giants.

Bo Davidson was an undrafted free agent, but is now a top-10 prospect in the Giants’ system. Davidson owns a .301/.406/.500 with a .413 wOBA and 146 wRC+ in High-A. Davidson has walked 14.8% of the time with a 22.5% K% and .198 isolated slugging percentage. He may be further from MLB than either Gonzalez or Garcia, but Davidson definitely deserves a bump to Double-A. He ranks in the top 10 of OPS, wOBA, wRC+, batting average, and slugging percentage among all High-A batters with at least 200 plate appearances.

Davidson has speed, and he is already 10-for-12 in stolen base attempts this year. He also has an above-average arm and projects as a solid defender up the middle. However, his glove may play better in an outfield corner. Davidson’s worst tool is his hit tool, but he has steadily lowered his strikeout rate as he progresses through the minor leagues. With his power, even a hit tool on the fringy side of things will work.

The Giants already have two of their outfield spots filled for the next handful of years. Both Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee are controlled through the 2029 season. Even after trading James Tibbs, Davidson is one of three top outfield prospects among the Giants’ top 10 on MLB Pipeline. That doesn’t include Marco Luciano, who is now seeing more time in left field. For a team that just traded two Major League pitchers, including one that was a top-50 prospect at the start of 2024, and only possess two starters with at least 10 starts and an above-average ERA+, the Pirates and Giants should work out a deal that involves Davidson.

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