3 Pirates prospects who should be traded at 2026 deadline, 2 who should be off limits

For years, Pittsburgh Pirates fans were asked to wait for the prospects. Now many of those prospects are here, and Pittsburgh is firmly in the National League playoff race. The next step is using the ones who aren’t to make sure this group gets the help it deserves.

Headlined by the likes of Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez, the Pirates finally have the makings of a legitimate young core at the major-league level. At some point, the farm system has to stop being the destination and start becoming currency.

The Pirates should be far more aggressive with their prospect capital at this year's trade deadline than Cherington has historically been. They have until Aug. 3, and the current system is deep enough that hoarding everybody would be a mistake.

That doesn’t mean Pittsburgh should recklessly empty one of baseball’s deeper systems. There are still players who should be effectively untouchable, starting with Seth Hernandez.

2 Pirates prospects who should be off limits at 2026 trade deadline

Seth Hernandez

This is the easiest call. With Griffin and Chandler graduated, Hernandez is now MLB Pipeline's No. 1 Pirates prospect, and Pittsburgh certainly doesn’t need to move another potential top-of-the-rotation starter for a rental reliever or marginal offensive upgrade.

Before his current oblique issue, Hernandez had already overwhelmed the lower minors with upper-90s velocity and ridiculous swing-and-miss stuff. He belongs in the "true untouchable" category when it comes to trade talks.

Edward Florentino

Edward Florentino, Pipeline's No. 2 Pirates prospect, belongs in a similar category. Pittsburgh has spent years proving that pitching development is much easier for this organization than finding impact position players. Trading a 19-year-old left-handed hitter with legitimate middle-of-the-order upside defeats the purpose unless you're getting a proven version of exactly that player.

Beyond those names, though, the Pirates should be listening. Nearly everybody else should be in play at the right price.

3 Pirates prospects who should be traded at 2026 deadline, but only for real impact

Murf Gray

Murf Gray’s breakout has made him one of the organization’s most fascinating trade pieces. He's hitting .317 with 26 homers and a 1.007 OPS, has already reached Double-A and is now Pipeline's No. 3 Pirates prospect.

The Pirates shouldn't trade Gray for a reliever rental. But for an everyday MLB bat with multiple years of control? Absolutely. His stock has exploded in a matter of months. This is what a valuable trade chip looks like.

Wyatt Sanford

Same idea. Wyatt Sanford is hitting .287 with a .425 OBP, 10 homers, 21 steals and a .964 OPS. Pipeline has him fourth in the system.

There's also the organizational consideration: Konnor Griffin exists. Pittsburgh has enough middle-infield depth that Sanford doesn't need to be protected like a future franchise shortstop.

Johan De Los Santos

Johan De Los Santos is worth listening on. He's exceptionally young — he just turned 18 last week — and is already showcasing elite on-base skills and disruptive base running ability.

That's exactly why another team might really want him. But you're talking about a headliner in a substantial deal, not bullpen depth.

3 prospects Pirates should actively shop at 2026 trade deadline

Sammy Stafura

Sammy Stafura has taken a major step forward this season, dramatically increasing his trade value. He's gone nuclear, hitting .274 with 18 homers, 19 steals and a .940 OPS at High-A.

But Pittsburgh also has Griffin, Sanford, Termarr Johnson, Jack Brannigan and other middle-infield options scattered throughout the organization. Keeping every promising shortstop simply because he is promising accomplishes nothing. Sell high.

Lonnie White Jr.

Lonnie White Jr. presents a similar opportunity. After years of injuries and inconsistency, he's finally putting together the type of season the Pirates envisioned when they drafted him.

White is hitting .276 with 19 homers, 18 steals and a .912 OPS in 2026. White is hitting .276 with 19 homers, 18 steals and a .912 OPS in 2026. At 23 and in Double-A, he's close enough to intrigue rebuilding clubs but still uncertain enough that Pittsburgh shouldn't treat him like part of the MLB core.

Easton Carmichael

Pittsburgh has accumulated far too much catching depth to protect all of it. From Easton Carmichael and Axiel Plaz to younger players further down the system, there simply aren't enough innings for everybody.

Carmichael is hitting .305 with 16 homers and an .862 OPS and was just promoted to Double-A. Weaponize the surplus.

3 Pirates prospects who should also be available at 2026 trade deadline

Termarr Johnson

Termarr Johnson is a special case. Pittsburgh should absolutely be willing to move him, but his struggles at Triple-A make this the wrong time to sell simply for the sake of selling.

If another organization still values his pedigree and offensive upside, listen. Otherwise, attempting to rebuild his value makes more sense than tossing a former No. 4 overall pick into a mediocre deadline package.

Jhostynxon Garcia

Jhostynxon Garcia is hitting 279 with 10 homers and an .805 OPS in Triple-A, but hasn't translated it during brief MLB opportunities. Still, he and the recently acquired Johnathan Rodríguez represent the only minor league outfielders on the Pirates' 40-man roster.

Hunter Barco

Pittsburgh simply has better starting pitchers than Hunter Barco. His 2026 numbers have been rough, but he's absolutely worth including in a deal for a controllable MLB hitter or relief pitcher.

Khristian Curtis / Antwone Kelly / Thomas Harrington

This is precisely the type of near-MLB pitching depth a pitching-rich organization should convert into help elsewhere.

Middle-infield depth pieces like Jack Brannigan and Keiner Delgado should also not hold up a meaningful deal.

The broader point is that virtually everyone outside the very top tier should be available. Hunter Barco. Jhostynxon Garcia. Khristian Curtis. Antwone Kelly. Thomas Harrington. Brannigan. One of the catchers. One of the shortstops. None should prevent the Pirates from improving the 2026 club.

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