3 pitching-desperate teams the Pirates could make last-minute trades with

Spring training is in full swing, but amid all the optimism and joy, injuries are already beginning to pile up. While big time trades rarely happen before the regular season begins, it’s not completely unheard of. Plus, given some of these injuries, a very early opportunity could open up for the Pittsburgh Pirates to make a need-for-need swap before the regular season begins and add some depth to the team.

Given the state of the game, these three ailing teams in particular make the most sense for a match. The Pirates definitely could trade a pitcher without taking a blow to their pitching depth chart, and these teams could use another arm before the season begins.

3 desperate teams the Pirates could make a pitching trade with before Opening Day

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees headed into spring training with an impressive pitching depth chart. Gerrit Cole would head a rotation, followed by 2024 American League Rookie of the Year winner Luis Gil, former Cy Young finalist and their biggest addition of the offseason in Max Fried, and Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón, no slouches themselves. Their rotation looked so good that Marcus Stroman was potentially looking at starting the year in the bullpen. This was even after trading left-hander Nestor Cortes to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cole could soon undergo Tommy John surgery. Another former Pirate pitcher, JT Brubaker, broke three ribs on a comebacker in late February. Now, Gil will be shut down for six weeks before he can even begin to build back up.

One rookie the Yankees were looking to rely on out of the 'pen, Clayton Beeter, will also open the year on the injured list. The Yanks also lost someone who could have filled one of these roster spots in Chase Hampton. Their seventh-best prospect,per Baseball America, underwent Tommy John surgery in February before spring training games even began.

The Yankees have some depth they can turn to. Marcus Stroman is almost guaranteed a rotation spot now, and, out of options, right-hander Yoendrys Gomez also now has a strong chance of making their bullpen. Will Warren, who's shined early in camp, might make the roster as well. However, that’s only three replacements accounted for when they’re facing multiple, potentially lengthy absences to open 2025. Surely, the Pirates can help the Yankees upgrade from Carlos Carrasco, who also might slot into the Opening Day rotation for at least one turn while Schmidt ramps up.

The most difficult thing about inquiring about any of the Yankees’ position players right now is that they’re also facing some injury concerns there as well, with DJ LeMahieu suffering a calf strain and now Giancarlo Stanton hoping to avoid season-ending surgery on both of his elbows. Still, the team's need for pitching depth is growing at a monumental rate, and they could definitely make an early-season move for more arms.