3 players on 40-man roster the Pirates should consider trading (for the right price)

Braxton Ashcraft

The one prospect on this list is Braxton Ashcraft. The Pirates originally drafted Ashcraft in the second round of the 2018 draft. It’s been a bumpy ride to get where he is now, as he barely pitched from 2020 to 2022, suffering multiple injuries. Ashcraft, like many young starters, had to undergo Tommy John surgery, and also lost the COVID-19 2020 season entirely.

Ashcraft rebuilt a lot of his value in 2023, but got even better in 2024. He pitched 73 innings this year, working to a 2.84 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and 1.07 WHIP. The righty struck out just over a quarter of his opponents, with a 25.8% K%, and limited home runs well. Ashcraft had just an 0.74 HR/9 rate while holding opponents to an 87.9 MPH exit velocity and 5.1% barrel rate. His biggest strength was limiting walks, and he had just a 4% BB%. That led to the 15th-best walk rate and the 13th-best K:BB ratio (6.42) among all minor-league pitchers who started at least a dozen games.

Ashcraft only pitched 73 innings, but managed to go six or more innings on five different occasions. The last time Ashcraft went six frames prior to this season was in 2019. In 2023, he never reached even 4.1 innings pitched because of the multiple injuries that kept him out for so long.

Of course, the one lingering concern is that he missed most of the second half due to injuries once again in 2024.

Ashcraft has the qualities to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. He went deeper into games in the upper levels of the minor leagues this season. He has four pitches, three of which project as above average or better. His mid-90s four-seamer and his upper-80s slider are his best offerings, featuring plus potential. The right-hander’s curveball has also shown some promising traits, and Baseball America projects it to be above average. He’ll mix in a cutter and a changeup occasionally, but his most notable strength is his overall control rather than the diversity of his portfolio.

Given that his injury concerns may raise some red flags, as well as some reliever risk, this is likely the highest Ashcraft’s value is going to be as a prospect. The Pirates should capitalize now. It’s not as if he’s their only top prospect in the upper levels of the minor leagues. Dealing Ashcraft only takes out one of multiple starting pitching options between Double-A and Triple-A.