4 under-the-radar trade targets who would complete Pirates' offseason

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made considerable strides in their efforts to improve the major league roster this offseason. But while the team appears to be in better shape than a year ago, there's still work to be done.

General manager Ben Cherington admitted as much, expressing his confidence that more moves are coming. The most obvious hole is at third base, but Cherington also stated a desire to add to the pitching staff while remaining "opportunistic" about also adding another outfielder.

If the front office has spent the majority of the allotted budget this offseason, any further significant moves may have to come via trade. Cherington showing increased aggression on that front this offseason has been encouraging, but that trend may need to continue even further.

Not every player who gets traded is someone who is publicly discussed or considered as being on the trade block. Some players who fall into that category become expendable based on how their respective teams' winters have unfolded. Here are four such players, why they are ideal targets for the Pirates, and why they might be available in trade talks.

4 under-the-radar trade targets who would complete Pirates' offseason

Addison Barger

Why he's a good fit: Addison Barger really emerged as one of the most exciting young hitters in MLB in 2025. He became an integral piece of the Blue Jays squad that came within inches of claiming a World Series title. After debuting in 2024, he became a lineup staple in 2025, slashing .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs and 32 doubles in 502 plate appearances.

The postseason lights weren't too bright for the then-25-year-old—rather, he only got better as the stakes got higher. His OPS increased dramatically in each round of the playoffs (.750 in the ALDS, .958 in the ALCS, 1.216 in the World Series). His 1.025 OPS across the entire postseason was the second-best by a Blue Jay, trailing only Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he's now in the history books after hitting the first ever pinch-hit grand slam in the World Series.

While his age (he isn't arbitration-eligible until 2028) and batted-ball traits (98th-percentile maximum exit velocity, 91st-percentile hard-hit rate) are certainly attractive qualities, Barger is also a great fit because of his defense. He plays third base and outfield, which are precisely the two positions the Pirates need the most.

Barger is not as good in the outfield (he's played 91 MLB games between both corner spots) as he is at third base (four defensive runs saved in 127 games), which is his natural position. He's aided at either spot by his arm strength, with his 96.5 MPH average competitive throw ranking third out of 395 qualified defenders.

Why he's expendable: The Toronto Blue Jays, not the Pirates, won the bidding for Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto when his posting window expired in early January. That, according to RosterResource, has relegated Barger to platoon outfield duty for the defending American League champs.

When Toronto was still in hot pursuit of outfielder Kyle Tucker, the top free agent on the market, it appeared that adding him to the fold long-term would likely push Barger to the bench. In that event, a trade would have been far more likely. Now, it feels less probable––but not impossible (reportedly, the Blue Jays still "would like to add an outfielder").

While the Pirates are probably done trading significant pieces off of the major league roster, it's fair to wonder whether the Blue Jays would be willing to acquire prospects (and subsequently flip them for more major league talent). It's an unlikely scenario after Toronto ended up losing Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it may still be worth inquiring about Barger.

Will Benson

Why he's a good fit: While he isn't a household name with a ton of MLB experience, there aren't a ton of outfielders who possess tools as loud and electric as Will Benson's. The former 14th-overall draft pick hasn't put it all together yet, but may be on the verge of realizing his potential.

Benson's most exciting tool is his power. He boasted 70-grade raw power as a prospect, and that has shown up at times at the MLB level. In 2025, he had the same average exit velocity as Junior Caminero, the same barrel rate as Ben Rice, and the same hard-hit rate as Byron Buxton.

His speed and defense are both pluses as well. He's a good base stealer (37 steals in 49 career attempts) but is really fast, with 94th-percentile sprint speed. That helps him a lot in the field as well. He's spent ample time at all three outfield spots and was worth six defensive runs saved in just 82 MLB games in 2025.

The downside is that he strikes out a lot, but he showed serious improvement in that area last year. In his first three MLB seasons, his strikeout rate was an alarming 35.5%; in 2025, he cut that figure to a still-below-average, but much more manageable, 26.5%. If that development holds, it would go a long way toward Benson becoming a capable everyday player in the big leagues.

Why he's expendable: It's unclear what it would take to get Cincinnati to send a player with that kind of potential to a division rival. But what is clear is that the teams are willing to deal with each other (as evidenced by the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade at last season's deadline) and that Benson has fallen down the pecking order for at bats in the Reds' outfield.

With TJ Friedl entrenched in center field and converted infielder Noelvi Marte running away with the right field job, the only path for regular at-bats for Benson in Cincinnati was in left field. Instead, the Reds have acquired a whole new left field platoon, signing former top prospect JJ Bleday as a free agent and trading for Miami's Dane Myers. That could open the door for the Pirates to take a shot on Benson, who is essentially a slight upgrade over Jack Suwinski.

Edmundo Sosa

Why he's a good fit: While Benson is basically a better version of Suwinski, Edmundo Sosa would represent an upgrade over Jared Triolo (or Nick Gonzales, or Nick Yorke, or any of the Pirates' light-hitting, multi-positional infield options). Despite battling some injuries (only 179 MLB games over the last two years), Sosa has been sneaky valuable, accumulating 4.6 bWAR in that span for a competitive Phillies team.

Sosa doesn't do any one thing particularly well at the plate, but there's still a solid baseline of production, as he's slugged at least .422 and posted an OPS of at least .719 in each of the last three seasons. He's capable of hitting for some power but doesn't hit the ball hard consistently. Rather, he often uses his 96th-percentile sprint speed to beat out infield singles and turn gap shots into extra bases.

Sosa probably should have been an NL Utility Gold Glove finalist. He combined for 85 games and eight defensive runs saved between second base, shortstop, and third base, and produced at a 10-plus DRS full-season rate at each position. The bulk of his MLB reps have come at third base and shortstop, which makes him an ideal candidate for the 2026 Pirates, and it makes sense why Cherington has reportedly coveted Sosa for quite some time.

Why he's expendable: The Phillies appear to have called an audible from their initial offseason plans when they pursued free-agent infielder Bo Bichette, who wound up in Queens. That would have required Philadelphia shedding payroll, and while they obviously won't be adding Bichette, they very well may be motivated to still make a splash since he signed in-division.

The most likely salary-dump candidate is Alec Bohm, who has been linked to the Pirates as the club searches for a third baseman, but Sosa more fits Pittsburgh's needs. Both players will hit free agency after the 2026 season, and Sosa is only on the books for $4.4 million. That could be part of a series of moves to get the Phillies where they need to be from a financial standpoint.

Edwin Uceta

Why he's a good fit: The Pirates have also addressed the bullpen this winter, adding Gregory Soto in free agency and Mason Montgomery in the Brandon Lowe trade. Dennis Santana took over as the Pirates' closer after the team traded David Bednar, but he can't be relied upon as a lock-down ninth-inning option.

It's been a long road to success for Edwin Uceta. After bouncing around multiple teams (including spending less than a week on the Pirates' 40-man roster in April 2023), the Dominican right-hander established himself as a relief weapon upon joining the Rays' pitching lab. In 100 games with Tampa Bay, his 2.98 FIP matched his 2.98 ERA, he struck out a third of the batters he faced, and opponents hit just .204 against him.

Uceta is not the standard overpowering reliever (his fastball averages 94.0 MPH), but he still manages to miss bats and induce soft contact thanks to his sidearm delivery. He saw an uptick in home runs in 2025, but that surely would improve moving to PNC Park from a minor league stadium.

Why he's expendable: The Rays are generally more willing than most to deal from their major league roster to add prospects, and while the Pirates have executed multiple trades this offseason, the farm system is still largely intact. Tampa Bay also has a strong bullpen, especially after last season's acquisition of Griffin Jax.

Uceta is also one of just 18 arbitration-eligible players who appear to be headed to a hearing with his team. It's not a great look for the generally stingy Rays front office, as Uceta only filed for $1.525 million, and the two sides were unable to reach a deal over a $325,000 difference. If that relationship has soured, the Pirates should pounce on the opportunity to add him to the back of their bullpen.