Best Pittsburgh Pirates fits from Jeff Passan's list of trade options

As the list of available bats in free agency dwindles down, the trade market is gaining steam. Jeff Passan of ESPN recently reported a long list of players that are currently on the trade block ahead of the Christmas holiday, which is exactly where the Pirates could shop to find their corner outfielder that they are looking for.

The list that Passan noted includes players that teams are looking to salary dump or send off as rentals. Nonetheless, the Pirates should take advantage of this trade market and try to acquire one of the available hitters to fill a huge hole in the outfield.

Out of this list, let's examine who the three best fits are for the Pirates.

These three tradable hitters should be targetted by the Pirates to fill outfield hole.

Taylor Ward: Angels

The best overall fit from this list would be Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels. In fact, the Pirates had interest in him at the deadline, but the Angels had a high asking price that prevented a deal from progressing. Now that he is once again available in the trade market, the Pirates should reconsider trying to acquire him, as he would bring a strong right-handed bat to the lineup.

Last season, Ward belted 25 home runs, 26 doubles, and two triples to create a slugging percentage of .426. That paired with an on-base percentage of .323 to make an OPS of .748. He also had a wRC+ of 111 and struck out at a 24.6% rate.

The big thing for the Pirates with getting Ward is he is under team control for another two seasons, but is owed $8.75 million for 2025. That should be very affordable for Pittsburgh, especially after they saved a lot at first base with Horwitz.

It is uncertain what the Angels would be targeting, but if it is pitching, the Pirates should definitely try to send Bailey Falter or Braxton Ashcraft in a deal, along with more in a package. Getting a corner outfielder like Ward would be perfect for Pittsburgh in this Paul Skenes window.

Mike Yastrzemski: Giants

The cheapest fit in terms of trade value would be Mike Yastrzemski from the Giants. Although he is a free agent after the 2025 season, he would fill a big gap in right field for the Pirates with his above-average bat.

Last season, Yastrzemski batted .231 with 18 home runs, driving in 57. His OPS reached .739, which came from an on-base percentage of .302 and a slugging percentage of .437. He also had a wRC+ of 106 and struck out at a 26.2% rate.

His bat would serve the Pirates lineup well, and the cost would not be too high. He may not be as good as Ward, but he would still be a productive pickup at $9.25 million for 2025. The Giants would probably want a mid-level prospect, so it's possible a guy like Jack Brannigan could fit.

Luis Robert Jr.: White Sox

The last guy that is a fit from Passan's list is Luis Robert Jr. who may be a bit more unrealistic for the Pirates, but would still be a great option. The price on him will be the highest in terms of a return package and salary, but nonetheless, the impact he would make on the team would be huge.

Last season was a bit of a down year with his injuries and the White Sox horrible performance as a team, but he belted 14 home runs and stole 23 bases. His OPS reached just .657, he struck out at a 33.2% rate, and had a wRC+ of 84.

It is very likely that Robert will rebound, as his ceiling is very high and he's proven earlier in his career that he is a great player with prodigious power. The only issue for Pittsburgh is that he is owed $15 million for 2025 and comes with $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027.

If they did decide to build up the payroll with Robert, it would likely take a package including Termarr Johnson, Thomas Harrington, and possibly more. That cost alone would hurt the Pirates, but in this Skenes window they have, the front office may want to push things forward.

Overall, making another trade this offseason might be the best route to fill in a hole in the outfield. Ward, Yastrzemski, or Robert would suffice for sure, but will the Pirates do it? We'll see down the road, but the days until spring training are ticking down fast.