Complete Pirates trade deadline grades after Ben Cherington completely revamps bullpen

The Pittsburgh Pirates transformed their bullpen at the trade deadline with an aggressive flurry of deals.

Ben Cherington entered the trade deadline under pressure to prove the Pirates were serious about capitalizing on their position in the National League wild-card race. He responded with a dozen trades, acquiring established late-inning arms such as Luke Weaver, Kirby Yates and Camilo Doval while also adding controllable depth, upside plays and immediate major-league help without surrendering any of the organization’s premier prospects.

It wasn't a perfect deadline. The Pirates failed to land the impact right-handed bat their lineup still needed, and Mitch Keller’s season-ending injury created another problem in the rotation. But compared with the inactivity and half-measures that have defined too many previous deadlines, this represented a dramatic and welcome change.

Here are the grades for every Pirates trade.

Complete Pirates trade deadline grades

Aug. 3: Acquired Andrew Moore from San Diego Padres for Hunter Stratton

Grade: B-

This is essentially a depth-for-depth exchange rather than a meaningful deadline addition. Moore was assigned to Triple-A and gives the Pirates another controllable arm to evaluate, while Stratton had become expendable amid the bullpen overhaul. Pittsburgh deserves some credit for continuing to churn the margins, but this trade is unlikely to define the deadline.

Aug. 3: Acquired Kirby Yates from Los Angeles Angels for Kyle Robinson

Grade: A-

Yates is no longer the overwhelming closer he was at his peak, but he brings legitimate late-inning experience for an extremely manageable price. The veteran had a 3.95 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with the Angels, making him another credible option for manager Don Kelly rather than someone who must be forced into the ninth inning.

Robinson is the Double-A prospect the Pirates received from the Athletics in the Alika Williams trade back in May. Trading a relatively unknown commodity for an established reliever is an easy gamble to justify.

Aug. 3: Acquired Lake Bachar from Miami Marlins for Brandan Bidois, Hyun Seung Lee and Brian Sanchez

Grade: B

Three prospects sounds expensive until considering where those players ranked within Pittsburgh’s system. Bachar is a dependable, versatile major-league arm who had a 3.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 61 strikeouts over 58.2 innings for Miami. He can cover multiple innings or work in shorter bursts, which is extremely valuable for a Pittsburgh bullpen that has repeatedly been overextended this season.

The quantity going to Miami prevents this from earning an A, but the Pirates were able to get a controllable bullpen upgrade without surrendering a premium prospect in the process.

Aug. 3: Acquired Luke Weaver and cash considerations from New York Mets for Sammy Stafura

Grade: A

This was the Pirates’ best trade and arguably one of the most impressive moves of Cherington’s tenure.

Weaver had a 1.84 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 45 strikeouts against only 10 walks in 44 innings. He has succeeded in high-leverage situations, has closing experience and remains under contract through 2027. The Mets are also reportedly covering $8 million of his remaining salary.

Stafura was having a breakout season and could eventually become an everyday shortstop, but his path to the majors in Pittsburgh was always going to be blocked by Konnor Griffin.

The Pirates acquired arguably the best available reliever without surrendering Murf Gray, Seth Hernandez or another cornerstone prospect. This is what buying at the deadline is supposed to look like.

Aug. 1: Acquired Camilo Doval from New York Yankees for Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz

Grade: B+

Doval comes with volatility, but the upside is undeniable. His fastball-slider combination gives Pittsburgh another pitcher with genuine closer-level stuff, and he is controlled beyond this season. The Yankees received Alfonzo, Pittsburgh’s No. 28 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and Cruz, but neither belonged to the organization’s top tier.

The concern is whether the Pirates can help Doval rediscover his command and consistency. Still, acquiring this kind of arm without surrendering a top-10 prospect makes the risk worthwhile.

July 27: Acquired Johnathan Rodriguez from Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations

Grade: B

There is essentially no downside. Rodriguez hasn't established himself in the majors, but he offers power, minor-league production and another right-handed outfield option. Cash-only acquisitions should not be mistaken for significant roster upgrades, but this is exactly the kind of inexpensive upside play the Pirates should make whenever it becomes available.

July 26: Acquired Felix Doroteo from Chicago White Sox for José Urquidy

Grade: B

Urquidy had already been designated for assignment and was buried on the organizational depth chart. Instead of losing him for nothing, the Pirates acquired a younger pitching lottery ticket in Doroteo. It may never produce major-league value, but extracting any prospect from a player who no longer had a roster spot is solid business.

July 23: Acquired Ron Marinaccio from Padres for international bonus pool considerations

Grade: B-

Marinaccio clearly wasn't the answer to the Pirates’ bullpen problems, as Pittsburgh designated him for assignment less than two weeks after acquiring him to clear space on the 40-man roster for Bachar. But the Pirates added an experienced reliever without trading a player, and the move gave them another arm while they pursued more substantial additions. The cost reportedly amounted to $500,000 in international bonus space, so there was still a real expenditure involved.

July 16: Acquired Robert Hassell III from Washington Nationals for cash or a player to be named later

Grade: A-

Hassell’s prospect stock has fallen considerably since he was included in the Juan Soto blockbuster, but he is still only 24 and was once viewed as a potential everyday center fielder. Acquiring that pedigree for cash or a marginal player to be named later is exactly the type of distressed-asset gamble a team like Pittsburgh should pursue.

July 13: Acquired cash from Orioles for Cam Sanders

Grade: C

This is organizational housekeeping. Sanders wasn't part of the Pirates’ long-term plans, and Pittsburgh received something for him. There's no reason to criticize the deal, but there's also little reason to celebrate it.

July 10: Acquired Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert from White Sox for Jaden Woods and No. 34 draft pick

Grade: B

Gonzalez was batting .320 with 19 home runs, 63 RBI and a 1.097 OPS in Triple-A when the Pirates acquired him, while Eisert immediately gave them another left-handed bullpen option.

The No. 34 pick was valuable, and Woods added another legitimate asset to the package. Gonzalez therefore needs to become more than a temporary contributor for Pittsburgh to win the trade decisively. Still, the Pirates converted a future draft pick into two players capable of helping immediately without sacrificing one of their elite prospects.

June 18: Acquired Hunter Stratton from Atlanta Braves for Joey Bart

Grade: C

Bart had been passed on the catching depth chart and no longer appeared to have a clear role. Stratton was a familiar reliever who could help stabilize the bullpen, and the Pirates later used him to acquire Moore. The final return isn't overwhelming — even less so after Pittsburgh designated Stratton for assignment six weeks later to clear a roster space for Doval.

Overall Pirates deadline grade: B+

The Pirates correctly identified their biggest weakness and attacked it repeatedly. Weaver gives them a legitimate late-inning anchor. Doval provides elite raw stuff. Yates supplies experience, and Bachar offers stability and length.

Just as importantly, the Pirates acted like buyers. They absorbed salary, traded prospects and used draft capital without dismantling the top of their farm system. Weaver is also controlled through 2027, meaning the deadline wasn't exclusively about chasing a long-shot playoff berth in 2026.

The deadline falls shy of an "A" because Pittsburgh didn't acquire an established right-handed outfielder or another meaningful bat. Keller’s season-ending injury also leaves questions in the rotation. Rodriguez, Hassell and Gonzalez offer possibilities, but none represents the obvious offensive upgrade the lineup still needed.

Even with those omissions, this was an unusually assertive and productive deadline for the Pirates. Cherington substantially rebuilt the bullpen, preserved the organization’s premier prospects and gave a team within reach of a wild-card spot a much better chance to remain relevant through September.

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