Diamondbacks just presented Pirates with the perfect young talent trade opportunity

When you're a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates, you need to get creative. Filling holes on a budget isn't easy, and thinking outside the box is the only way to escape the league's cellar.

The club's current period of doldrums has been especially frustrating because, aside from employing the best starter in baseball, the pitching staff in general is brimming with talented young arms. However, an abysmal offense has held them back to the point that all the talent in the world on the mound means nothing.

The Pirates will be sifting through the bargain bin again this offseason, but the lineup upgrades they'll find will be marginal at best. What Pittsburgh really needs are talented, young, cost-controlled hitters to grow alongside its hurlers, and waiting for Konnor Griffin's arrival alone isn't nearly enough. Fortunately, a unique opportunity might be presenting itself.

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar decision could open the door for the Pirates to pounce

Jordan Lawlar of the Arizona Diamondbacks might have exhausted his prospect eligibility, but with just 108 career big league plate appearances, the 23-year-old shortstop is very much still a prospect - and one whose future in the desert is somewhat cloudy.

The Diamondbacks have decided to send him to the Dominican Winter League this offseasonto work on a new position, center field. This is just the latest positional adjustment Arizona has tried with the youngster, who was the No. 11 prospect in all of baseball in 2024.

His natural position of shortstop is blocked by breakout star Geraldo Perdomo, who, at 26 years old, is still ascending and signed an extension that will keep him in Arizona through at least 2029. Perdomo was one of three Diamondbacks to win a Silver Slugger for their 2025 performance, alongside superstar second baseman Ketel Marte and two-time All-Star Corbin Carroll.

While Lawlar is firmly blocked there, there's a chance Arizona could run him out at the hot corner to fill the void left after they traded Eugenio Suarez away at the trade deadline. However, given the firepower in the lineup, there's a better chance that they would prefer a veteran in that role as they regroup from a tough and injury-plagued 2025 campaign.

What the Diamondbacks really need is help in the starting rotation. They're set to lose Zac Gallen in free agency, and aren't expected to get ace Corbin Burnes back from Tommy John surgery until midseason next year. That leaves two big holes that Lawlar could be the key to filling. In fact, the latest rumors out of Arizona this week is that they're more than willing to entertain swapping their young talent for high-upside pitching.

This is where Pittsburgh comes in. The Pirates have a surplus of young, cost-controlled arms that would appeal to Arizona, whose roster is laden with big contracts. Giving them the opportunity to fill out their rotation with cheap and talented youth could be enough to pull a highly regarded youngster like Lawlar away.

Lawlar has hit just .165/.241/.237 in his incredibly short big league career, but his .313/.403/.564 line with 11 homers and 20 steals in 63 Triple-A games in 2025 shows you the type of talent that he is.

It might be a long shot, but the Pirates should make every effort to convince Arizona to send Lawlar their way, as the chance for them to acquire a bat with six years of team control and that much potential is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.