Esmerlyn Valdez injury scare exposes Pirates need before trade deadline

Esmerlyn Valdez is seemingly okay. The star rookie didn't miss any time after exiting Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks early due to a hit-by-pitch that smacked his wrist, though his 1-for-10 performance in the two contests that followed wasn't the most convincing stress test.

Which brings us to a serious issue facing an otherwise-potent offense: The Pittsburgh Pirates have a significant lack of reliable right-handed bats. Only Valdez and Nick Gonzales are everyday starters who hit from that side, though Marcell Ozuna, Henry Davis, and Jared Triolo pitch in frequently as well. There are a number of switch-hitters in the lineup too, though they haven't helped lift the collective against southpaws.

In that particular split, the Bucs rank 24th in the league with a 91 wRC+. Considering that they're the second-highest run-scoring offense in baseball, that weakness against left-handed pitching is a pretty fatal flaw that will come back to bite them if they make it to October.

It won't (and shouldn't) take precedent over the myriad bullpen needs, but it's clear that adding another right-handed bat to the roster needs to be a trade deadline priority for Ben Cherington's front office.

Pirates must give Esmerlyn Valdez the reinforcements he needs against left-handed pitching

The problem is that the Pirates aren't the only team in the league with right-handed hitting on their wish list; a boatload of contenders and Wild Card hopefuls are seeking players of that archetype ahead of Aug. 3, meaning demand will far outstrip supply. That will lead to a surcharge on the few right-handed bats who are available.

In other words, the conditions won't be terribly conducive to a deadline blockbuster.

Luckily, a "blockbuster" isn't really what the Bucs need. Sure, it'd be nice to add a Byron Buxton or Hunter Goodman to the fold, but that's unecessary when the rest of the offense is already so talented. This is merely about adding another capable starter who can take the load off of a rookie down the stretch.

And that rookie may not even need the help. Valdez has become a true middle-of-the-order force in rapid fashion, hitting .277/.371/.664 (176 wRC+) over his first 41 big-league games. That also comes with an enormous .313/.421/.875 (235 wRC+) line against lefties that can single-handedly cover up for the Pirates' weakness in that area if it holds up.

Adjustments are coming from the league, and his injury scare is proof that relying on one player to mask an entire lineup's worth of issues is a fool's errand. As such, it would behoove the Pirates to add at least one more lefty-masher at the deadline, even if that's the only role they can capably fill.

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