Jim Bowden’s Pirates trade idea solves a problem Pittsburgh doesn't really have

Because the Pittsburgh Pirates' trade deadline wishlist is comprised almost entirely of relievers, it gets easy to to lose focus on other players who could help the Bucs' playoff push. It's not like the offense or rotation really need the help, but any reinforcements would be welcome given how strong the NL Central is this year.

After all, the Pirates are dealing with injuries to key players like Spencer Horwitz, Endy Rodríguez, and Konnor Griffin, which has significantly dampened the upside in the lineup on a nightly basis. And that's to say nothing of the hand fracture that has sidelined Oneil Cruz since early June and is now responsible for him landing on the 60-day injured list.

But with limited resources from which to trade (and a reported aversion to adding too much salary pre-lockout), priorities need to be stressed. The Pirates can really only afford to add a bat at the deadline if they first address their myriad needs in the bullpen.

Which is why Jim Bowden's "perfect trade target" for the Pirates makes very little sense.

Jake Magnum's breakout has saved Pirates front office from needing to acquire an outfielder at the trade deadline

Bowden attached Pittsburgh to Daulton Varsho of the Toronto Blue Jays, which is an understandable reaction to the Cruz news. The 30-year-old is an excellent defensive center fielder (he won a Gold Glove there in 2024) and a rental, so he'd be a short-term upgrade without bogging down future payroll.

That "fit" ignores the presence of Jake Magnum, however. He's stepped up in the absence of Cruz as the starting center fielder, hitting .303/.351/.371 (100 wRC+) with some quality defensive metrics of his own (+2 Outs Above Average). What he lacks in power he makes up for in the less glamorous parts of the game, including excellent bat-to-ball skills and aggression on the basepaths (19 steals).

With Bryan Reynolds locked into left field and rookie Esmerlyn Valdez exploding onto the scene in right, Magnum has done exactly what the Pirates have needed by steadying the ship in center and atop the lineup. Seeking an upgrade over him is just a redundant exercise, since he'll go back to being a fourth outfielder anyway once Cruz is healthy.

Let's also not ignore the fact that Varsho is having a worse season at the plate (94 wRC+) and comes attached to a $10.75 million salary. Even at a true position of need, that would be a tough pill to convince Bob Nutting to swallow mid-season; in this case, it's almost foolish to allocate such financial resources to one player.

It's best for the front office to keep the focus on the bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, knowing that they have the depth to cover for injuries and underperformances elsewhere on the roster.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow