Latest rumors hint golden trade opportunity just opened up for Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates need to make a splash this winter. The team has too good of a foundation not to build upon it. In order to do so, they should seriously consider going the trade route. They have enough pitching depth that they could get anyone on the trade market, and a potential trade opportunity may have just opened up. According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the San Francisco Giants may look to cut some payroll this winter.

MLB Trade Rumors lists eight Giants players who have guaranteed contracts for the 2025 season (not including pre-arb players). This includes players who recently picked up their player options, like Robbie Ray and Wilmer Flores. If the Giants want to cut some of their payroll, they definitely have some players the Pirates should show interest in.

The Giants certainly have some bats that may spark some trade discussion between the two teams. Mike Yastrzemski turned in a respectable .231/.302/.437 line, .319 wOBA, and 106 wRC+ in 474 plate appearances last season. His outfield defense was also decent, with +4 defensive runs saved and -2 outs above average. He also ranked 43rd in feet covered on average during his jump. Yastrzemski is only controlled through 2025.

LaMonte Wade Jr. is a first baseman who turned in a .260/.380/.381 line, .337 wOBA, and 119 wRC+. Although Wade did not hit for very much power, especially compared to previous seasons (.182 isolated slugging percentage from 2021 through 2023), he walked at a career-high 15.4% rate. Wade did, however, have a .436 xSLG%. Wade’s defense at first base grades out as around average with +4 DRS, albeit with -3 OAA. Wade Jr. becomes a free agent after the season, however.

SF Giants trade targets for Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates could also try and pick up Wilmer Flores, who is coming off a season where he slashed just .206/.277/.318 with a 68 wRC+ in an injury-limited 242 plate appearances. However, the veteran infielder is only a year removed from posting a career-best .863 OPS, .368 wOBA, and 134 wRC+, and '24 represents the first time since 2016 that Flores put up a below-league average wRC+. Flores picked up his player option, which will earn him $3.5 million for the 2025 season.

Among the Giants' relievers, former All-Star Camilo Doval’s name has come up in recent trade talks, and he's a player we have previously written about as someone the Bucs should look into. In addition to Doval, the Giants should have a pair of twins who may find themselves on the move.

The first is left-hander Taylor Rogers, who had a 2.40 ERA, 3.75 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP in 60 innings pitched last season. Taylor had a healthy 25.7% K% and 8.6% walk rate. However, both marks were departures from his 31.6% K rate and 7.9% BB rate from the previous three seasons. Rogers is owed $12 million for the 2025 season before becoming a free agent.

Then you have his right-handed twin, Tyler Rogers. Tyler is a submarine pitcher with a rising slider who put up a 2.82 ERA, 3.56 FIP, and 1.04 WHIP last year. Tyler has been a workhorse out of the Giants’ bullpen, recently finishing off his fourth straight season with at least 70 IP (70.1 to be exact). He has the most innings pitched by any reliever over that span.

Tyler only had a 17.6% K%, but strikeouts aren’t his specialty. His 2.1% walk rate was the lowest single-season mark among qualified relievers over the last five seasons (not including 2020). He has also ranked in the 99th percentile or better for exit velocity during each of the last three years, and has never fallen below the 93rd percentile of barrel rate. Tyler is also only controlled through the 2025 season.

The Pirates may also be able to pull off a salary dump trade and acquire another young player alongside a contract the Giants want to get off the books. The aforementioned Flores could be a salary dump candidate. Backup catcher Tom Murphy could be another. He is owed $4 million in 2025 with a $250K buyout for 2026. It’s unlikely the Pirates would take on a large contract like Robbie Ray, who is owed $50 million over the next two seasons, unless the Giants were to eat a large portion of it (which would eliminate the purpose of a salary dump), or unless the Giants include a very talented youngster like Kyle Harrison, Ryan Walker, Bryce Eldrige, or James Tibbs III. While the Giants may want to cut payroll, they likely aren’t that desperate to do so.

The Pirates should work out a trade with the Giants for one of their relievers. They should also kick the tires on one of the Giants’ first basemen. This is definitely an opportunity that the Pirates need to jump on, as it could be an easy way for them to improve an area of need.