MLB insider suggests Pirates trade starting pitcher, but it presents a problem

While the Pittsburgh Pirates are unlikely to make any significant free agent signings, it has been widely speculated that they may choose to deal from their robust pitching depth and make a splash on the trade market this offseason.

Much of this speculation has revolved around Pittsburgh's surplus of pitching prospects, including Braxton Ashcraft, Thomas Harrington and others. But one MLB insider suggested that the Pirates might actually want to consider dealing from their Major League rotation depth in a potential trade instead.

In a column listing one potential trade candidate for each MLB team, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tabbed starting pitcher Bailey Falter for Pittsburgh.

"The emergence of Paul Skenes and Jared Jones to complement Mitch Keller has given the Pirates some rotation depth, and with more pitching prospects (No. 1 Bubba Chandler, No. 4 Braxton Ashcraft and No. 5 Thomas Harrington) on the way, Pittsburgh could use Falter -- who had a 4.43 ERA over 142 1/3 innings -- to help address other areas," Feinsand wrote. "The 27-year-old is arbitration-eligible for the next four seasons, the type of control any team would find attractive."

MLB insider suggests Pirates trade starting pitcher Bailey Falter, but it presents a problem

In dangling Falter in trade talks, the Pirates would be able to leverage their major league talent (and get MLB talent in return) without leveraging their future at the pitching position. They have plenty of bodies in their farm system who could replace Falter at the back of their current rotation – and are arguably ready to do so – but there's one important detail here that should not be overlooked.

Falter is a left-handed pitcher; in fact, he's currently the only left-handed pitcher in the Pirates' rotation. Their top three pitching prospects who finished the season in Triple-A Indianapolis, however, are all right-handed. So, while the Pirates can certainly afford to deal from the back of their big league rotation to add an impact bat or two, they may not be wise to trade one of the only two southpaws currently on their 40-man roster (reliever Joey Wentz is the other).

Luis Ortiz, on the other hand, presents an interesting case if the Pirates were looking to trade a major league starter. He's right-handed, and he's coming off of a breakout season that saw him earn a permanent spot in the Pirates' rotation after beginning the year in the bullpen. Given that they don't have any lefty starters on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues, the Pirates might want to hang onto Falter for at least one more year and entertain dealing Ortiz instead.

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