Pirates Rumors: Pittsburgh getting trade calls on pitching surplus

As baseball's top executives descended upon San Antonio last week for the annual MLB general manager meetings, Pittsburgh Pirates GM Ben Cherington was someone that rival executives were likely most eager to talk to.

As MLB front offices begin to identify their offseason goals and priorities and strategize for next season, plenty of teams will be in the market for pitchers – and Pittsburgh has a lot of them. According to Will Sammon and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (subscription required), league sources have indicated that the Pirates have "attracted interest" from clubs looking for starting pitchers on the trade market.

This isn't exactly a surprise, considering it's widely known that the Pirates have an exceptionally deep group of starting arms at both the Major League and Minor League levels. Still, it's encouraging to hear that other teams have expressed interest in the assets that the Pirates have to offer in what Cherington has already hinted could be a trade-heavy offseason for the club.

Pirates have opportunity to deal from pitching depth on trade market this offseason

The Pirates have a handful of arms who should be considered untouchable in potential trade conversations. For example, considering the fact that he is the centerpiece around which Cherington has been tasked with building a winning franchise, it's safe to say that National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year Award finalist Paul Skenes isn't going anywhere anytime soon. We can probably go ahead and put Jared Jones and Mitch Keller in that category, too.

But what about the back of the Pirates' rotation? Luis Ortiz and Bailey Falter are certainly expendable, especially with elite right-handed prospects like Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington waiting in the wings and southpaws Anthony Solometo and Hunter Barco not far behind. Or maybe the Pirates choose to keep their rotation from 2024 intact and deal from their prospect depth to get a bat or a relief arm or two that can make an impact at the MLB level.

Regardless, Cherington and the Pirates have a lot of leverage on the trade market this offseason, and it's imperative that they weaponize it. Stockpiling pitching prospects in the minor leagues for so long only benefits the club if those prospects eventually make an impact in the Majors – or get traded for someone who can.

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