Pirates running out of options following Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk deal

Another day, another outfielder off of the board for the Pirates' wishlist. This time it was Randal Grichuk, who just signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with a club option for 2026 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team he excelled with in 2024. Pittsburgh did show interest in the veteran outfielder, but clearly came up short in Grichuk's market.

Missing out on Grichuk just adds on to the list of reasonably priced options the Pirates have let go in an attempt to fill their outfield need. In fact, there really aren't many options still out there, and only a select few would positively improve the roster. These four options represent places the Pirates can pivot to after missing out on Grichuk.

These remaining outfield options on the market are the only players left who could make a positive impact for the Pirates.

Alex Verdugo

This former Yankees outfielder has been linked to the Pirates just as much as Grichuk was. At 28 years old, Alex Verdugo could be a real positive boost to the roster in Pittsburgh, but one problem is that he may be more expensive than Grichuk, despite his poor showing in 2024. Any Verdugo pact would likely be a one-year deal, as he is seeking a "prove it" deal after a down season in the Bronx. Verdugo has a career wRC+ of 101, so maybe he can get revived in Pittsburgh, as some players often tend to on these bounce-back contracts.

Mark Canha

The oldest option that would help Pittsburgh out would be Mark Canha, who Bleacher Report recently labeled as a fit. At 35 years old, he still swings an above-average bat, but it has been on a steady decline these past few years. He lacks a bit of power at his age, but the positive he brings is a 102 wRC+ from 2024. He would be a cheap player that hits left-handed pitching well, so his impact to the lineup would be better than nothing.

Taylor Ward

One of the better options on the trade market is Taylor Ward, who the Pirates showed interest in last trade deadline. Unfortunately, nothing came out of that rumor. He has two years of control left on his contract and is the most expensive trade option on this list, yet he has been the most consistent out of any of these guys still on the market. His 25 home runs would easily boost the lineup in Pittsburgh.

Heston Kjerstad

Getting a controllable first baseman in Spencer Horwitz made sense for the Pirates, and Heston Kjerstad is a similar potentially available player with a lot of team control left to work with. The Orioles outfield was crowded even before signing Dylan Carlson to a major league deal ... and then they went and added another one in Ramon Laureano. Baltimore dealing one of their other outfielders seems likelier than ever, and hopefully the Pirates can be the team to land Kjerstad as a result. Other options include Cedric Mullins in his final year of arbitration and Ryan Mountcastle.