Pirates’ veteran lefty is as good as gone in latest trade deadline predictions

It should come as a surprise to no one that the 23-40 Pittsburgh Pirates will be sellers at this year's MLB trade deadline. As far as the specific pieces they are most likely to sell, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden offered some insight in a recent column for The Athletic (subscription required).

"The Pirates can shop veteran lefty Andrew Heaney, an impending free agent," Bowden wrote. "He has posted a 3.39 ERA over 12 starts and can help eat innings at the back of a rotation. They are less likely to trade from the rest of their rotation, which includes ace Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Bailey Falter, along with Jared Jones, who underwent season-ending elbow surgery."

The Pirates' ample starting pitching depth makes Heaney expendable at the deadline, and he's a textbook in-season trade chip, considering his World Series pedigree with the Texas Rangers and the fact that he'll be a free agent after this season. Plus, while the Pirates don't seem to be showing any urgency in calling up their top pitching prospect in Bubba Chandler, perhaps dealing away a back-of-the rotation starter like Heaney would finally force their hand.

Pirates could also trade from bullpen, infield in latest deadline predictions

In addition to Heaney, Bowden also named right-handed reliever Dennis Santana and utility man Adam Frazier as the Pirates players most likely to be traded at this year's deadline. Aside from Frazier, who can play the outfield as needed, it's unlikely the Pirates part with any of their outfielders. Oneil Cruz and Andrew McCutchen aren't going anywhere, and Bryan Reynolds is having a season at the plate that makes his $15 million annual salary look like a massive overpay.

The Pirates could also explore trading third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bowden noted, but most teams wouldn't want his contract ($7.5 million annually through 2029) for a third baseman who is having yet another down year offensively.

The city of Pittsburgh would probably throw Ben Cherington a parade if he managed to offload Tommy Pham in a trade, but we shouldn't expect such shrewdness from the same general manager who signed Pham in the first place.

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