3 relievers the Pirates should consider trading for (with 1 surprise reunion)

Kyle Finnegan

Kyle Finnegan will be one of the Nationals' relievers on the trade market this deadline. The right-hander has proven to be a quality late-inning arm, closing out double-digit games the last four years, but he is currently in the midst of a career-best campaign. If the Pirates need another arm, he should be one of the first options they turn to.

Finnegan owns a 2.17 ERA, 4.14 FIP, and 0.96 WHIP. It is the first time he has posted a sub-3.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP. Finnegan’s 8.2% walk rate ties a career-best, and his 26.5% K% is also a career-best. Finnegan has consistently been prone to the long ball, and this year is no different. His 1.45 HR/9 isn’t much worse than the 1.29 HR/9 he had between 2021-2023.

Finnegan has some worrying underlying numbers. While he has an above-average 7.3% barrel rate, he also has a 90.5 MPH exit velocity. Finnegan has a .200 batting average on balls in play, a massive drop from the .290 mark he had heading into the year. On the plus side, xFIP (3.30) and SIERA (3.24) are still optimistic about Finnegan’s outlook, even if they don’t paint him as a sub-3 ERA guy.

Finnegan has one more year of control remaining before heading into free agency during the 2025-2026 offseason. He has consistently shown to be a reliable ninth-inning guy, but could probably slot into a set-up role too. Given his performance this year, as well as in prior seasons, and his contract, the Pirates should greatly consider Finnegan as a trade target if they want to improve the bullpen.