3 trade targets that would put the Pittsburgh Pirates over the top

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It’s time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to start making some noise on the trade market. It’s now June, and the buzz is starting to simmer. Their system has more than enough pitching that they could add some serious additions to the Major League roster and still have enough talented arms to potentially build a second future rotation. They have the prospect capital necessary to get whoever they wanted on the trade market, and now is the time to make some noise with some trades.

Even though the Pirates’ lineup is starting to heat up, it could still use at least one more reinforcement. This is especially true at first base, but they could also greatly benefit from adding another outfielder.

Their bullpen could also use some serious help. It’s been the most disappointing part of the team so far this year. In the interest of patching holes before they grow too large, these are three players the Pittsburgh Pirates should put a heavy focus on.

They could all be on the trade market and would significantly improve the three biggest issues plaguing the Pirates: first base, relief pitching, and outfield. These solutions might even be enough to put them over the top.

3 Pittsburgh Pirates trade solutions that could put roster over the top

Bullpen: Hunter Harvey

The Pirates need relief pitching in the worst way, and Hunter Harvey, who has been one of the most underrated relievers for the last three seasons for the Washington Nationals, might be available in trade talks. If he is, this is a massive opportunity the Pirates should take advantage of and add a much-needed anchor to a struggling bullpen.

Harvey has been lights out at the back of the Nats’ bullpen. He owns a 2.15 ERA, 2.06 FIP, and 0.92 WHIP in 29.1 innings of work. He’s one of just 15 relievers this year with both an ERA and FIP below 2.50 and WHIP below 1.00. Harvey has gotten a ton of Ks with a 29.8% K%, but rarely hands out free passes and has just a 5.3% BB%. On top of that, he’s allowed a single home run.

While Harvey gets a lot of swings and misses, as he is in the 75th percentile of whiff rate, he does get hit hard on the occasions batters make contact. He’s in just the 18th percentile of exit velo (90.3 MPH) and the 6th percentile of hard-hit rate (48.6%). But what he does exceptionally well is limit quality contact. Despite giving up a decent amount of hard-hit batted balls, he’s in the 86th percentile of barrel rate at 4.2%.

Harvey would be exactly what the Pirates’ bullpen needs: another shutdown reliever. Another positive is that Harvey is not a rental. He is controlled through the 2025 season. It might not be cheap to acquire Harvey, but he’s someone that, if he becomes available in trade talks, is a reliever the Pirates need to jump on.

Outfield: Taylor Ward

There are many potential outfield trade targets I think the Pirates should consider. But if I had to choose just one somewhat realistic option, it would be Taylor Ward. Ward is a great hitter who has made strides on the offensive side of the ball. While his fielding in left is only average, he could definitely benefit from some more lineup protection, as his underlying numbers are even better than his already impressive surface numbers.

Ward has been excellent this year, batting .271/.335/.476 through 236 plate appearances. He’s walking at a decent 9.3% rate with an above-average 22% strikeout rate, but he’s hitting for a lot of pop. Ward already has 11 home runs and a .205 isolated slugging percentage. Last year, he had 14 homers in 409 trips to the plate. Ward owns a .352 wOBA and 127 wRC+.

These are obviously really good numbers, but they could be even better. Ward is in the 88th percentile or higher in expected batting average, slugging percentage, and weighted on-base average. He’s seeing the ball really well. Ward’s 19.8% chase rate is the lowest of his career, while his 14.8% barrel rate is a career-best.

Ward is a solid but unspectacular defender. He’s only played left field this year, where he has -1 defensive run saved, but +1 out above average. Ward also has played center field and right field. Ward also has some experience at the infield corners, though he hasn’t played more than 25 innings in a season at third or first base since 2019.

Ward has more years left on his contract than Harvey, as he doesn’t become a free agent until after 2026. But Ward is now on pace for four straight quality seasons, at least with the bat. He hits for power, draws walks at a respectable rate, and will hit .270-.280. Ward would be my go-to option on the trade market right now.

First Base: Gavin Sheets

First base has been an issue for the Pirates for about two decades now. Connor Joe has been decent, but is best used in a platoon/part-time role. Rowdy Tellez has not worked out as the second half of that platoon whatsoever. This year’s trade market doesn’t have very many great first basemen worth going after ... but there are a few. One of them could be Chicago White Sox’ outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets.

Sheets has a solid .241/.351/.414 triple-slash in 192 plate appearances on the season. Sheets has drawn a ton of walks with a 13.5% rate, but more impressively, he’s cut his strikeout rate down from 20.6% in his first three MLB seasons to 16.7% this year. Sheets is also hitting for above-average pop with a .173 isolated slugging percentage.

Sheets is exactly the sort of player that would complement Joe very well at first base. He’s a left-handed hitter who bats against right-handed pitching very well. This year, he has a strong .257/.373/.436 triple-slash and 135 wRC+ against RHP. He’s walked as often as he’s struck out with two dozen of each, and he could be even better.

Sheets has a .359 xwOBA this year, putting him in the 81st percentile. He also has a .272 expected batting average. His xBA, xOBP, and xSLG% against right-handed pitchers are also much higher than his bottom-line stats against opposite-handed hurlers.

It obviously wouldn’t be an exact one-for-one, but if you took Joe’s numbers vs LHP and combined them with Sheets’ numbers vs RHP this season, you get a .270/.370/.465 batter with an OPS amounting to .835. That’s All-Star caliber production.

Sheets might also benefit from better lineup protection. While the Pirates’ usual nine aren’t filled with Silver Sluggers, they at least have five batters with at least 150 plate appearances and an above-average OPS+. The White Sox only have one such batter, and that’s Gavin Sheets.

If you put Gavin Sheets and Connor Joe in a platoon at first base, the Pittsburgh Pirates will get the best production at the position they’ve had in years, even back to before Josh Bell's arrival. Sheets is exactly what the Pirates need: someone who can truly hit against RHP very well and someone who will be around for more than one season. Sheets doesn’t become a free agent until after the 2027 campaign. He has three more years of arbitration left.

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3 Pittsburgh Pirates trade solutions that could put roster over the top

Bullpen: Hunter Harvey

Outfield: Taylor Ward

First Base: Gavin Sheets

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