Ben Cherington's trade deadline comments dampen mood around Pirates' recent success

In the latest edition of his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington turned his attention to the July 30 trade deadline.

Prior to the 2024 season, the thought of the Pirates being deadline buyers would have sounded like a best-case scenario. Now, with the deadline just over a week away, it appears the likeliest scenario. The Pirates have had a recent run of success, including a six-game win streak that pulled them to within half-game of the last National League wild card spot. It shouldn't be too much to ask for them to lock up that wild card spot, especially given the depth of their playoff-caliber pitching rotation, but it's clear that they can use some upgrades on offense.

After their recent hot streak, it feels like a no-brainer that the Pirates should aggressively pursue a bat or two at the trade deadline to help keep them competitive in the postseason race. But Cherington was decidedly less bullish on the idea that the team's recent success should significantly move the needle on their deadline strategy.

“It hasn’t changed our outlook, preparation or goals,” Cherington said. "But the wins do clarify what opportunities might make sense or do not make sense.”

Well, folks, it doesn't get much vaguer than that.

Ben Cherington's comments fail to offer any clarity on Pirates' trade deadline strategy

Are the Pirates buying, or aren't they? Fans want answers. It's entirely possible, however, that even Cherington himself doesn't have them.

Reports emerged earlier this month that members of the Pirates' front office were fuming after team owner Bob Nutting told the media that there was a good chance he would expand the team's payroll and allow Cherington to make some splashy moves on the trade market to improve the offense leading up to the deadline. Team sources called Nutting's comments "misleading, at best," insisting that they had been told internally that they "don't have any money to make any significant additions."

To give Cherington the benefit of the doubt, let's assume that he does, in fact, want to be aggressive at the deadline and add some spark on offense. As long as Nutting controls the purse strings, however, Cherington's hands are tied – hence the vague, noncommittal comments about "what opportunities might make sense or do not make sense" for the team over the next week.

Should the Pirates be buyers at the trade deadline? Unequivocally, yes. But will they be? That's another question, likely with a more disappointing answer.

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