Pirates can't escape moving top-tier pitching depth for bats this offseason

The Pittsburgh Pirates have steadily built up their farm system over the last few seasons, but one thing they currently have an excess of is pitching. According to MLB Pipeline, the Pirates have the game's best system for pitching. However, with so many options between the Major Leagues and minor leagues, the Pirates shouldn't just think about moving some of that young depth; it should be a requirement this offseason.

The Pirates could easily build a six-man rotation from their current 40-man roster if they wanted to. Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones have their spots locked in. Luis Ortiz likely has an inside track for one of the two final spots. After that, the Pirates can slot any of Bailey Falter, Mike Burrows, Braxton Ashcraft, or Johan Oviedo as the fifth and sixth starters.

The Pirates likely aren't going to roll with a six-man rotation, but the point of the matter is, they have enough depth on the 40-man to do so without issue. However, the depth doesn't stop there. Rather, that's just the start of the depth at the Pirates' disposal. They have plenty of more up and coming options that are not on the 40-man roster.

They have a handful of options that are already in the upper levels of the minor leagues. Bubba Chandler could easily play his way into the Opening Day rotation. Thomas Harrington could do the same. Southpaw Hunter Barco already made his Double-A debut, and may see Triple-A as early as the first half of next season, if not earlier. Anthony Solometo is another lefty who is at Double-A. They also have Carlson Reed, Michael Kennedy, and Zander Mueth, as well as recent draftees (including Josh Hartle, Matt Ager, and Levi Sterling) spread throughout the lower levels of the minor-league system.

Pirates can create two six-man rotations ... or they can finally trade for viable bats.

All of those aforementioned prospects are on both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America's top 30 Pirates prospect list. Some are consensus top 100 prospects. Chandler is one of the best in all of baseball, with Harrington and Ashcraft also appearing on multiple top 100 lists. Solometo may have struggled this season, but he came into the year as a top-100 prospect.

The Pirates have too much young pitching not to make an impact move this offseason. They have some clear and obvious holes in the lineup. If they move Bryan Reynolds to first base, then they will need another outfielder. If Reynolds stays in left field, they will still need a first baseman. They could also improve the other outfield corner and shortstop spots, if they feel they qualify as problems, too.

This is a good issue for the Pirates to have. There's no such thing as enough pitching depth. Nonetheless, the Pirates cannot let this opportunity go to waste. They don't need to trade Bubba Chandler to make an impact move. They have plenty of other options to move that would still net them a good player. There will definitely be opportunities to do so this offseason as well.