Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Deadline 2023: Players Most Likely to Be Dealt

With the MLB trade deadline less than a week away, which players could the Pittsburgh Pirates be most likely to trade away?

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is now less than a week away. In the next week, there will be plenty of trade rumors swirling around the Pittsburgh Pirates and the rest of baseball culminating in plenty of trades.

Today, we will take a look at which players the Pirates are most likely to trade before next Tuesday's 4 PM ET traded deadline. There have already been rumors around David Bednar and Mitch Keller. However, it is unoikely that either of them will be traded unless the Pirates are blown away with an offer.

Noah did a great job of examining why Bednar is unlikely to be traded.

Which Pirate players are most likely to be traded? Well, let's get into it with the three players most likely to be traded, as well as a sleeper trade candidate.

Starting pitcher Rich Hill

If Santana isn't the most likely Pirate to be traded then Rich Hill is. The veteran lefty could be one of the few starting pitchers available, which will help drive up his trade value. Combine this with Hill being a pending free agent, and he is likely to be traded.

Hill made his 21st start of the season on Tuesday night. In 4.1 innings pitched Hill allowed 2 runs on seven hits, two walks, three strikeouts, and a home run allowed. On the season, Hill now owns a 4.82 ERA and a 4.42 FIP in 114 innings pitched.

Much like Santana, Hill brings a veteran presence and leadership aspect to a clubhouse that teams will value. Hill is also a workhorse who will take the ball every five days, and more often than not give a team 5 or 6 innings.

Hill also has postseason experience. The 43 year old has pitched in 13 postseason games with 12 being starts. He has pitched 53 innings in these 13 outings, posting a 3.06 ERA, 3.97 FIP, and 28% strikeout rate. So not only does Hill have postseason experience, he has pitched well in the postseason.

First baseman/designated hitter Ji Man Choi

Ji Man Choi is also a pending free agent. The veteran left-handed hitter has missed most of the season due to injury, limiting him to just 62 PAs on the season. However, he has started to heat up at the plate since coming off the IL and has a track record, which could still make him a trade chip.

Since returning from the IL Choi has hit for a .259/.300/.630 slash line with a 138 wRC+ in 30 PAs. He's hit 3 home runs, a double, drawn a pair of walks, and struck out 7 times. These numbers are even better once you factor in the fact he was 0 for his first 4 since returning from the IL.

Despite his achilles injury that costs him most of the season, Choi should still be attractive to a team in need of a left-handed hitter. In 1491 career PAs against right-handed pitchers Choi has hit for a .245/.351/.456 slash line with a 13.8% walk rate.

Choi also has 88 postseason PAs in 29 postseason games with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has hit for a .221/.398/.412 slash line with a 133 wRC+, .191 ISO, 21.6% walk rate, and 27.3% strikeout rate in these 88 PAs.

A contending team in need of a left-handed hitter will likely have interest in adding Choi.

Left-handed reliever Angel Perdomo

Reliever Angel Perdomo is an under-the-radar name to watch in the next week. The 29-year-old Perdomo is having by far the best season of his MLB career. Through his first 20 appearances this season Perdomo has posted a 3.54 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 8.9% walk rate, and a very strong 38.0% strikeout rate in 20.1 innings pitched.

Perdomo's ERA, FIP, walk rate, and strikeout rate are all career bests. Additionally, he's allowed just two home runs this season.

Contending teams are always in need of bullpen help, especially left-handed bullpen help. Perdomo could provide this help for some team. His fastball spin rate is in the 88th percentile of baseball, he's limited opposing batters to an average exit velocity of 87.6 MPH and and a 32.5% hard-hit rate (both better than league average), and opposing batters are hitting below .200 with a whiff rate of 33% or higher against both his slider and fastball.

Perdomo has had a sneaky good season thus far. With teams always in search of bullpen help, especially left-handed bullpen help, Perdomo could be a low key trade piece for the Pittsburgh Pirates.