These two NL East outfielders should be on Pirates' trade radar

Sitting just a few games out of the muddled NL Wild Card picture, the Pirates are likely looking to add to their team at the trade deadline. One of the biggest areas of need is in the outfield. The only outfielder who has been productive and can play every day is Bryan Reynolds. For a team looking to make it to the playoffs, they need more production from the outfield to match their sterling rotation, and with the way the Pirates are set up, they will need to find that production externally.

In quest to improve the offense, the Pirates must look to acquire a bat before the MLB Trade Deadline. There currently are many teams in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, which will make it difficult for the Pirates to pursue players, especially at their preferred price. With lots of teams also looking to boost their personnel, the Pirates should look at two sneaky good players to improve their roster. Two outfielders from the National League East division could improve the Pirates' offense instantly.

Two NL East Outfield Trade Targets Pirates Must Consider

Jesse Winker, Washington Nationals

Jesse Winker is a very known name to the Pirates, as he has competed against them in the National League Central for many years. However, since Winker is on a one-year contract with the Nationals, and their young stars such as James Wood and Dylan Crews will soon be joining the team, he could find his way back to the NL Central with the Pirates, even as the Nats make a one-year-early Wild Card push.

This season, Winker has posted a .264 batting average with nine home runs and 36 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .800, which includes an on-base percentage of .382 and a slugging percentage of .419. His wRC+ is 31 points over league average at 131, and he walks at a solid rate of 13.8%.

Despite Winker being a primary left fielder, which is the same spot currently occupied by Reynolds, the Pirates can use both of them in either of the corner outfield spots. Center field is biggest need for this team, but if they can add a player with solid offensive production like Winker, then it should not be as glaring a problem.

It is not clear that the Nationals would be willing to sell Winker, but with their young stars in Triple-A, it could be a necessary move to make room for them both.

Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins

Unlike the Nationals, the Marlins are for sure sellers at this years deadline. One of the players that has not had their name in many trade rumors is outfielder Jesus Sanchez. He has been very unlucky this season, which has made him an underrated candidate for a buying team to target.

This season, Sanchez has a .233 batting average with seven home runs and 29 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .659, which includes an on-base percentage of .286 and a slugging percentage of .372. His wRC+ is low at 86 and his strikeout percentage is average at 24.8%.

Despite these numbers looking poor, he has an expected batting average of .279 and an expected slugging percentage of .504. His average exit velocity is also at 94.3 miles per hour. He could be a player with an OPS around .800, but he has not gotten the hits to fall. He has played center field in his career, but not this season. He is a solid defender in right field, with one defensive run saved and two outs above average.

Both of these outfielders should be on the Pirates' radar this trade deadline. They provide a boost in the lineup in the left-handed batters box, as well as decent defense to boot.