Projecting a realistic Pirates Ke'Bryan Hayes trade package if Yankees get desperate

It's no surprise to anyone that the Pirates will be sellers at the July 31 deadline. The bigger question is, which players will be on the move, and who can provide the best return as the team looks to shape the roster for a brighter future?

One such player who could be attractive is Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hayes, like much of the Pirates' roster, has struggled at the dish, but his incredible glove work - five defensive runs saved and eight outs above average - have been enough to make him a net-positive, as he's been worth 0.5 fWAR through 57 games this season.

As of now, the third base trade market is looking like slim pickings for hopeful contenders. Heading into the season, it seemed that St. Louis Cardinals' third baseman Nolan Arenado would be the deadline prize at the position. However, the Cardinals find themselves in the thick of the NL playoff picture, sitting at 33-27 through 60 games.

Other players who were viewed as top targets at the deadline heading into the season have struggled. The Angels' Luis Rengifo has hit just .211/.244/.263 and has combined that pitiful performance at the plate with some truly shoddy defense, tallying -1.0 fWAR thus far.

The Rockies' Ryan McMahon has been brutal with the bat this season as well, batting just .204/.315/.345 while striking out 29.5% of the time. With a salary of nearly $12 million, he's also not a super attractive option on the trade market.

So while Hayes is hitting just .222/283/.274 with a lone homer, his exceptional defense, reasonable contract, and past prospect pedigree might entice a team to take a chance on him, especially if they believe they can rehab his bat and get him back to his 2023 level when he hit 15 homers with a .762 OPS.

One such team that might come calling is the New York Yankees. The Yankees made an intentional pivot to improve their team's athleticism and run prevention after missing out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes and being embarrassed defensively in the 2024 World Series.

However, after running through a series of uninspiring journeymen and utility players at the hot corner, they've once again moved flashy second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. off of his natural second base back over to the hot corner, thwarting their intentions to lean into defensive excellence.

There's also some family ties with the Yankees, as Ke'Bryan's dad, Charlie, was dealt from the Pirates to the Yankees in August of 1996, winning a ring with the Bronx Bombers at the start of their late-90s dynasty. Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay even suggested that the younger Hayes could be a perfect fit in the Bronx over the offseason.

What could the Pirates receive in return for Hayes from the desperate New York Yankees?

Hayes won't command a ton on the trade market. Years of failing to live up to his offensive promise and a significant injury history, thanks to a balky back, will limit the ceiling of what the Pirates can demand for his services.

Still, there's a deal to be had here that can make sense for both sides. The Pirates need offensive production in a bad way, so a young, cost-controlled player who can make an impact now and in the future with the bat would go a long way. If said player also plays the outfield, even better.

As luck would have it, the Yankees do have a big league-ready outfielder to dangle in the form of 24-year-old Everson Pereira. Pereira's been tearing up Triple-A to the tune of a .274/.381/.532 line with 10 homers in 34 games, and has the defensive chops to play all three outfield positions.

Unfortunately for Pereira, his present and future in pinstripes seem to be blocked by the presence of veterans Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and some guy named Aaron Judge. More highly touted youngsters like Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones block his path, too.

Pereira, the Yankees' No. 12 overall prospect according to MLB.com, isn't without risk. He fell flat during a 27-game major league cup of coffee in 2023, hitting just .151/.233/.194 while whiffing a ghastly 38.8% of the time.

Even in the minor leagues, strikeouts have always been a concern for the Venezuelan-born outfielder, who currently owns a 32.7% strikeout rate despite his otherwise impressive 2025 performance. That's exactly why the Yankees would be willing to move on, and exactly why the Pirates will ask for a bit more.

If the Yankees were to throw in a lottery ticket such as 21-year-old C/1B Josue Gonzalez, who has struggled for the Low-A Tampa Tarpons, but showed some promise in 2024 with a .240/.396/.446 line in the Florida Complex League, that'd probably be enough to get a deal done.

The Yankees would get their defense upgraded and third base hole solved, and the Pirates would get a power-hitting outfielder who can contribute out of the gate, as well as an interesting prospect to develop behind the dish.

It might not be a franchise-altering return, but it would be a step in the right direction as the Pirates look to build their way back up into relevance.