Proposed Pirates-Rangers mock trade definitely won't be worth obvious risk

We all know that the Pittsburgh Pirates need to address their consistently underperforming offense, but we also know that they don't like to spend money. Usually, that leaves them scraping the bottom of the barrel for bats; but this winter, they should be more proactive in their approach.

In a recent column proposing trade packages for "buy-low" stars who are coming off rough 2024 seasons, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report has the Pirates making a play for Texas Rangers slugger and 2023 World Series champion Adolis García.

"What Pittsburgh needs... is a big bopper," Rymer wrote. "And preferably one with some edge to him. Their lineup is stuck in a years-long cycle of being both inept and generally lifeless. Basically, they need a dude like Adolis García."

Theoretically, that "big bopper" could have been – and should have been – Bryan De La Cruz. But we all know how that turned out.

Once a World Series hero, García would now come to the Pirates as a reclamation project. His 2024 numbers were the worst of his MLB career, including a .224/.284/.400 slash line and an OPS+ of 94. He did hit 25 homers and drive in 85 runs last season – which would rank first and second on the Pirates' roster, respectively – but the cost to acquire him (and the associated risk) would be too high for the Pirates.

Proposed Pirates-Rangers trade definitely won't be worth obvious risk

Yes, Rymer classifies García as a "buy-low" candidate on the market; but at the $9.25 million he's owed in 2025, he would be the third highest-paid player on the Pirates' roster behind Mitch Keller ($15.4 million) and Bryan Reynolds ($12.25 million).

And García's salary isn't the only cost to acquire him; with one more year on his current contract and an additional year of team control in 2026, the Rangers will be looking for a significant return in a trade. Rymer's proposal has Pittsburgh sending pitching prospect Braxton Ashcraft to Texas in exchange for García, but trading a top-five prospect for someone who would likely be a rental is far too big of a risk for the Pirates.

To be clear, the Pirates should absolutely be active on the trade market this offseason, and they should be shopping top prospects like Ashcraft. But betting on a 32-year-old outfielder to return to form after the worst season of his career isn't going to be enough; they need to aim much higher.

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