Rum Bunter
FanSided

Ranking 5 Pittsburgh Pirates outfield trade targets with spring training looming

Let's look at 5 trade targets the Pirates should go after, ranked from worst to best.
ByNoah Wright|
May 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (13) reacts after being hit with a eighth inning pitch against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
May 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad (13) reacts after being hit with a eighth inning pitch against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
3 of 5

Daulton Varsho

The Toronto Blue Jays have added some outfield depth over the last few weeks, acquiring Myles Straw from the Cleveland Guardians and now signing Anthony Santander. That could mean they might be willing to listen to offers on some of their other outfielders, namely defensive standout Daulton Varsho, whose power bat hasn't popped as anticipated north of the border (and who will be missing the start of next season after surgery).

Varsho put up about league-average production in 2024. In 513 plate appearances, he had a .214/.293/.407 triple-slash, .304 wOBA, and 99 wRC+. He struck out at a below-average 26.7% rate, but had a respectable 9.4% walk rate. Varsho has always been able to hit for some power, and 2024 was no different. He went yard 18 times with a quality .194 isolated slugging percentage.

But there were some very worrying numbers under the hood. He was below the fifth percentile of batters in xwOBA (.261), xSLG% (.316), and xBA (.186). Despite being in the 78th percentile of bat speed, Varsho had just an 86.1 MPH exit velocity (seventh percentile), with a mediocre 6.2% barrel percentage.

On the plus side, nobody is better at defending the outfield than Varsho. Since moving to the outfield full-time in 2022, Varsho has reached double-digit DRS and OAA each of the last three seasons, including back-to-back campaigns with over 25 DRS. Overall, he has +76 DRS. The next closest outfielder is Steven Kwan, with +41. His +44 OAA is also the best, with Jose Siri coming in as a close second with +41. Last season, he had +28 DRS and +16 OAA between all three outfield positions, but mostly left and right field.

Varsho will get paid $8.2 million in 2025, the most of any player on today’s list, but he still has two more years of control remaining for that figure to rise. No matter where his bat goes from here, he’d significantly help the Pirates out with the glove. Ben Cherington loves trading with his former teams, so you can never rule out a trade with the Blue Jays. However, $8.2 million is a bit of a risk, given how poor Varsho’s underlying numbers were.

Home/Pirates News

Schedule