The Pirates are exploring trade options to strengthen their lineup and, due to a scarcity of sellers with available bats, they might trade from their major league roster to boost their offense. General Manager Ben Cherington discussed this possibility, noting the team’s surplus of pitching that could interest other teams.
Pittsburgh has a deep pitching staff, as highlighted by MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald. ESPN’s Jeff Passan suggests that pitchers like Bailey Falter, Aroldis Chapman, Colin Holderman, and David Bednar could be used to acquire a bat. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com adds that some pitching prospects might also be considered for trades.
Key pitchers Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, and Mitch Keller are untouchable, forming the foundation of the Pirates’ staff for the future. However, the team has numerous affordable back-of-the-rotation options.
The Braves are covering all but $3M of Marco Gonzales’ salary this season. Gonzales, who has a 2.70 ERA, could interest teams needing a fourth or fifth starter. Falter, currently on the injured list, has a 4.08 ERA and is controlled through 2028. Martin Perez, with an $8M salary and a 5.20 ERA, is less likely to bring back a notable bat in a trade.
For less established options, the Pirates have prospects like Quinn Priester, Mike Burrows, and Braxton Ashcraft. Priester has some MLB experience but hasn’t solidified his role in the rotation. Burrows and Ashcraft have yet to debut; Burrows is returning from Tommy John surgery and Ashcraft has had a breakout season in Double-A and Triple-A.
The Pirates aim to maintain a healthy stock of arms, hoping top prospect Bubba Chandler secures a rotation spot by 2025. They expect to have a surplus of pitchers, with Chandler, Priester, Falter, Ashcraft, Burrows, Luis Ortiz, and Johan Oviedo (recovering from Tommy John surgery) available behind Skenes, Jones, and Keller.
In the bullpen, Chapman has shown improved performance recently, though his walk rate remains high. With a 3.93 ERA this season, he’s set to become a free agent. Bednar and Holderman are more appealing trade assets. Bednar is having a rough season with a 4.98 ERA, partly due to an increase in home runs allowed. However, his past performance includes a 2.25 ERA and 61 saves from 2021-23. Holderman, with a 1.72 ERA this season, is under team control through 2028 but will be arbitration-eligible as a Super Two player.
Trading Bednar or Holderman seems unlikely, as the Pirates would prefer not to sell low on Bednar or part with a controllable reliever like Holderman. However, their deep pitching roster could allow them to trade an established pitcher for a bat or package prospects for immediate offensive help, ideally acquiring a bat with multiple years of control.
