It is that time of year again – the trade deadline is a week and a half away and the Pittsburgh Pirates are already being linked to a number of names on the trade market.
But of course teams have to give to get, so what do the Pirates have to offer other teams?
The top prospects
If the Pirates decide to get creative and make a run at Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels it would have to take a package center around top pitching Tyler Glasnow, and possibly include top hitting prospect Josh Bell. Given Pirates general manager Neal Huntington’s track record, Glasnow and Bell are likely untouchables and such a deal would not be possible. It would also be a surprise if outfielder Austin Meadows, catcher Reese McGuire, shortstop Cole Tucker or pitchers Jameson Taillon or Nick Kingham are dealt, thus a trade for a big name is unlikely. Second baseman Alen Hanson has been in trade rumors in the past, but with injuries to Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison causing Hanson to learn third base, it is unlikely that he is moved unless for a Major League third baseman.
Some intriguing outfield options
With the Pirates starting outfield under contract through the 2018 season, the club has some flexibility to deal from an intriguing outfield group. The top name in this group is Harold Ramirez. Ramirez is having a great season after missing the first month and a half, with a .353 average and .879 OPS in High-A Bradenton. Ramirez is one of the best pure hitters in the system with good plate awareness, but does not have a lot of home run power. He has the range to stick in center field and has good speed on the bases, though has only stolen 11 bases in 21 attempts. His trade value is similar to that of former Pirate prospect Dilson Herrera, and could help fetch a guy like San Diego Padres outfielder Justin Upton or Cincinnati Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd.
Another interesting outfielder is Barrett Barnes, the team’s 2012 supplemental first-round pick. Barnes is a very toolsy player that has good power potential, fielding ability and speed. However, it has yet to all come together for him because of a troubled injury history – he only had 358 at-bats between 2012-2014. The good news for Barnes is that he has been healthy this season in Bradenton, enhancing his trade value.
Willy Garcia also could be an interesting trade candidate. Garcia has some of the best raw power in the system and perhaps the best arm. He has struggled, though, since being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis, hitting .242 with one home run while alarmingly striking out in 27 percent of at-bats. It is tough to gauge the value of Garcia and Barnes, since both have high untapped potential, though one or the other could get at least a solid bench or bullpen player depending on how much another team would like either player’s potential.
Competition in the infield
The Pirates have a pair of breakout middle infielders in Double-A Altoona in Max Moroff and Adam Frazier. Moroff has a .326/.393/.436 line with 24 RBIs, while Frazier is hitting .349/.404/.452 with 16 RBIs. Moroff has the higher ceiling and could challenge Hanson as the team’s future second baseman, while Frazier looks like a future super utility player. Both would most likely be complementary players if involved in a deal.
The team also has a crowded group of talent, yet unproven corner infielders in the lower minors and players like Connor Joe, Jordan Luplow, Erich Weiss and Wyatt Mathisen could be used as secondary pieces in trade. Bradenton shortstop JaCoby Jones has great fielding versatility and some tools with the bat – though is having a bit of a down year at the plate – and may get a rental bullpen or bench player.
High upside pitchers
Last year the Pirates drafted a trio of tall, high upside prep pitchers in Mitch Keller, Trey Supak and Gage Hinsz that all have great fastballs, but need to work on developing secondary pitchers and control. None have yet to break out for the Bristol Pirates, however they are similar to former Pirate prospect Blake Taylor, who was at the same point in his development when the Pirates flipped him for Ike Davis last year.
In the upper levels, Adrian Sampson has struggled as of late at Triple-A Indianapolis. However, he still has the upside of middle of the rotation starter, and being so close to the majors adds to his value. Clay Holmes also has some trade value due to his high upside, but just returned from Tommy John surgery.
Final word
The Pirates have one of the strongest and deepest minor league systems in all of baseball, which gives them plenty of options in the trade market. They have the big guns to make a blockbuster move, but also have enough depth to make a couple of mid-tier moves. The Pirates under Huntington have been shy about trading their top prospects, thus it is more likely that they will opt for a deal similar to the ones that brought Byrd and Justin Morneau in 2013. However, they have been linked to the big names on the market in the past, so nothing should be ruled out.
