Perrotto: Andrew Heaney Knows It’s That Time of Year

Andrew Heaney reached 10 years of major-league service time earlier this season. Thus, the Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander understands the business on baseball.

While the report of the Pirates possibly trading Mitch Keller to the Chicago Cubs has raised a stir, many front-office types believe Heaney is the most likely starting pitcher to be dealt by general manager Ben Cherington before the July 31 trade deadline.

Heaney knows he could be on the move.

After all, the Pirates’ chances of reaching the postseason are almost zero as their 32-50 is the third worst in MLB. They are in last place in the National League Central, 16 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs, and are 16 games out in the race for the third wild card.

While Heaney won’t be one of the premier trade targets at the deadline, he should generate interest. He is a proven commodity on a reasonably priced expiring contract who had pitched well this season until his last two starts.

It could be assumed that the 34-year-old Heaney would want out of Pittsburgh. Although he won the World Series in 2023 with the Texas Rangers, he is nearing the end of his career and would likely like to play for a contender.

However, Heaney is not anxious to leave the Pirates. He is happy in Pittsburgh after signing a one-year, $5.25-million contract as a free agent during spring training.

“I enjoy it here, I really do,” Heaney said. “Change is always hard, regardless of where it is or what is happening. I’m happy here, so whatever happens, happens.”

Heaney is realistic enough to understand that his chances of sticking with the Pirates are slim. While he might not get the Pirates a lot back in a trade, Heaney should at least net them a decent prospect.

Heaney’s trade value has dipped in the last week, though.

He has given up seven runs in each of his last two starts, losses to the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. Through his first 14 starts of the season, Heaney was 3-5 with a 3.33 ERA.

Heaney, though, says the possibility of being traded has not been a distraction.

“I’ve always been sort of a streakier pitcher,” Heaney said. “I can go on some pretty good runs, and then I can throw some pretty bad ones in a row, and then I can go on another pretty good run. It all kind of evens out at the end.”

Heaney has been traded only once during the season in his career. That was in 2021 when the Los Angeles Angels shipped him to the New York Yankees. The deal didn’t work out well as Heaney went 2-2 with a 7.32 ERA in five starts and seven relief appearances.

Nevertheless, Heaney will generate interest in the next month, and he is prepared to handle the trade rumors.

“The only thing you do is just go pitch,” Heaney said. “You don’t focus much on (the trade talk), You really don’t have any control over it. All you can control is what you do on a day-to-day basis, and that’s to work hard between starts and then go out and pitch the best you can. It’s one of those things that you don’t have any control over, so you don’t focus too much on it.

“So, I think it is what it is. It’s just all part of it. I’ve been playing for a long time. I know how it works.”

Indeed, he does.