Pirates Trade Talk: Sources Confirm Mets Interested in Daniel Vogelbach

Now that the amateur draft has concluded, general managers have turned their focus to the trade deadline, which is Aug. 2, and that means Pirates’ trade rumors begin.

The New York Mets have at least some interest in trading for Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach. SNY’s Andy Martino first reported the interest, and two industry sources confirmed it to Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

However, it appears Vogelbach is not the Mets’ primary target as they look to bolster their offense by adding a power hitter. Instead, the Mets are said to be targeting former Pirates – and current Washington Nationals – first baseman Josh Bell.

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In his first season with the Pirates, Vogelbach is hitting .228/.338/.430 in 29 games. The burly 29-year-old left-handed batter leads the team with 34 RBIs, and his 11 home runs rank third.

Vogelbach has also become a popular veteran figure in the Pirates’ young clubhouse.

The Mets lead the National League East and are fifth in runs scored in the major leagues. New York, though, is just 18^th among the 30 MLB teams in homers.

The Pirates signed Vogelbach to a one-year, $1-million contract in March as a free agent. They hold a $1.5-million team option for 2023 that can be bought out for $200,000.

Most likely, the Pirates wouldn’t get a huge return in a trade for Vogelbach beyond perhaps a decent prospect.