National Analysts Propose Potential Pirates Trades

It’s that time of year where speculation swirls around the baseball world, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the middle of some of the conversation.

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is a few days away. Teams have until Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET to either gear up for a postseason run or build for the future.

The Pirates fall in the former and will be looking for ways to improve their big-league roster between now and Tuesday’s deadline. As expected, offense will be the focus for general manager Ben Cherington.

With the speculation growing louder as the trade market heats up, a couple of national outlets proposed possible trade packages for the Pirates.

The Athletic (Jim Bowden)

• Pirates acquire: OF Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• Marlins acquire: C Henry Davis, RHP Braxton Ashcraft (AAA)

Chisholm is a trade candidate that has often been linked to the Pirates and Bowden has what a potential return could look like.

In Chisholm, the Pirates would be getting a talented solution for center field, not only for this season, but through 2026. Chisholm, 26, is batting .249 with a .724 OPS, 14 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 21 steals in 100 games this season.

The inclusion of Davis is interesting considering he was selected by the Pirates with the No. 1 pick just three years ago. Would they already consider moving on from him? Davis has yet to find his footing in the big leagues in parts of two seasons and is currently in Triple-A Indianapolis. Perhaps the Pirates have soured on him enough to be willing to let him search for answers elsewhere.

Ashcraft, meanwhile is considered the Pirates’ fourth-best prospect and was recently added to MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list. In 15 appearances/13 starts this season between Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis, the right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.88 ERA and has 76 strikeouts in 72 innings. He’s currently on the injured list but is expected back in relatively short order.

Sports Illustrated (Will Laws)

• Pirates acquire: OF/DH Brent Rooker
• A’s acquire: RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP Braxton Ashcraft (AAA), INF Tsung-Che Cheng (AA), LHP Michael Kennedy (A-)

Rooker is in the midst of a breakout season and would provide an instant boost to an underperforming offense. An All-Star for the first time this season, Rooker is slashing .289/.366/.578 with 24 home runs and 70 RBIs. The 30-year-old is in the top 10 in baseball in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and OPS.

Though he’s limited defensively, there’s no questioning the value he would bring to the middle of the Pirates’ lineup from the right side of the plate.

The price to acquire him would be steep, according to Laws. Mlodzinski has shaken off his early struggles and has once again become a key piece in the Pirates’ bullpen. However, the Pirates have a relatively deep group of relievers meaning someone could be expendable.

Ashcraft is mentioned once again along with Cheng, rated as the Pirates eighth-best prospect and Kennedy, who is No. 13 on their top 30. In 84 games with Altoona this season, Cheng is batting .225 with a .692 OPS. Kennedy, a fourth-round pick in 2022, has made 11 starts and is 1-5 with a 4.70 and 29 strikeouts in 32 innings.