MLB Insider Makes Prediction On How Pirates Will Handle Trade Deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the most exciting teams in baseball over the last month or so but now will have some tough decisions to make over the next week.

Pittsburgh currently is above .500 with a 51-50 record and is just 1 1/2 games out of a National League Wild Card spot. There are plenty of reasons to have hope right now about the Pirates and there is a real possibility that the club could make a run at one of the playoff spots.

The Pirates have a bright future and plenty of intriguing young talent so they will have to be careful with the trade deadline approaching to maximize the 2024 campaign without mortgaging the future. Because of this, ESPN’s Jeff Passan predicted that the club would do some variation of buying and selling at the deadline to improve in the near future without sacrificing the future.

“Pittsburgh Pirates: Adding and subtracting,” Passan said. “Despite clawing into playoff contention — they’re (1 1/2 games) back of the final NL Wild Card spot — the Pirates remain a team every bit as much focused on its future as its present. The emergence of right-handers Paul Skenes and Jared Jones this season both revitalized the 2024 roster and has the franchise dreaming of what its future in the NL Central looks like. Now and for the years ahead, Pittsburgh needs bats, and while an add-and-subtract play is difficult for any team to pull off, Pittsburgh could acquire some bats on the margin while being open to moving a starter such as Bailey Falter or a back-end reliever, be it, Aroldis Chapman or the options who would require a bigger return: setup man Colin Holderman or closer David Bednar.”

The Pirates have a bright future and certainly will be in the mix for playoff spots for years to come. Pittsburgh is just scratching the surface and could make the playoffs this year without a major splash. They certainly will be busy over the next week trying to figure out the best plan forward.

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