The Pittsburgh Pirates probably aren’t going to compete for the World Series, but that unfortunate reality comes with a few positives.
Who has better cards approaching the trade deadline?
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale helped spell out just how coveted a few members of the organization are around the league, with a pair of veteran pitchers drawing plenty of interest — even from division rivals.
“The Chicago Cubs, who have dominated the (National League) Central but have seen their lead getting a little too close for comfort, are one of the teams who would love to get their hands on (Mitch) Keller and (David) Bednar,” Nightengale recently reported.
Keller, 29, has been solid during his career with a 4.52 ERA in 149 appearances (147 starts), and would obviously be coveted around the league due to his reasonable contract. Bednar, 30, has recorded and ERA below 3.00 in four of the last five seasons, and can be viewed as one of the three best closers to potentially be available.
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The Pirates obviously would love to hold onto their most reliable players, but it has to at least be nice to know they’re wanted.
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Featured image via Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images