MLB Rumors: What’s The Big Question Facing Pirates During Stretch Run?

The July 31 MLB trade deadline came and went one week ago Thursday, so it’s worth hitting the pause button to consider the challenges facing the Pittsburgh Pirates during the stretch run.

Will general manager Ben Cherington regret trading closer David Bednar and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes?

Will he regret not trading starter Mitch Keller or reliever Dennis Santana?

Will ace Paul Skenes continue his march toward the National League Cy Young Award?

Will manager Don Kelly show the front office enough to keep his job after taking over for fired skipper Derek Shelton in May?

MLB.com took at look at the big question facing each club and for the Pirates, it’s all about the bullpen.

“The Pirates dealt David Bednar to the Yankees this Trade Deadline, and while they don’t have an established closer on the roster, they have some options,” MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf wrote Thursday. “Dennis Santana has done well in that role at times this year, Isaac Mattson has been a pleasant surprise, and Braxton Ashcraft certainly has the stuff for the role too (though he may stick as a multi-inning reliever).

“It’s a two-month tryout, and if the Pirates don’t find an answer internally, they’ll need to add a closer to their offseason shopping list,” Stumpf added.

All three of the relievers Stumpf mentioned are under team control for at least one more season.

Should the Pirates want to explore signing a closer in free agency this winter, there could be some pretty compelling names on the market, including New York Mets’ Edwin Diaz (opt out) and Ryan Helsley, New York Yankees’ Devin Williams, Boston Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman and Los Angeles Angels’ Kenley Jansen, according to MLB.com.

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