Insider Calls Former Pirates Top Pick Possible Trade Chip With Deadline Coming

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have some tough decisions to make in the near future.

The 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline will come and pass on July 30th and Pittsburgh is looking like a team that could end up adding rather than subtracting. It’s unclear exactly what the Pirates will do and everything to this point has been speculation, but with the deadline right around the corner, we should start to see real moves happen very soon.

Pittsburgh is right in the middle of the National League Wild Card race and has plenty of young talent to be excited about. The Pirates could use a little more offense and they have been linked to a handful of players over the last few weeks. If the Pirates are going to add at the deadline, they will have to move some prospects in order to do so.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden even mentioned former top draft pick Henry Davis as a possible trade chip with the deadline approaching.

“I think Davis, the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, has more value as a trade chip and I wouldn’t be afraid to trade him for the right return — especially in a package for Jazz Chisholm Jr.,” Bowden said.

Davis is just 24 years old and already has gotten a little bit of experience at the big league level. He has seen time at both catcher and right field so far and has plenty of upside. Davis hasn’t been able to get his footing completely at the big league level yet, but has shined in the minors and was the top pick in 2021 for a reason.

Pittsburgh only should consider a trade involving Davis if it can get an offense piece that can help the club win now. There could be some players out there that fit this description over the next few days, but the most likely outcome will be that Davis sticks around a bit longer.

More MLB: Pirates Young Outfielder Called Possible Trade Chip With Deadline Approaching