The MLB trade deadline is under two months away, and teams already need help in certain areas.
Nowhere is that reflected more than in the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen.
Through 66 games of the season, the Pirates are 34-32. With 96 games left, the bullpen is the largest Achilles heel and must be addressed for the Pirates to be a true contender.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan released his first trading deadline piece last week, identifying the buyers, sellers, and teams in between.
Passan labels the Pirates in
the “Could Acquire… But” category, needing to answer important questions.
“Barring a rough June — which is not entirely out of the realm of possibility with upcoming series against the Braves, Dodgers, Mariners, and Phillies — the Pirates will add at the deadline,” Passan said.
Since writing his piece, the Pirates were swept by the Atlanta Braves and outscored 15-8. Evan Sisk replaced Bubba Chandler with one out in the seventh inning and inherited the bases loaded. One of the Bucs’ best relievers allowed a bases-clearing double to Michael Harris.
The three runs were all Atlanta needed to win 3-2.
Passan feels comfortable with Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and the Pirates’ rotation, while admitting the bullpen needs help.
“Their rotation is already good enough to have squeezed Mlodzinski out,” Passan said. “Their bullpen could use another power arm, though Gregory Soto, Mason Montgomery, and rookie Wilber Dotel are high-octane options.”
He thinks the Pirates could deal Carmen Mlodzinski in a potential trade. It’s important to note this was written before Mlodzinski delivered four innings of one-run ball in his first outing after moving to the bullpen, to help the Pirates defeat Houston on Thursday, 5-1.
Passan identified Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers as a potential replacement for Henry Davis or Endy Rodriguez and add a most consistent hitter behind the plate. Jeffers is hitting .295 with a .408 on-base percentage, seven homers, and 26 RBIs.
Passan believes the objective of the Pirates season is to make the postseason. It’s true, and it would mark the first time Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs since 2015. Pirates fans may be thinking more.
To do so, the Bucs need to acquire a bullpen arm… or five, more so than a catcher.
The bullpen owns a 4.14 ERA, fifth worst in the National League, a number helped by occasional opener situations with Carmen Mlodzinski. It also has a collective 1.32 WHIP and has allowed 118 earned runs, fourth worst in the NL.
Aroldis Chapman has been rumored to be the most likely reliever traded at, or even before, the deadline.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Pirates are aggressive in their pursuit of relief pitching.
In 20 games, Chapman has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. Over 19.2 innings, Chapman owns a 0.46 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts.
He has completed 13 saves for the 27-36 Red Sox, last place in their division, and significantly underperforming.
Fellow Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock also would make sense. Whitlock owns a 3.20 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 19.2 innings.
He was a key piece for Team USA’s bullpen in the World Baseball Classic and set the table for Mason Miller to close the ninth inning. Whitlock is expected to rejoin the Red Sox on Tuesday after battling a knee injury.
Relief pitching will be at a premium for the Pirates and likely other clubs as the August 3 deadline nears. It’s also the least expensive compared to impact bats and top-to-middle-of-the-rotation starters.
The Pirates need a bounce back against the Los Angeles Dodgers, hosting the defending champions for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday night.
