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The Texas Rangers don’t have to squint to see why Josh Jung keeps popping up in trade chatter. They also don’t have to force it. If a deal is going to happen, it needs to solve an actual problem for Texas, not just satisfy the internet’s need to shuffle names around a roster grid.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s proposed swap with the Pittsburgh Pirates reads like one of the rare “win-win” ideas that doesn’t feel like a video game trade. The concept is simple: the Pirates get a controllable, buy-low third baseman with real upside, and the Rangers get a young arm who can help them survive the long, unforgiving math of a 162-game season.
In Joel Reuter’s list of “Realistic MLB Trades That Make Both Teams Better,” the framework is straightforward: Pittsburgh receives Jung and Texas receives right-hander Thomas Harrington. It’s not a blockbuster. It’s the kind of deal that looks boring until you realize it’s trying to fix two very specific weaknesses at the same time.
Why Pittsburgh Would Bet On Jung
The Pirates have spent the offseason trying to drag an anemic lineup into the modern era. Bleacher Report notes Pittsburgh finished last in MLB in runs scored (583) and team OPS (.655) last year, and while additions like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn help, the roster still screams for another legitimate threat in the infield corners.
That’s where Jung fits cleanly. The Pirates have defensive-minded Jared Triolo projected at third base, but even Pittsburgh has reportedly explored a bigger bat at the position—Reuter mentions the club being linked to free-agent Eugenio Suárez. Jung is the alternative path: younger, under club control, and not far removed from being an All-Star-level player.
He’s also the type of player a small-market team should love in theory. Jung is 27, controllable through 2028, and he’s already shown he can handle the stage. He started the 2023 All-Star Game. Even in an “up-and-down” 2025 season, he still produced a 100 OPS+ while logging 23 doubles, 14 homers, and 61 RBI across 131 games.
In Pittsburgh, the pitch is obvious: if Jung rebounds even slightly—if the peak version reappears more often than the slump version—you’re suddenly talking about a middle-of-the-order presence at a position that has been a soft spot for too long.
Why Texas Can Justify Moving On
For the Rangers, the decision isn’t about pretending Jung is a bad player. It’s about roster timing and opportunity cost. Reuter points out that Jung was briefly optioned to the minors in July, and that’s usually the moment where front offices start asking themselves uncomfortable questions: Is this the long-term guy, or is this the point where you cash in before the next plateau hits?
Texas also has a pipeline argument it can’t ignore. Trading Jung would clear a cleaner runway for top prospect Sebastian Walcott, who could push for a 2026 debut after spending a full season at Double-A. Even if Walcott isn’t ready on Opening Day, the Rangers can cover third internally in the meantime—Josh Smith is a plausible stopgap, and the club has shown it values versatility when it’s trying to patch holes without panicking.
The more important piece, though, is what Texas gets back. Harrington was a former Top 100 prospect who ranked No. 74 on Baseball America’s list entering last season. He struggled in his first taste of the majors, but that’s not a deal-breaker for a team that needs innings and competition. Reuter positions him to compete with Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz for a back-end rotation spot, exactly the kind of depth bet that matters when spring optimism meets summer reality.
Jung-to-Pittsburgh isn’t about “selling low” if the Rangers believe their roster is evolving past him anyway. It’s about converting an increasingly complicated fit into the one currency every contender ends up needing: pitching options. In that sense, Bleacher Report’s idea isn’t just plausible—it’s logical.
Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly MLB. More about Alvin Garcia
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