Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington came into the offseason fully aware that he would likely have to trade from his team’s deep pool of starting pitchers to acquire some much-needed hitting.
That is exactly what Cherington has done. He dealt right-hander Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for outfield prospect Jhonstynon Garica on Dec. 4. On Friday, the Pirates shipped right-hander Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros and got back All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade.
Advertisement
The Pirates still have holes in a lineup that was last in MLB in runs scored, home runs, and OPS this year. However, Cherington isn’t likely to trade any more starters to add bats.
“I think the bar is pretty high,” Cherington said Saturday. “You don’t ever want to say never. Don’t want to cut ourselves off to something that just really makes sense for the Pirates, short-term and long-term. But it would have to clear a bar for sure.
“At this point, it seems unlikely we would do that unless we saw a player coming back that was an immediate fit for the lineup and also with some confidence that we can add a starter back in a different way, whether that was through trade or free agency. I think that’s possible. It’s certainly a scenario we’ve discussed and will continue to discuss, but we’ll hold a high bar on it.”
Advertisement
Right-hander Mitch Keller seems certain to stay with the Pirates after being the subject of numerous trade rumors ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline and again at the beginning of the offseason. Keller figures to slot into the rotation behind reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes after averaging 34 starts and 196 2/3 innings a year over the last three seasons.
Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Carmen Mlodzinski appear to be the current favorites to round out the rotation. None is older than 26, so the Pirates might want to acquire a veteran starter to improve their depth. Rookies Hunter Barco and Thomas Harrington could also be in the running for starting jobs.
“I think we’re certainly open to continuing to add in the bullpen and also add back starting pitching depth or bulk depth if we can,” Cherington said. “I think we have a lot of confidence in the group we have right now. I think we’d be confident opening the season where we are. But if we can add back some starting pitching or bulk depth and upside to that group, then yes, that’s something we’d prefer to do if we can do it.”