One of the most rumored trade targets for the Pittsburgh Pirates recently is Houston Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes. The Pirates have Jared Triolo penciled in at third base, but Paredes would offer higher upside with the bat. Since becoming a full-time player in 2022, he has never put up a wRC+ below 115. Last season, Paredes slashed .254/.352/.458 with a 128 wRC+ and 20 home runs over 448 plate appearances. He is a divisive trade target among fans due to his heavy pull-side approach. Unfortunately, PNC Park is not very accommodating for his approach either.

However, if the Pirates want to get a deal done for Paredes, a third team will likely have to be involved. According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, if the Astros end up moving Paredes, they want a left-handed hitting outfielder in return. On its own, that’s a problem for the Pirates and their pursuit of Paredes.

The Pirates May Not Have Enough Ammo on Their Own To Get an Isaac Paredes Trade Done

As of right now, the Pirates have just two left-handed hitting outfielders on their 40-man roster. That includes Jack Suwinski and Oneil Cruz. The Pirates are not going to move Cruz, nor should they. Suwinski could be moved; however, the Astros likely would not be satisfied if he were the left-handed-hitting outfielder offered. Over the last two seasons, Suwinski has a meager 59 wRC+ and -1.7 fWAR over 455 plate appearances.

The only other noteworthy left-handed outfielder the Pirates have is Edward Florentino. Florentino would certainly pique the Astros’ interest. But he is arguably even more unlikely to get traded than Cruz. Florentino had a massive breakout year in 2025. The top prospect put up a 159 wRC+, 16 home runs, and 35 stolen bases in 83 games. He split his season between the Florida Complex League and A-Ball Bradenton. Baseball America currently ranks Florentino as the 28th-best prospect in all of baseball.

A three-team swap involving the Pirates and Paredes should not be a massive shock. Rome mentioned the possibility of a three-team swap earlier this month. It’s not as if the Pirates are weary of making a three-team trade either. Earlier this offseason, they acquired Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery, and Jake Mangum from the Tampa Bay Rays. Sending 2025 standout rookie Mike Burrows to the Astros. Meanwhile, the Astros sent top prospects Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito to the Rays.

We shall see if the Pirates can get a deal done and acquire Paredes before the start of Spring Training. Finding a third baseman should be one of the last things left on their off-season to-do list. While a three-team trade could make acquiring Paredes more difficult, the Pirates would cap off an extremely impressive offseason if they can pull it off.

 

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