Pirates receive trade rumor update regarding Oneil Cruz after superstar performance in World Baseball Classic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates proved they have a real contender on their hands due to the World Baseball Classic, where two of their main franchise stars, Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz, put on clinics for their countries in the United States and Dominican Republic.
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However, for one of them, their superstar performance might consequentially end their time in Pittsburgh. FanSided’s Jake Elman predicts that after his stellar performance in the WBC, the Buccos will try to put Cruz on the trade block.
“The Pirates may not trade ace Paul Skenes anytime soon, but Cruz is a different story. Few will argue Cruz’s talent, though he’s coming off a 2025 season where he hit .200 with a .676 OPS in nearly 550 plate appearances. Add in the fact that Cruz has another two seasons of arbitration eligibility, and few would blame the Pirates if they try flipping him to a contender who is optimistic they can develop him into a reliable starter. Although he hit 20 home runs and recorded an NL-leading 38 stolen bases last year, Cruz frequently looked overmatched at the plate. That wasn’t the case in the WBC, as Cruz finished the tournament hitting .600 with two home runs, four RBIs, and three walks. Perhaps most importantly, he didn’t strike out once in eight plate appearances. While we don’t expect to see Cruz dealt before Opening Day, we wouldn’t be surprised if his name begins popping up in trade rumors by mid-May, especially if Pittsburgh gets off to a slow start. By that point, the Pirates might need to admit that they are ready to move on,” Elman wrote.
This past season in the MLB, Cruz slashed .200/.298/.378/.676 with 18 doubles, 20 home runs, 61 RBI, and 38 stolen bases in 135 games played. However, as Elman noted, it seems Cruz has corrected his hitting problems, and could be on track for a bounceback season in 2026.
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Cruz is also under control for the next three years, which makes him incredibly valuable to both small market teams and perennial contenders who want to save some money. However, that could also work for the Pirates, as they look to contend at least for the next few seasons.
Overall, if the Pirates were to get a really good offer for Cruz, more likely than not, they’ll bite. They have a good farm that can replace him, and what they get in return might help more than Cruz does.
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