The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the worst teams in baseball, but that doesn’t mean it is all doom and gloom.
The Pirates have some bright spots, and it isn’t just Paul Skenes.
Bleacher Report writer Tim Kelly named relief pitcher Dennis Santana as the team’s best-kept secret.
Get ready to hear Dennis Santana’s name quite a bit in the coming weeks. He was designated for assignment by the Yankees last June, but he has developed into one of the better relievers in baseball since being claimed by the Pirates. With a 1.48 ERA in 25 games, he is not only an All-Star candidate, but he also figures to be one of the more-coveted trade chips in advance of the July 31 trade deadline, especially since he can’t become a free agent until after the 2026 season.
The Pirates will have a choice to make on Santana later this summer, but for now, the team is appreciating his work in the bullpen.
Given their status as a last-place team, the Pirates should try and listen to trade offers on Santana if they come up, and that should spark a debate on his value within the front office.
Pittsburgh should try and trade Santana if they can get a top prospect or two from a contending team looking to offload one of those players.
BD community, what do you think of Santana’s resurgence? Should he stay with the Bucs or should the team find a trade for him? Chime off in the comments section below.