MLB analyst and insider Jon Morosi discusses the Pittsburgh Pirates' current mindset as the trade deadline approaches.
For the first time in a long time, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the thick of the playoff race at the midway point of the season.
While the National League Central might be out of reach, there’s still a chance that the Pirates can find themselves in the postseason picture via a Wild Card spot; they’re currently 3.0 games back.
The only issue is that if Pittsburgh does want to make a postseason push, they clearly need a little more on their roster to fill some clear voids.
According to MLB insider and analyst Jon Morosi, the Pirates’ plan is to buy ahead of the trade deadline, which is just over a month out.
“I was told they are planning to buy,” said Morosi. “They are planning to buy, and at the moment, they are focused on the bullpen. They want a little bit more swing-and-miss to secure games late.”
Jun 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly (12) walks to the mound to make a pitching change against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesThere are a couple of interesting takeaways from Morosi’s comments.
One being that the Pirates are planning on adding at the trade deadline. That would be a shift from the front office’s game plan compared to previous deadlines, but it also backs up what Pittsburgh did over the offseason.
The Pirates have been one of the more aggressive teams in MLB on the transaction front since the winter. They traded for Brandon Lowe and signed Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna as free agents.
Another interesting note Morosi mentioned is that the Pirates have seemingly already identified a position group they want to target: the bullpen.
Adding another reliever or two is a must for the Pirates if they want to get back to the playoffs and actually make some noise in October. Pittsburgh currently owns a 4.37 bullpen ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.
Even though the Pirates' offense is arguably one of the best in the National League, that won’t matter if the bullpen gives up late leads.
If the Pirates plan to add to the bullpen now, the question becomes: which relievers could the team target, and who could end up in Pittsburgh the first week in August?
PiratesRoundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
