The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to add another bat this offseason, and if things go as planned, they could be in the mix for a decent player.
A new trade proposal from Mark Powell of FanSided showed a trade that would send Nick Castellanos to the Pirates, but at a price that may ultimately be too big for the Philadelphia Phillies to accept.
Powell’s idea centered around an idea in which Pittsburgh would not only take on Castellanos, but also get prospects in return.
Pirates receive: Castellanos, Justin Crawford
Phillies receive: Mitch Keller
“Oh, yes. The price for controllable starting pitching has skyrocketed this winter, which means acquiring Keller AND getting rid of Castellanos in the same trade (plus not including any money) would mean adding in a top prospect like Justin Crawford,” Powell wrote. “There's a good chance Crawford starts in the Phillies outfield out of spring training, assuming he shows enough down in Florida.”
The Pirates have pitching, so moving Keller makes sense, and they continue to search for offensive upgrades. Castellanos, despite his play recently, would sadly be one of the best hitters on the roster and there would be a strong argument that he’s the best career-wise.
For the Phillies, however, the deal doesn’t make too much sense because of Crawford in it. While Philadelphia has openly said it wants to move Castellanos’ contract, Crawford is widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the game and a potential starter.
“I'd be surprised if the Phillies accepted this trade,” he added. “Yes, their starting rotation could use some depth, and they really want to get rid of Castellanos. At the same time, though, they'd see a lot of Crawford, as Pittsburgh is their in-state rival. If he turns into an All-Star, Dave Dombrowski would never hear the end of it.”
Dave Dombrowski has never been afraid to trade prospects, but historically, those deals have brought back proven, impact stars. Keller is a nice arm, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not some ace. If anything, he’s a No. 3 or No. 4 on a really good team.