Sitting just 1 1/.2 games back from a wild card berth, the Pittsburgh Pirates could solidify their shaky bullpen and lineup by targeting veteran reinforcements from a rebuilding Boston squad.
Bill Pacells famously said, “You are who your record says you are.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates, under the Hall of Fame football coach’s definition, are an average team. Three games from reaching the midpoint of the season, the Pirates are 39-39 going into a three-game series against American League West-leading Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night that begins a three-game series and six-game homestand at PNC Park.
However, Pittsburgh has a chance to do better than average. The bullpen has been a combustible mess, the starting rotation has underachieved, and the lineup is missing two catalysts: center fielder Oneil Cruz and rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin, both on the injured list.
Winning the National League Central is nearly out of the question as the Pirates are in fourth place and nine games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. However, Pittsburgh is just 1 ½ out of the third NL wild card.
It’s a realistic hope for the Pirates to reach the postseason for the first time since 2015. However, general manager Ben Cherington must bolster Pittsburgh’s roster to improve its playoff chances.
One team that could be a good trade partner is the Boston Red Sox. They seem ready to look to the future, as they are last in the American League East with a 31-45 record.
The Red Sox are said to be willing to trade closer Aroldis Chapman and designated hitter/first baseman Willson Contreras for young major-leaguers or prospects nearing the big leagues.
Chapman blew a 2-0 ninth-inning lead on Monday night as the Colorado Rockies won 3-2 on Jake McCarthy’s walk-off three-run triple. Nevertheless, it was Chapman’s first blown save in 15 opportunities this season. The 38-year-old has a 2.08 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.
Chapman would give the Pirates a strong closer and allow fellow left-hander Gregory Soto to step back into a set-up role. The trickle-down effect would, in theory, strengthen the entire bullpen.
Contreras would seem to be a roster redundancy, as the Pirates already have a veteran right-handed-hitting DH in Marcell Ozuna. However, the 34-year-old Contreras would be a significant upgrade with his .281/.377/.525 slash line and 16 home runs in 74 games.
The Red Sox’s asking price for the duo wouldn’t be as high as one might think. Conteras can become a free agent at the end of the season, and Chapman could also hit the open market, though a $13-million mutual option for 2027 would be triggered if he pitches at least 40 innings this year and passes a postseason physical examination.
I ran various trade proposals by baseball people in recent days, and they believe a prospect package of right-handers Antwone Kelly and Alessandro Ercolani, and second baseman Termarr Johnson could get a deal done.
Kelly would be the toughest player to give up, as he is ranked eighth among the organization's prospects by Baseball America. Johnson is No. 12, but the Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2022 seems like he needs a change of scenery. A native of San Marino, Ercolani has intriguing, rare potential.
Cherington might hesitate at giving up so many prospects, but the Pirates need immediate help, and he needs to add it as soon as possible.
