One name that has been occasionally linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates in trade speculation this winter is Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz.
The Pirates' attempt to acquire Diaz doesn’t make sense on the surface. He is a right-handed-hitting first baseman, and the Pirates’ best offensive player this year was left-handed-hitting first baseman Spencer Horwitz.
Adding Diaz to be a short-side platoon player seems highly unlikely as the 34-year-old’s salary will be $12 million next season. However, there is also an option that vests for $10 million in 2027 if he has at least 425 plate appearances in 2026 and passes a physical. Diaz also hasn’t played third base, which is more of a Pirates’ need, regularly since 2022.
The Pirates could perhaps play Diaz at first base and move Horwitz to second, though the overall team defense would take a hit. However, for the sake of this exercise, let’s see what it might mean for the Pirates to trade for Diaz.
The Rays, like most teams, are looking for pitching, and right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski is attractive for many reasons. He has a 3.25 career ERA in 185 2/3 innings over three seasons in 109 games (17 starts), does not become eligible for salary arbitration until after next season, and is open to being converted to a starter, as he was last season with poor results.
The Rays are also looking for catching depth and might take a flier on Endy Rodriguez, who was once considered the Pirates’ top prospect. The 25-year-old has missed most of the past two seasons because of two elbow surgeries and seems buried on the Pirates’ depth chart, but is still young enough for another organization to salvage his career.
The Pirates would likely ask for a second, smaller piece back in the deal. That could be Hunter Bigge, a 27-year-old right-handed reliever, who has a 2.51 ERA in 32 career games over the past two seasons with 36 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.
Or the deal could be expanded.
The Pirates have also shown interest in Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, and we explored a potential trade scenario for him recently. The Pirates could make a deal involving both Diaz and Lowe, who will make $11.5 million next season before free agency.
Despite reportedly no longer being on their perpetual austerity program, would the Pirates take $23.5 million worth of players in the same deal?
That part isn’t certain, but the Pirates might also have to include Horwitz in the deal, which would make sense after they revamp the right side of their infield in this trade. The Rays would need to add a significant player back, and that could be shortstop Daniel Pierce, a 19-year-old shortstop who was their first-round pick in this year’s amateur draft.
Would a seven-player trade that sends Diaz, Lowe, Pierce, and Bigge to the Pirates for Horwitz, Mlodzinski, and Rodriguez work? It is hard to tell, but also fun to ponder.