Welcome to the Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline tracker – your home for up-to-the-minute rumors, gossip, and trade news from today’s MLB trade deadline
The Pittsburgh Pirates may or may not make a trade today before Major League Baseball’s 4PM trade deadline.
Regardless, Pirates Breakdown is going to track all of the action. We’ll keep tabs on the Pirates of course, but also on their NL central rivals. For each consummated deal, we will give you the particulars, along with some snapshot analysis.
4:20 PM- Pirates acquire Joaquin Benoit from Phillies
The Bucs added a reliever late by acquiring the veteran Benoit from Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh added the 38-year old Benoit for for RHP Seth McGarry. He is 23 and was 8th-round pick of Pirates in 2015.
Benoit currently has a 4.07 ERA in 42 innings pitched throughout 44 appearances on the season.
3:35 PM- Dodgers also looking into Watson
The Dodgers seem committed into landing Zach Britton, but Ken Rosenthal reports the Dodgers may view Watson as a backup plan.
Source: #Dodgers talking to #Pirates about Tony Watson. Fallback option if they don’t get Britton.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
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3:20 PM – Nationals looking into Watson
Sources have told Pirates Breakdown that the Washington Nationals are looking into Tony Watson
3:15 PM – Two controllable relievers the Pittsburgh Pirates might want to look into
If the Pirates are looking at controllable relievers, there are two options that immediately spring to mind if they want to swing for the fences.
The Toronto Blue Jays are tip toeing into a full on sale. Would they entertain offers to trade Roberto Osuna?
Osuna has been nothing short of spectacular across his first 185 games in the majors, pitching to a 2.72 FIP while striking out 10.4 hitters per nine. Adding Osuna will not be cheap, but would give the Pirates an immediately deadly 1-2 punch with Felipe Rivero in the late innings. Osuna would enter his first arbitration year next year, so the prospect cost would be exorbitant.
Perhaps Tony Cingrani of the Reds would be an easier get. Cingrani was a promising starter for Cincinnati but in recent years he has struggled in their bullpen. He would represent one of Ray Searage‘s greatest challenges in recent years, but could be worth the gamble given his contract. He is sporting a 9.26 K/9 this season, so perhaps he is just a few tinkers away from being a strong bullpen arm.
3:00 PM – Finally, a domino falls
After hours of tipping in the direction, a major domino appears to have fallen as Sonny Gray will head to the Yankees
Source: Sonny Gray will be traded to the Yankees.
— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) July 31, 2017
Before hearing from Bill Brink (see previous update), it had been thought that the Pittsburgh Pirates might be in the market for a lower-end starting pitcher. It is hard to tell if this move will have any bearing on that market, if the club is even still in it. Gray was head and shoulders above any other starter target available, so the ripple effect may not reach down to the level the Pirates are dealing in.
2:55 PM – Business picking up?
Bill Brink of the Post Gazette is reporting that the Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline plans may be picking up
Pirates fielding offers for Nicasio and Watson, also seeking controllable relievers.
— Bill Brink (@Bill_Brink2) July 31, 2017
2:35 PM- All quiet on Pirates front
With under 90 minutes remaining until the 4pm deadline comes and goes, things remain very quiet with the Bucs as the Pirates are pretty much not linked to anyone at the moment.
That doesn’t mean Neal Huntington isn’t busy trying to put a deal together as most of his trades as of late have come at the very last minute.
I would be shocked if Huntington does anything major, whether it be buying or selling, but he has about 80 minutes remaining to get something done, no matter how big or small.
1:55 PM – TRADE: Brewers get Jeffress from Rangers
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports that the Milwaukee Brewers have re-acquired Jeremy Jeffress from the Texas Rangers
#Rangers have traded Jeremy Jeffress to the #Brewers
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2017
TRADE: we still as of yet do not have the pieces going back to Texas, but the Brewers clearly still had feelings for their former reliever, whom they dealt to Texas last season. Jeffress performed well for the Rangers in 2016, pitching to a 3.67 FIP in 12 appearances. The wheels have fallen off for the 29-year old in 2017, with a 5.83 FIP across 40.1 innings. Never a high strikeout guy, Jeffreess is actually punching out 6.8 hitters per nine, but has seen his home runs per nine and hits per nine rates climb dramatically, at 1.8 and 10.8, respectively.
ANALYSIS: This reeks of desperation. With clear better options out there, the Brewers chose to gravitate towards the familiar. Perhaps that familiarity can be a boost to Jeffress, but even so this trade is underwhelming at best.
1:30 PM Lance Lynn on the move?
Our first National League Central rumor of the day involves the St. Louis Cardinals, who still sit in front of the Bucs in the standings.
According to Jon Paul Morosi on MLB Network, the Astros are interested in Cardinals’ starter Lance Lynn.
Sources: #Astros have shown interest in Lance Lynn. HOU/STL officials are comfortable dealing with one another, despite recent history. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2017
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ESPN’s Buster Olney also speculates that the Cleveland Indians may be the best landing spot for Lynn.
Speculation within the industry that Lance Lynn might fit best with the Cleveland Indians.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2017
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1:15 PM- Astros talking to Jays about Francisco Liriano
The former Pirate Liriano could be on the move for a second consecutive trade deadline.
Ken Rosenthal reports the Astros could be looking to land Liriano and use him in the bullpen.
Sources: #Astros talking to #BlueJays about Liriano. HOU also working on other things. Likely would use Liriano as reliever if deal happens.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
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Liriano has been terrible this season, posting a 5.88 ERA over 18 starts. It’s somewhat comical how quickly Liriano has fallen.
Imagine where the Bucs would be this season had they not moved him at last year’s deadline.
12:30 PM – Market for relievers starting to heat up
Buster Olney reports that the Angels will be shopping a few of their relief pitchers while Jon Morosi indicates that the Nationals and Rockies are both looking to add to their bullpens before today’s 4pm deadline. With pitchers such as Juan Nicasio and Tony Watson, the Pirates could have some intriguing pieces to move if they decide to trade anyone today. Even if the Pirates do move a reliever or two, this should not be seen as management giving up on 2017. Rather, it will be more of an indication of Neal Huntington taking advantage of a quickly developing market.
The Angels are marketing Bud Norris and David Hernandez and are expected to move them before the deadline.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2017
#Nationals have shown interest in #Twins closer Brandon Kintzler, source says. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2017
#Rockies interested in adding another relief pitcher, but nothing imminent at the moment. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2017
11:35 AM – Slow moving market for Yu Darvish; Mets starting to sell
As of now, the market on Yu Darvish may be coming to an impasse. The Indians were earlier rumored to be in the running, but they have since dropped out according to Yahoo’s Tim Brown. The market for Darvish’s services seems to be limited to the Los Angeles Dodgers at this point, with the Houston Astros still on the fringes of being in the mix.
The New York Mets have dealt closer Addison Reed to the Boston Red Sox, and there may be more moves coming from the Metropolitans:
Source: Mets should be able to move one of their outfielders before the deadline. Surprisingly, Granderson seems more likely than Bruce.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 31, 2017
We recently highlighted Jay Bruce as a potential Pittsburgh Pirates trade target (see below), but their need for a fourth outfielder — and Gregory Polanco stopgap — could lead them to Granderson.
The three-time All-Star is no longer the player he once was, but still has some pop left in his bat with 20 doubles to go along with 13 home runs in 345 plate appearances this season. Unfortunately for Grandson, age has sapped his speed and seemingly his patience as he carries at 25.5 percent strikeout rate on the year.
Set to pay Granderson $15 million over 2017, the Mets would have to pick up a huge chunk of the tab for the Pirates to even consider a potential deal.
9:50 AM – Athletics/Yankees get closer on Sonny Gray deal
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick is reporting that the Yankees and Athletics might be closing in on a deal for one of the big fish on the SP market in Sonny Gray.
#Yankees and #Athletics are "close enough to get over the hump" today on a Sonny Gray deal, says source. Still gonna take some compromise.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2017
Although the Pittsburgh Pirates were likely never serious contenders for Gray, a potential deal for the Oakland hurler could affect the market for secondary targets such as Ervin Santana or Lance Lynn.
9:00 AM – Previous Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline content
Things are quiet right now, so we’ll set the table by recapping some of our previous trade deadline content:
- Three potential outfield targets for the Pirates
- Four potential bullpen upgrades
- Trade Target Profile: NYM OF Jay Bruce
- Trade Target Profile: TOR SP Marco Estrada
- Trade Target Profile: LAD P Brandon Morrow
- Trade Target Profile: SDP INF Yangveris Solarte
- The needs of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Central rivals
8:25 am- Cubs bolster bullpen; add catcher
First, a quick recap of a couple of deals that went down later last night.
TRADE: The team the Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to catch in the National League Central, the Chicago Cubs got even better by acquiring ex-Pirate Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila from the Tigers in exchange for infielder Jeimer Candelario and shortstop Isaac Paredes, along with cash or a player to be named later.
ANALYSIS: This move is a great one for the Cubs as Wilson is having a solid season and strengthens the back of the Cubs pen while Avila adds an experienced backup catcher to the mix.
8:20 am- Rockies acquire Jonathan Lucroy
TRADE: The Rockies look to maintain their grip on one of the National League Wild Card spots by acquiring Lucroy to strengthen the catcher position, which needed an upgrade. Colorado sends a player to be named later to Texas in the deal.
ANALYSIS: Lucroy has struggled this season, hitting just .242/.297/.338 with four home runs. He has also struggled defensively as he rates as the worst pitch framer in the game this season. However, a return to the National League and Coors Field should be a big boost in helping Lucroy bounce back.
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