Steven Brault/Trevor Williams
Neither guy is likely going anywhere, but both are among Huntington’s most realistic trade chips.
Huntington has never been willing to trade good prospects, especially pitching prospects, but it also makes a great deal of sense to deal from a strength to improve a weakness.
Keep in mind one of these guys is a valuable trade chip only if Huntington were to consider a major upgrade in the rotation. They shouldn’t be available for an average or above average starter.
But the philosophy makes sense.
Sure you can never have too much pitching, especially home grown pitching, but keep this in mind.
Gerrit Cole is under team control through 2020. Francisco Liriano is signed through 2017. They will both be in the rotation next season. Jameson Taillon is also a lock and guys like Chad Kuhl and Glasnow will likely be penciled into next year’s rotation barring a move for another starter.
Even is the Pirates can somehow move a guy like Liriano, it only opens up one rotation spot.
That means a guy like Brault or Williams will have a hard time making the major league rotation for the immediate future. Throw in the fact that more quality arms are working their way through the system and one of these guys becomes an attractive trade chip for the Pirates.
Keep this in mind as well. If Huntington is going to bring in another arm, it is likely going to be a guy under team control for the next couple of years. That means one less rotation spot for one of the young guys.
Do I think one of them will be moved? No.
Do I think they could be dangled in the right deal? Absolutely.
We wrap up our list with a once highly-touted prospect who cannot find playing time.
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