{"id":828097,"date":"2018-06-29T12:00:45","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T16:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/?p=828097"},"modified":"2018-06-29T14:50:23","modified_gmt":"2018-06-29T18:50:23","slug":"pittsburgh-pirates-time-trade-now-pbd11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/news\/pittsburgh-pirates-time-trade-now-pbd11\/","title":{"rendered":"For the Pirates, the time to trade is now"},"content":{"rendered":"
Insert the Pittsburgh Pirates into the latter, well sort of.<\/span><\/p>\n Reports have been coming out for weeks saying that the Pirates are ready to be sellers. This came as no surprise to anyone, really. <\/span><\/p>\n However, GM Neal Huntington was quick to shut those reports down, saying that he was prepared to add instead of sell. Although, he left it up to the fans and their attendance at PNC Park as to whether he went that route. Obviously, that left some sour tastes in the mouths of an already beyond disgruntled fan base. <\/span><\/p>\n I think this shows how out of touch the front office really is with the fan base.<\/span><\/p>\n Everyone knows this team isn\u2019t contending this year. Many, if not most, are actually ready to part ways with the likes of Josh Harrison<\/a>, Francisco Cervelli<\/a>, and Ivan Nova<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n So why wait? Do it now before they hit a slump and lose their value. <\/span><\/p>\n After returning from the DL, Nova has been near electric. Over his last four starts, he’s spanned 25.2 innings, allowed just five runs and struck out 21, while opponents are batting just .185 against him. That\u2019s without a doubt the best he has pitched all season.<\/span><\/p>\n In the month of June, Harrison has been average or slightly below. He\u2019s batting .250 for the month with two home runs and 10 RBI. Nothing to write home about but coming into the season, he was the one most fans expected to be traded. He even went so far as to openly request a trade after Andrew McCutchen<\/a> and Gerrit Cole<\/a> were shipped off. <\/span><\/p>\n Cervelli has had a tough year injury wise but he has already hit a career-high nine home runs and is close to a career-high in RBI before the All Star break. <\/span><\/p>\n Then you can also bring up the likes of Jordy Mercer<\/a>, David Freese<\/a>, and Corey Dickerson<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n You get the picture. All of these guys are 30 or older, except for Dickerson (29). <\/span><\/p>\n So I ask again. What is the benefit of waiting? <\/span><\/p>\n The Pirates are a moderately young team. The pitching staff only has one guy over the age of 26 (Nova). <\/span><\/p>\n The offense is a little older and that is where these trades could make the most impact.<\/span><\/p>\n Waiting patiently in Indianapolis is Nick Kingham<\/a> and former first round pick Kevin Newman<\/a> who was named to the International League All Star team. <\/span><\/p>\n Then there is Kevin Kramer<\/a> who has been red hot over the last month. <\/span><\/p>\nWhy wait?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Start \u2018em young<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n