Pittsburgh Pirates: Tilting At Trade Rumor Mill
By Larry Snyder
Coming out of the All-Star Game break, the Pittsburgh Pirates have the second best record in all of Major League Baseball at 53-35. However, the Bucs remain 2.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, who own a 56-33 mark, in the National League Central Division. With the MLB Trade Deadline set for July 31, could this be the time for Neal Huntington and Company to make a move for another player?
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It is time to let our fingers do the walking over the keyboard and see what the rest of the internet is saying about the Pirates making any deals in the days ahead.
From MLB Trade Rumors – Zack Links is reporting that the Pirates recently watched Miami Marlins righthander Dan Haren, 34, pitch at Fenway Park. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound righthander is 7-5 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. The Monterey Park, California native has put up 79 strikeouts over 111.0 innings pitched. Haren could take the place of Jeff Locke in the rotation. Locke is 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The 6-foot, 195-pound lefthander has contributed 75 strikeouts over 96.0 innings pitched.
From Pittsburgh Tribune Review – Rob Biertempfel has a source that is saying the Bucs have had conversations with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates are looking at outfielders Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur. Revere in 330 at-bats this season is hitting .297 average/.337 OBP/.716 OPS. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound outfielder has contributed 21 stolen bases and 23 RBIs.
His teammate Francoeur in 184 at-bats is at .245/.277/.685. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound outfielder has put up 26 RBIs. Either could be seen as a temporary fill-in for the injured Josh Harrison.
Pittsburgh Pirates
From Rant Sports – Jacob Kornhauser thinks there ought to be a Pirates reunion with veteran infielder Aramis Ramirez. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound third baseman has recorded 10 home runs and 39 RBIs in 76 contests for the Brew Crew. He could help out at third to give Jung Ho Kang a break till Harrison returns from his hand injury.
From Sporting News – Earlier this month, Jesse Spector speculated that the crew of the Jolly Roger should be interested in Chicago White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzja. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound righthander could eat innings and give the bullpen a break on some nights. The 30-year-old Smardzja is 6-4 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
The question that remains is who should the Pirates deal? Do you move Pedro Alvarez and platoon Sean Rodriguez and Travis Ishikawa the rest of the way? Do you dip into the farm system and move a prospect like Josh Bell, who played well at the Futures Game in Cincinnati, for bench help? Let me know in the comments section below.
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