Pittsburgh Pirates Rumors: Tracking the Latest Rumors Around the Bucs

With under two weeks until the MLB non-waiver trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been linked to almost every hitter that has been rumored to possibly be on the block.

ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote today:

"If there’s a hitter who might have even a remote shot of getting traded, the Pirates have asked about him. One surprising name they took a run at: Kansas City’s favorite All-Star folk hero, Billy Butler. But the Pirates are still in a buy-low frame of mind. And the Royals have told a few clubs that inquired that they’d have to be blown away to deal their All-Star."

So while the Bucs are aggressively out shopping, that doesn’t mean the Pirates will be able to find a match on a deal.

In my last notebook, I took a look at some of the players that the Bucs have been linked to. This week I will take a look at the latest rumors surrounding those players and many more.

Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks: Upton remains at the top of the Pirates wish list, despite all reports that the Bucs and Snakes aren’t a good fit. The Bucs don’t have the shortstop that the Diamondbacks want, but the Bucs remain in the mix.

FOX Sports Jon Morosi reports that the Bucs remain involved and that’s a good sign.

Carlos Quentin, San Diego Padres: For the time being, it looks as if the Padres are trying to work on a long-term extension with Quentin, but if that doesn’t happen within the next week-plus, San Diego could once again put him on the block.

Josh Willingham, Minnesota Twins: The Bucs have long been interested in Willingham, but it looks like it would take a monster offer for the Twins to deal him.

Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs: I don’t necessarily like the idea of the Pirates and Soriano, but he hits well at PNC Park (could be the Pirates pitching) and the Cubs would likely be willing to eat most of his salary. However at this point, it doesn’t seem as if the Bucs have much interest in Soriano.

Chase Headley, San Diego Padres: Headley can be had and it looks as if the Bucs and the Orioles are the two teams the hottest after him, reports Bill Center of the San Diego Tribune.  Headley is hitting .268 with 10 homers and 46 RBI and has a .333 career average at PNC Park. While Headley is playing third base for San Diego, he likely would play left field for the Bucs.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies: The Pirates need an arm, which I feel should be a higher priority, but renting Hamels is an unlikely option for the Bucs, especially since the Phillies are talking a $130 million extension.

Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox: Lester for Gerrit Cole is not an option.

Zach Grienke, Milwauke Brewers: Grienke could sign a $100 million extension with the Brewers, so that eliminates him as an option.

Paul Maholm, Chicago Cubs: The Bucs are looking at re-acquiring Maholm, reports Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago. I’m not too excited about Maholm, but he could be had for a cheaper price than other Cubs pitchers like Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster, so the Pirates could save their top prospects as trade bait for a top hitter. He could turn out to be a decent back end of the rotation guy.

Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondbacks: Despite reports that the Bucs were interested in Drew, they haven’t inquired about him and he would’nt be much of an upgrade from Clint Barmes, especially on the defensive end.

Marco Scutero, Colorado Rockies: The Bucs and Rangers have interest in Scutero and while he represents an upgrade at the plate over Barmes, I caution any move that makes the Bucs worse defensively.

In other Pirates news, the Bucs won a pick in MLB’s first Competitive Balance Lottery. In addition to having two first-round selections, the Pirates have been awarded a compensation pick between the first and second rounds, meaning they will have three of the top 33 picks.