With the Aug. 31 trade deadline just over a week away, the Pirates are positioned as one of the few true sellers on this years market.
The amount of selling they do is still unknown, though. While players on expiring contracts, like closer Keone Kela and starter Derek Holland, seem likely to be dealt, most of the Pirates' roster consists of players with years of team control remaining. That includes players like Josh Bell and Adam Frazier.
Players with more team control usually fetch a higher return in deals, which would seem like a positive for the Pirates, who are focused on acquiring younger talent for a rebuild.
Earlier this week, general manager Ben Cherington all but officially said that everyone is on the table for a potential deal.
However, he clarified Sunday that he won't make a trade this deadline just for the sake of making a trade.
"If you feel like if you have to do something, or you're forced to do something, it's sort of the worst position to be in, in terms of making a trade," Cherington said on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan Sunday. "We want to avoid that. We should never be dealing from a position of needing to do something. We should be dealing from a position of wanting to do something because it's going to help us be better."
Cherington understands where fans are coming from for trying to speed up the rebuilding process by making trades now rather than waiting, but stressed that the Pirates need to make good moves, not just moves.
"I want the same thing. I want to see acquisitions that help the team get better," Cherington said. "... Whether we make trades between now and Aug. 31, whether we make trades in the offseason or next July or whenever it is, we will make trades. But they've got to be trades that really make sense for the Pirates, now and in the long term."
More from Cherington's show:
• Kyle Crick will join the Pirates on their upcoming roadtrip starting Tuesday, signaling he will be activated off the injured list. Kela will also join the team on the road after being pulled from Friday's game with forearm tightness. The club is classifying Kela's status as day-to-day.
• Cherington said he is "really encouraged" by the progress Joe Musgrove is making as he rehabs from his right triceps inflammation. Mitch Keller, who has a left oblique injury, is not too far behind.
"We’re very optimistic we’re going to see them both back in the rotation here during the season."
• Cherington was in Altoona to observe the alternate camp Saturday. The infield for the sim game was first baseman Mason Martin, second baseman Nick Gonzales, shortstop Liover Pegeuro and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. Out of those four, Cherington acquired the middle infield.
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