Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Speculation: Can Bucs Find Help on the Open Market?

How many people would have guessed that the Pittsburgh Pirates would be on top of the National League Central after July 24? Not too many.

It is amazing that the Pirates sit with a record of 52-47 after their 105-loss season in 2010. They are just five wins away from matching their win total from 2010.

Before the season started, the offense was supposed to carry the team, not the pitching. It has been the other way around in 2011.

Pitching is the No. 1 reason why the Pirates sit where they are. The staff ERA sits seventh in all of baseball with a 3.42 ERA.

Their offense is absolutely atrocious. They are 25th in runs scored (378), 23rd in batting average (.246), 22nd in on base percentage (.312) and 25th in slugging percentage (.361).

The July 31 trade deadline is looming, and the city of Pittsburgh wants to acquire a big bat to stay afloat in the NL Central. The question is: will Pirates’ general manager Neil Huntington and the front office deliver on their promise?

The organization said that they would spend the money if and when the time is right. It is clear that this season has caught many, but especially the organization, by surprise. It is time to put up or shut up.

Potential trade candidates:

Carlos Beltran: The Mets have clearly stated that they are willing to eat some salary in order to gain better prospects. That means that a Starling Marte would probably be heading the Mets' way. Marte went 1-3 at the MLB Future’s Game earlier this month.

Beltran is hitting .291 with 15 HR and 63 RBI. He carries a no-trade clause, allowing him to veto any trade the Mets make. If he goes to the NL, the Braves, Phillies and Giants will be the front-runners.

I don’t think the Pirates should go hard after Beltran. It shouldn’t be an option to get rid of a possible future star for a two-month rental player. It isn’t a given that this team is going to win the division anyway, so if they traded for Beltran and didn’t receive the end result they are looking for, they would lose out on Marte and others.

Chances: 0.1 percent

Hunter Pence: I would be shocked if the Pirates decided to really blow up the future for a guy like Pence.

Don't get me wrong, he is a great player with many tools. He may not look like the most talented player in Major League Baseball, but he gets the job done time after time.

He has hit 25 HR three straight seasons prior to the 2011 campaign.

But like Beltran, the Pirates should not waste future prospects for Pence. The asking price will be astronomical because the Astros don’t even know if they want to trade him. A deal must “wow” them in order for them to accept a trade.

Pence: 0.1 percent

Chris Iannetta: He is hitting .220 with 10 HR and 36 RBI for the Colorado Rockies. The Pirates have started numerous catchers because of injuries in 2011.

They currently have Michael McKenry as their starter. He is hitting .253 with one home run and six RBI in 30 games played.

Would Iannetta be that much of an upgrade?

Hardly.

The majority of his production (seven home runs and 29 RBI) has come in one of the best hitter’s ballpark in the MLB: Coors Field. The Pirates shouldn’t even consider Iannetta an upgrade at this point because he isn’t one.

Chances: 20 percent

B.J. Upton: He is hitting .229 with 15 HR and 52 RBI. His speed would bring another element to the top of the lineup—Upton has swiped 23 bases this season.

The Rays promoted Desmond Jennings from Triple-A Durham this weekend, which doesn’t mean that Upton may be out the door but may mean that his hand is on the doorknob. It may not take too much to get the speedy outfielder.

Depending on how much the Rays want (and they don't seem to want a lot), the Pirates could pick him up for a prospect or two. Upton may not be the best baseball player, but the 26-year-old has loads of athletic ability.

Chances: 25 percent

Josh Willingham: He has hit .241 with 13 HR and 49 RBI with the Oakland Athletics. His low average wouldn’t seem so bad in the Pirates' lineup.

With the nagging injury to Jose Tabata and now Alex Presley’s thumb issue, I like the idea of bringing in Willingham a little more than I did a week ago.

If those players weren’t injured, Presley should move to right and Tabata to left. That would solve the issue.

I would accept bringing in Willingham for nothing of value prospect-wise. A couple of low-ball players would be the only way I would even consider bringing in Willingham.

Chances: 30 percent

Carlos Pena: Lyle Overbay has been horrific at first base in 2011. For a player that is making five million dollars, he hasn’t lived up to the hype. He has hit .235 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. He is just another over-the-hill Pirates free agent acquisition.

Pena has hit .224 with 20 HR and 51 RBI in 2011. Pena has hit 46, 31, 39 and 28 HR in the past four seasons. The only problem with Pena is his low batting average, especially against lefties. He is hitting .258 against righties, but only .127 against lefties. This has been his problem throughout his career.

Could the Pirates put Steve Pearce at first base when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound? This platoon option should be considered.

The Pirates haven’t hit a home run in 60+ innings. They need somebody who can knock the ball out of the yard, and PNC Park’s short porch in right field should help Pena do just that.

I think that first base is the real legitimate place for an upgrade. It shouldn’t take too much to get him, either. They would need to eat some of his salary and throw in a prospect or two.

Chances: 60 percent

The Pirates can find help in the open market; it just depends on how much they are willing to give up. Their biggest addition could be bringing up Pedro Alvarez from the minors.

Ever since being activated from the DL, Alvarez has been tearing the cover off the ball for Triple-A Indianapolis. He is hitting .365 with three home runs and 13 RBI.

Alvarez, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2008, is the biggest threat for power and RBI production in the Pirates' organization. If the Pirates want to be contenders, why wouldn’t they have Alvarez in the lineup against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night? What kind of message does that send to the rest of the team? It doesn’t make sense.

The pitching can only hold up for so long. There comes a time to add a piece, even if that means bringing Alvarez back up from the minors.

I want this team to keep an eye open for the future, but at the same time acquire a stick. Pena would be my addition at first base, and I would just hope that Alvarez would be called up. That gives you two power bats at two power positions.

Add those players to Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker and you have some punch. The lineup would be even stronger with the return of Presley and Tabata.

There are moves that can be made without ruining the future plan. It is up to Huntington and the front office to deliver on their promise.

Update: Pedro Alvarez has been called up today by the Pittsburgh Pirates after they send Alex Presley to the 15-day disabled list.