Ranking the Pirates’ Top 3 Trade Deadline Needs

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the thick of the National League Wild Card hunt. In fact, if the season finished on Wednesday, they'd hold the final Wild Card spot and be back in the postseason for the first time in over a decade.

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However, this Pirates roster is far from perfect, and they need to make some upgrades.

With the trade deadline just under two weeks away, here are Pittsburgh's top three needs, in order.

1. Bullpen Help

The Pirates have an improved lineup and one of the best offenses in baseball. However, that won't matter if Pittsburgh's bullpen can't hold onto a lead late in innings.

The front office's top priority before the trade deadline must be adding another high-leverage arm, maybe even multiple.

This isn't a new concern for this iteration of the team, either. 

Pittsburgh's bullpen currently owns a 4.38 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP, both of which rank in the bottom 10 in baseball. Those numbers are even worse in high-leverage situations, with an 8.68 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

The Pirates hoped that Gregory Soto could lock down the closer role, but he's been inconsistent at best there. As a team, Pittsburgh's 19 blown saves are tied for the sixth most in MLB.

Pittsburgh must find a way to improve the bullpen, or it might be the difference-maker between missing the postseason and playing in October.

2. A Veteran Infielder

With Spencer Horwitz and Konnor Griffin on the injured list, the position group that needs the most attention is the infield. 

Nick Gonzales is having a career year at the plate with a .784 OPS, Jared Triolo is swinging a hot bat of late with a .271/.352/.375 in his last 15 games, and Jacob Gonzalez is making a strong first impression since being acquired by trade, but there's certainly room for improvement.

The only sure-fire player on the dirt Brandon Lowe. 

The Pirates would be wise to add a veteran infielder who, at the very least, could be a more reliable defensive substitute late in games. 

Jul 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers Jared Jones (left) and Paul Skenes (right) walk in from the bullpen before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images3. Starting Rotation Depth

Pittsburgh's rotation has had its moments, but it has largely been a strength for the Pirates in 2026. 

If there's any criticism of this group, it's that it's fairly top-heavy with limited depth.

Paul Skenes and Brandon Ashcraft are leading the way at the top of the rotation. Jared Jones' recent progress has also been encouraging since returning from injury. Bubba Chandler and Mitch Keller have had their moments throughout the year, too.

After these five pitchers, though, there aren't many options 

The Pirates could benefit from adding a veteran pitcher who has experience throwing multiple innings out of the bullpen with the ability to make a spot start.

Could Steven Matz or Zack Littel be available?

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