As the National League Wild Card race continues to tighten in late July, the Pittsburgh Pirates will surely need to utilize the MLB trade deadline to stay afloat.
One area in particular that the Pirates must address is their bullpen.
Despite a surprisingly productive offense that has kept the team competitive and a starting rotation featuring high-upside arms such as Paul Skenes along with emerging talents like Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler, the relief corps has lagged significantly.
Ranking near the bottom of the league in reliever ERA for the season, with even poorer results since the beginning of June, the late-inning group has repeatedly undermined otherwise promising performances.
Chris Landers of FanSided points out that the Pirates possess the foundational pieces of a legitimate contender, provided they can secure more reliable outs once their starting pitchers depart.
While a marquee acquisition such as San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller represents an ideal but increasingly improbable scenario given the Padres’ own recent surge back into the Wild Card conversation, more realistic high-leverage options remain available.
One such possibility lies with the Kansas City Royals, where left-hander Daniel Lynch IV has excelled against both right-handed and left-handed hitters this season. Adding a pitcher of Lynch’s caliber would inject much-needed stability into Pittsburgh’s bullpen without requiring an excessive cost in return, though Landers notes that he should form only part of a broader effort to reinforce the relief unit.
Landers has concocted a trade proposal that features the Bucs sending second baseman Termarr Johnson and pitcher Antwone Kelly to the Royals in exchange for Lynch, who has logged a 2.08 ERA in 43 relief appearances for Kansas City this season.
Lynch owns a lifetime 4.30 ERA since entering the big leagues as a starter in 2021, but he has been much more effective since transitioning to full-time relief work in 2024.
This approach aligns with the broader theme Landers explores across the National League’s fringe contenders, where each club must address specific weaknesses to maximize their October chances.
The Pirates’ situation stands out because their strengths elsewhere create a clear pathway: stabilize the late innings, and the rest of the roster has the potential to carry them forward.
With the deadline approaching rapidly, the decisions made in the coming days will go a long way toward determining whether Pittsburgh can climb back into genuine contention or continue to watch opportunities slip away.
