The Pittsburgh Pirates are battling for their first postseason berth since 2015, making this summer’s trade deadline absolutely crucial, and a wild debate has popped up around their 6-foot-7 slugger, Oneil Cruz. While the team is having a productive season and sitting right in the thick of things, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale just dropped a prediction that has everyone talking about what Pittsburgh *should* do, not just what they *will* do.
The Numbers Say “Keep Him,” The Roster Says “Maybe Not?”
Nightengale’s big prediction is that Cruz isn’t going anywhere, even with the Pirates desperate for bullpen help and more depth in their starting rotation. It’s a tough call because, let’s be real, the guy’s numbers are legit. Before hitting the injured list, Cruz, at 27 years old, was crushing it in 64 games this season. He racked up 1.2 bWAR, blasted 14 home runs, drove in 44 RBIs, swiped 21 bases, and had a .264 batting average with an .822 OPS and a 123 OPS+. Those are huge stats, and he’s a massive reason the offense has been clicking. But here’s the twist: the offense has been totally fine without him, too. Esmerlyn Valdez suddenly broke out, and Jake Mangum is absolutely coming into his own with a .726 OPS and a .301 average. So, Cruz is under club control through 2028, but with others stepping up, you have to wonder if he’s become somewhat expendable for the right move.
A Legitimate Trade Option?
Nightengale’s take that the Pirates won’t trade Cruz isn’t exactly a shocker; why would you move a young star when you’re fighting for a playoff spot? But the *concept* of using Cruz as a trade asset is incredibly intriguing. Pittsburgh doesn’t need any offensive help right now, so they’re looking to acquire a closer and more rotation arms. Nightengale himself pointed out, “Would the Pirates dare trade one of their potential young stars while fighting for their first playoff berth since 2015? Likely not, but they desperately need bullpen help and could always use depth in the starting rotation.” He lands on “Prediction: Staying,” but the discussion isn’t going away. It might make sense to keep him, but the possibility of moving him is a legitimate trade option for this summer, or even next offseason. When you need pitching badly and your offense is doing great even with a slugger like Cruz on the IL, you’ve got to at least explore every option.
So, the Pirates have to decide if they’re playing for right now, or if they’re willing to make a tough call for an even stronger future. With the trade deadline looming, every move, or lack thereof, could make or break their push for that long-awaited postseason berth.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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