Trade Deadline Expectations

The Pirates are always active at the trade deadline, and despite the GM's comments this year will probably not be any different. First let us look at why.

Pedro Alvarez is ready to play. Yet, there is no room for him on the 25 man roster. The Pirates (for some unknown reason) want Charlie Morton in the majors and starting. The Pirates also need to get Pearce back on the 25 man roster, again no place for him.

Second, the options to clear room. The Pirates ideally would love to get rid of the extra outfielders they now have. Tabata, Jones, and McCutchen are their starters. They have three back ups: Milledge, Young, and Church. Young is the one who is playing the best and is very young, althoug hI think that many would say Milledge has the highest upside. Church is the best defender of the group. One would think Church would be the person the Pirates are marketing, and they may indeed take offers for Milledge. They are both more proven than Young. Buster Onley thinks that the number of quality outfielders available this year is low. If DeJesus is not traded by the Royals, then the market is even worse. So, the Pirates may be able to get rid of one of these guys. Preferably two, but I doubt that would happen. Church would not cause any eyebrows to raise. He was never a long term part of this team. Milledge would cause some to complain about last year's trade to get him, and Young has shown himself to be good and the Pirates have gone through a lot of pains to keep him. But in the end I think Young is more marketable than Milledge. If the Pirates can trade two of them, then their problems go away. Alvarez has room as does Pearce. Morton can be found by just getting rid of one of the relievers like Carrasco or even Karstens.

However, I am not sure that two outfielders can be moved especially with them playing so pathetic. So, I think Zack Duke is still likely to be traded by the end of the year. Duke would be a solid left handed starter that could fill out the back end of a rotation. The problem is that I think a lot of pitchers are going to be on a the market so the Pirates are going to have to accept a lot less than Duke is probably worth. Some rumors have not only Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, and Fausto Carmona on the market, but the entire Padres pitching staff. This will make a Zack Duke deal tough to accomplish.

Whatever happens, it needs to start happening soon because the Pirates need Alvarez now.