The Pirates have spent July in that awkward middle ground where the record says “maybe,” but the roster says “not quite.” They’re still hanging around .500, still within a few games of the National League Wild Card race, and that’s enough to keep the door open on buying. It is not enough to hand out protection to veterans or keep redundant pieces around just because they’ve been there all year.
They already showed they’re willing to make a move from a place of depth before the deadline even fully arrives. Joey Bart was shipped to Atlanta in the June deal that brought Hunter Stratton back to Pittsburgh, and Stratton has since been recalled after Evan Sisk landed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. If anything, that’s the clearest sign yet that “useful” may not be enough anymore.
That reality puts a few familiar names in a much shakier spot than they were a month ago.
Marcell Ozuna is the easiest place to start. The Pirates brought him in to steady designated hitter and bring some pop to the middle of the lineup, but that has not been how this has played out.
Through 58 games, he is hitting .202/.286/.324 with seven home runs, 26 RBI and a .610 OPS. For a player whose value is supposed to come almost entirely from the bat, that’s a rough return.
What makes it worse for Ozuna is that the Pirates now have other ways to use those at-bats. Esmerlyn Valdez has pushed his way into the lineup with a 1.096 OPS across his first 21 games, and Endy Rodríguez has given Pittsburgh an .872 OPS while also offering more flexibility when he isn’t behind the plate.
If the Pirates land an outfielder, first baseman or a real designated hitter at the deadline, Ozuna becomes even harder to justify. If they don’t, they’re essentially saying they’re willing to live with a non-impact bat at the one spot built for offense.
Pirates insider @JMackey_PGH thinks Marcell Ozuna's time with the Pirates is running out. Ozuna is a DFA candidate when Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz are back.
"He doesn't fit into their offense right now" pic.twitter.com/3cr5yp07Za
- Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) July 3, 2026
Gregory Soto is in a different kind of danger, but danger all the same. The bullpen has been too shaky for anybody in the late innings to feel truly safe, and Soto’s numbers haven’t been strong enough to settle that down. He has a 4.25 ERA with 11 saves in 15 chances over 37 appearances.
That’s not a meltdown. It’s just not the kind of ninth-inning certainty a team hovering around the playoff line can afford to trust blindly. If Ben Cherington brings in a legitimate high-leverage reliever - and that would make sense - Soto’s role could shift fast.
The Evan Sisk injury only adds pressure to the situation. Before going on the injured list, Sisk had been one of Pittsburgh’s best arms, putting up a 2.23 ERA in 32 appearances.
With him out, the Pirates need more reliability, not less. Soto may not be in line to lose his spot on the roster, but the closer role should absolutely be up for grabs.
Then there’s Jared Triolo, the kind of player teams usually like to keep around. He can handle multiple infield spots, move around when needed and give a manager some defensive breathing room.
That matters. It just doesn’t guarantee he’s safe.
Triolo is hitting .238/.312/.315 with a .627 OPS in 56 games, while Nick Gonzales has been one of the steadier bats in the lineup at .307/.363/.390. Tyler Callihan has also shown real offensive upside in a smaller sample.
On top of that, Konnor Griffin, Brandon Lowe, Nick Yorke and other internal options are either already in similar lanes or pushing toward them. Not everyone in that group can be treated like a lock.
Triolo’s versatility makes him useful, but it also makes him the sort of player another club could reasonably ask for in a deadline conversation. He’s not the headline piece in any deal, but he could easily end up as part of a package for bullpen help, a bench upgrade or a steadier bat.
In Other News...
Penguins Suddenly Linked To The Kind Of Star Fans Have Wanted
The Penguins search for a real difference-maker has not exactly been subtle, and that is why the latest chatter around their forward group has caught attention. Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman said Pittsburgh could be a team to watch in the market for a high-end center, while also noting the club has already been active in talks with Dallas about winger Jason Robertson. It is the kind of name-shopping that suggests the Penguins are still trying to thread the needle between staying competitive now and reshaping the roster for what comes next.
There is also a familiar Pittsburgh wrinkle to the conversation: the potential fit with Andrei Kuzmenko, who could make any offensive target easier to picture in black and gold. At the same time, the Penguins are keeping one eye on their own pipeline, with Owen Pickering coming off a strong playoff run in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Ville Koivunen facing an important summer as he tries to prove he belongs in the NHL. The front office has several moving parts in play, and the next step could say plenty about how aggressive it intends to be. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Trade Board Just Shifted As Dubas Faces A Murky Market
The NHL trade market is still waiting for the Leo Carlsson-Philadelphia Flyers situation to settle, but the ripple effects are already being felt in Pittsburgh. The Penguins have been adjusting their trade target list as the board changes around them, with names coming off and the broader market getting harder to read. Around the league, restricted free agent offer sheets are another variable to watch, with clubs such as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings among the teams that could be forced to react if that route gets tested.
For Kyle Dubas, the challenge is less about finding interest than finding the right opening in a market that keeps shifting. ESPNs view of the Washington Capitals as one of the offseasons leading teams, thanks to their recent acquisitions and contract moves, only adds to the sense that the Eastern Conference landscape is moving quickly. Pittsburgh is still in the mix, but the path to a deal may depend on how many more dominoes fall before the Penguins can make their next move. [Read more 🡒]
Why Penguins Fans Should Be Excited About Hendrix Lapierre
Hendrix Lapierre arrives in Pittsburgh as one of those low-risk moves that can pay off if the fit is right. The Penguins added the 23-year-old forward from Washington and quickly gave him a two-year contract, signaling that they see more than a depth piece here. After a modest season with the Capitals, Lapierre still brings the kind of offensive pedigree that made him an intriguing young player in the first place, and the Penguins are banking on a change of scenery helping unlock more of it.
For a team looking to keep adding speed and skill without overcommitting, Lapierre is a worthwhile bet because he is expected to compete for a regular role right away. His earlier production showed he can contribute when given the chance, and Pittsburghs forward mix offers him a path to carve out meaningful minutes. If he settles in quickly, he could end up being more than just a reclamation project, which is exactly why his arrival is worth watching. [Read more 🡒]