The Pirates keep hovering in that awkward middle ground: close enough to the Wild Card race to justify adding, but not stable enough to hand out roster security like it’s a reward for showing up. That tension is starting to matter now, especially after Pittsburgh already made one move that sent Joey Bart to Atlanta in the June trade that brought Hunter Stratton back. Stratton has since been recalled, and Evan Sisk is on the injured list with left elbow inflammation.
That kind of shuffle sends a clear message. If the Pirates decide they need real help, being “useful” won’t be enough to keep a spot warm. Three players in particular should be looking over their shoulders.
Marcell Ozuna is the most obvious name on the list, and honestly, the Pirates have let this drag on too long already. He was supposed to steady the designated hitter spot and bring some pop to the middle of the lineup.
Instead, he’s become one of the easiest places on the roster to upgrade. In 58 games, Ozuna is hitting .202/.286/.324 with seven home runs, 26 RBI and a .610 OPS.
For a bat-only player, that just doesn’t cut it.
What makes it worse for Ozuna is that Pittsburgh has other ways to use those at-bats now. Esmerlyn Valdez has earned more run with a 1.096 OPS through his first 21 games, and Endy Rodríguez has posted an .872 OPS while also giving the Pirates more flexibility when he isn’t catching.
If the front office brings in an outfielder, first baseman or a real designated hitter at the deadline, Ozuna’s place gets even shakier. If it doesn’t, then the Pirates are basically saying they’re fine living with a non-impact bat at the one spot built for offense.
Gregory Soto is in a different kind of spot, but it’s no less uneasy. The bullpen has been too inconsistent for anyone in the late innings to feel locked in, and Soto hasn’t been dominant enough to remove the doubt.
He has a 4.25 ERA with 11 saves in 15 opportunities across 37 appearances. That’s not a meltdown, but it’s not the kind of ninth-inning certainty a team hanging around the playoff picture can afford to trust blindly.
And with Sisk now out after being one of Pittsburgh’s best relievers - he had a 2.23 ERA in 32 appearances before landing on the IL - the Pirates need more reliability, not less. Ben Cherington should be looking for a legitimate high-leverage arm, and if he finds one, Soto’s role could shift fast. He may not be on the chopping block, but he should absolutely feel the heat on his closer job.
Then there’s Jared Triolo, the kind of player every team likes to have until a deadline starts forcing hard choices. He can bounce around the infield, cover multiple spots and give a manager defensive flexibility.
That matters. It just doesn’t guarantee safety.
Triolo is hitting .238/.312/.315 with a .627 OPS in 56 games, while Nick Gonzales has been steadier at .307/.363/.390. Tyler Callihan has also shown real offensive upside in a smaller sample.
On top of that, the Pirates have Konnor Griffin, Brandon Lowe, Nick Yorke and other internal options either occupying or pushing toward similar roles. That’s a crowded picture, and not everyone in it can be treated like a lock.
Triolo’s versatility makes him useful, but it also makes him movable. Another team could reasonably ask for him in a deadline deal, whether Pittsburgh is chasing relief help, a bench upgrade or a more dependable bat.
He isn’t the centerpiece of anything. But he could absolutely be part of the price.
In Other News...
Pirates Just Got Another Reason To Love The Brandon Lowe Trade
The three-team deal that sent Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh already looked like a useful summer move, and the Pirates have only gotten more out of it as the season has gone on. Lowe has been the headliner, giving the lineup the kind of middle-order thump it badly needed, while Mangum has settled in as a steady depth option and Montgomery has added another arm to the bullpen mix.
There is also a little extra satisfaction in seeing the other side of that trade continue to tilt Pittsburghs way. Houstons decision to send Mike Burrows back to Triple-A Sugar Land after his struggles only sharpens the contrast, because the Pirates have gotten immediate production and roster flexibility from their end of the swap. For a club trying to squeeze value out of every move, this is the kind of transaction that can age very well. [Read more 🡒]
Former Pirates Bust Just Got Another Surprising Shot
Bryan De La Cruzs time in Pittsburgh never got off the ground after the Pirates brought him over from Miami in 2024, and the fit unraveled fast enough that the club moved on after only half a season. He has spent most of the time since then trying to rebuild his stock in Triple-A, with a brief stop in Atlanta along the way, while the Pirates side of the deal has long since become a reminder that sometimes a change of scenery is not enough.
Now De La Cruz has landed another major-league opportunity, this time with Philadelphia, which is giving him a fresh look after adding him to the 40-man roster and sending him to Lehigh Valley. For a player whose Pittsburgh stint ended in a non-tender, it is a notable second chance, and one that says as much about how quickly outfield depth can shift as it does about how much a once-promising bat can still intrigue a contender. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Respond To Konnor Griffin Blow With A Familiar Frustration
Konnor Griffins injury has forced the Pirates into another quick roster shuffle, and this one comes with a familiar name returning to the organization. Jack Brannigan was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to help cover the infield, while the club also added Joshua Palacios on a minor league deal and sent him to Indianapolis, giving Pittsburgh another experienced option to keep close at hand.
Palacios is no stranger to the Pirates, having spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the organization before moving on. He brings both major league and Triple-A experience, and his track record at the highest level has been uneven compared with what he has shown in the minors, which is why this kind of depth move can matter for a club that has already had to adjust its plans once. [Read more 🡒]