My, how quickly the script can flip in San Diego.
A year ago, A.J. Preller pushed in chips for Mason Miller, landing the dominant closer by sending then-No. 3 overall prospect Leo De Vries and three other promising farmhands to the Athletics. Now the Padres’ relief group, Miller included, could be on the market.
That turn of events should be a warning sign for the Pirates. If Pittsburgh is tempted to chase bullpen help, it cannot afford to repeat the same kind of move by emptying the system to do it.
MLB Trade Rumors says the Padres are seeking a controllable starting pitcher, and the Pirates have plenty of those to offer. But turning Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler or Braxton Ashcraft into the centerpiece of a deal for Miller would be a massive misstep.
The Pirates need that pitching depth. The 2026 season has already hinted that Paul Skenes may be human after all, while Mitch Keller looks more like a middle-of-the-rotation starter than a permanent All-Star. Jones, Chandler, Ashcraft and the rest of the pitching pipeline are going to matter if Pittsburgh wants to stay in the mix over the next few years.
And the Padres’ warning goes beyond Miller alone. Preller shipped out De Vries and several other prospects, and the result has been a farm system that slid from one of the most highly regarded in baseball to one of the worst. Without long-term extensions for Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr., the outlook would be even darker.
Pittsburgh is in a similar spot to where San Diego stood a couple of seasons ago. The system is packed with names that could draw interest from contenders.
Need a big-league ready arm? Hunter Barco or Thomas Harrington could fit.
Looking for a young power bat? Axiel Plaz is there.
Need a speedy middle infielder? Johan De Los Santos fits that bill.
Still, one trade - even for Mason Miller - is not likely to be the move that sends the Pirates to the postseason this year. It will take multiple deals, some smart adjustments, plus good luck and health.
Gutting the system to chase a single bullpen upgrade would be a mistake. And if the reminder is needed, last year’s NL Wild Card series offers it.
In Other News...
Pirates May Have Found A Trade Path For Bullpen Help
The Pirates search for bullpen help may be getting a little clearer as the trade market starts to take shape, and the Texas Rangers are suddenly part of the conversation. After a rough stretch, Texas has let other clubs know that no player is entirely off-limits, which opens the door for teams like Pittsburgh to at least explore ways to add depth without paying premium prices.
For the Pirates, the appeal appears to be in the Rangers relief mix rather than the headline names. Peyton Gray and Tyler Alexander have both put together solid seasons, and they fit the kind of lower-cost path Pittsburgh would likely have to pursue. The bigger-ticket Rangers pieces remain a different matter, with players such as Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi not expected to be available to a club like Pittsburgh. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have Found A Bullpen Arm Worth Watching Closely
The Pirates got a first look at Doval almost immediately after acquiring him from the Yankees on Saturday, and the right-hander was in uniform and on the mound by Sunday. Pittsburgh brought him into the mix against the Reds, giving the bullpen a fresh arm to evaluate in a game that offered an early glimpse of how he might fit into Don Kellys relief plans.
Dovals first outing with his new club was a mixed one, as he gave up a solo homer but otherwise worked through the inning with authority. Kelly and Doval both addressed what the appearance meant for his role moving forward, and for a Pirates bullpen that is always looking for someone who can give it a little more late-game stability. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Bullpen Pressure Just Grew For Ben Cherington At Deadline
The bullpen market moved a little faster than the Pirates did, and that matters in Pittsburgh with the deadline in the rearview. Chicago landed right-handed reliever Huascar Brazobn from the Mets, a name the Pirates had shown interest in, underscoring how quickly relief help can come off the board when multiple clubs are chasing the same arms. For a team still trying to sort out the late innings, it was another reminder that patience alone is not going to fix the problem.
Ben Cherington is still searching for answers, and the pressure around the Pirates bullpen has only grown as the club continues to look at other possibilities. Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley remain among the targets being explored, but the broader issue is familiar by now: Pittsburgh needs more certainty in relief, and every missed opportunity only sharpens the focus on the general manager to deliver something that actually steadies the group. [Read more 🡒]