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...
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 🡒]