A Pirates-White Sox trade to go all-in on the Wild Card – Reports
The Pittsburgh Pirates might be open to trading numerous promising prospects to secure outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox.
Currently holding a 39-42 record, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a solid pitching rotation but lack a key hitter to strengthen their lineup.
Despite facing challenges, the Pirates are in contention for a wild card spot with a 10.1 percent chance of making the playoffs, a 2.5 percent chance of winning the division, and a 0.3 percent chance of winning the World Series, according to FanGraphs. They lag behind the Milwaukee Brewers by nine and a half games and the St. Louis Cardinals by six and a half games.
Bryan Reynolds, Edward Olivares, and Jack Suwinski make up the Pirates’ outfield, with Michael A. Taylor on the bench. Connor Joe and Andrew McCutchen also have outfield experience. Nonetheless, the team could greatly benefit from adding a new outfielder like Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox, who currently have a 23-61 record, are planning to undergo a rebuilding phase and will soon start trading their assets for long-term prospects. There are reports indicating that the Pirates may be interested in acquiring Robert Jr., a move that could significantly impact the future of both teams.
The White Sox are not likely to let go of Robert Jr. without a substantial offer, so the Pirates might have to give up promising prospects such as infielder Termarr Johnson, right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft, left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco, and infielder Yordany De Los Santos. These prospects are respectively ranked as No. 1, No. 5, No. 12, and No. 15 in the Pirates’ farm system according to MLB Pipeline.
Luis Robert Jr., at 26 years old, is a valuable long-term investment for any team that acquires him. He is under contract for the remainder of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with two club options for 2026 and 2027. Despite missing most of the 2024 season due to injury, Robert Jr. is a top-tier player in the league when he is healthy. From 2021 to 2023, he showed his potential but struggled with injuries, finally having a breakout year in 2023 when he was an All-Star and finished 12th in MVP voting.
During his peak years (2021-2023), Robert Jr. played 311 games, making 1,292 plate appearances with 345 hits, 76 doubles, two triples, 63 home runs, 179 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. He had a slash line of .287/.331/.511, an OPS of .842, and an OPS+ of 129. In 2024, he appeared in 29 games with 118 plate appearances, recording a slash line of .206/.280/.486, eight home runs, and 12 RBIs.
Termarr Johnson, aged 20, is a skilled defensive infielder with good plate discipline. However, the Pirates are facing challenges in developing him, as evidenced by his low batting average. In 2024, he played 69 games at High-A Greensboro, with 304 plate appearances, 51 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 29 RBIs, and a slash line of .214/.375/.353.
Braxton Ashcraft, aged 24, has demonstrated readiness for the MLB and has shown excellence at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2024. He posted a combined ERA of 3.00 in 69 innings, with 73 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.072. At Triple-A Indianapolis, he achieved an impressive 0.59 ERA over 15.1 innings.
Hunter Barco, aged 23, is a developing player with considerable potential. In 2024, he played 15 games at High-A Greensboro, making 13 starts with a 3.16 ERA in 57 innings, totaling 72 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.123.
Yordany De Los Santos, aged 19, is considered to have one of the highest potentials among prospects. In 2024, he played 38 games in Rookie Ball, making 149 plate appearances with 44 hits, six doubles, three triples, three home runs, 24 RBIs, and a slash line of .328/.392/.485.
Acquiring Luis Robert Jr. could provide the Pirates with the impactful hitter they need to enhance their lineup and make a serious push for the playoffs, while the White Sox could benefit from the infusion of top-tier prospects as they start their rebuilding process.
