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Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier acknowledges the crowd after being introduced as the starting second baseman for the National League in the All-Star game Thursday, July 1, 2021, at PNC Park.
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Pirates trade deadline primer: After Adam Frazier, who or what could be next?

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Pirates trade deadline primer: After Adam Frazier, who or what could be next?

SAN FRANCISCO — With a push for the future firmly in place, a smart MLB draft strategy executed and plenty of encouraging signs at the lower levels of the minor leagues, the Pirates’ major league club has often taken a back seat in terms of intrigue compared to what’s been happening in other areas of the organization.

That’s about to change this week. The first part came Sunday with the news that Adam Frazier had been dealt to the Padres for three prospects headlined by infielder Tucupita Marcano, who was considered San Diego's fifth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline.

With the trade deadline now just four days away (it’s Friday at 4 p.m.), the Pirates are expected to remain active as they look to mortgage current assets into future pieces, with the goal of infusing more talent into their rapidly improving farm system.

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So what else could happen? Let's start with why it made sense to deal Frazier now and move into other players who have generated interest.

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier throws to first to complete the double play as San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth slides at second during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in San Diego. Fernando Tatis Jr. was out at first.
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The popular crowd

Not enough can be said about Frazier's career year. He's leading MLB in hits. In the National League, only Cincinnati's Nick Castellanos (.329) has a better batting average. Frazier has done a terrific job atop the Pirates' lineup, and he's been an absolute treat to watch.

He's also the 2022 season plus 60 or so games left in 2021 away from becoming a free agent for the first time. Having made it this far, why wouldn't Frazier bet on himself to keep producing and see how much someone might pay him after 2022?

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Even if the Pirates and Frazier did somehow find common ground on an extension, that doesn't make a ton of sense on the team side because they just used a first-round pick on Nick Gonzales. There are other available options the Pirates can try — Rodolfo Castro and Marcano, for instance — who might benefit from the playing time.

It makes more sense than Frazier tethering himself to a rebuilding team with a checkered history of doling out long-term contracts. The move also makes some sense for the Pirates, because of Gonzales, Castro, Marcano, etc.

The smartest thing the Pirates can do is capitalize on Frazier having another year of club control, trade him, back-fill with others and develop Gonzales the right way. If you have too many quality players and not enough positions, great.

As for Tyler Anderson, he has one start left as a Pirate. Enjoy it. Signed this offseason to a $2.5 million free agent deal, Anderson did exactly what he was supposed to do. He ate innings; was a solid, veteran presence; and he pitched well enough to make himself attractive to other teams at the deadline.

Tyler Anderson of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on July 4, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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“The biggest thing he’s exemplified is leading by example of how you should go about your work on a daily basis,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton.

The fact that Anderson is on an expiring deal must be noted. We’re also talking about a veteran, left-handed starter who’s enjoying one of the better statistical seasons of his career, where he’s walking 2.2 and striking out 7.5 per nine.

He’s absolutely capable of helping another club, and he can help the Pirates by fetching something decent in return.

Third on this list is Rodriguez, who was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball early on, with a 0.45 ERA in his first 19 games through May 25. He’s been less than that of late, pitching to a 5.40 ERA over his last 18 appearances.

This could go one of two ways. Because he has the most club control of these three — he has two more times through arbitration — the Pirates can afford to be picky and go at this again in the offseason or a year from now.

At the same time, the market could be favorable enough, with multiple contenders needing quality bullpen arms, that the Pirates get back what they believe is fair market value for Rodriguez, who profiles more as a setup guy than a closer on a contending team.

Toronto comes to mind as a club with the right blend of solid farm system and current need.

The second cut

It wouldn’t be a shock if the Pirates went off the grid with a trade. Chris Stratton, Ben Gamel, Chasen Shreve and even guys like Wilmer Difo or Chad Kuhl could fit the bill here.

Stratton is a veteran reliever who has shown himself to be fairly versatile; the converted starter has functioned well as a long man, as well as in seventh- or eighth-inning roles. His spin-heavy curveball has been relatively unaffected by the crackdown on sticky stuff. He also has a 1.38 ERA, 38 strikeouts and a .209 batting average against in 30 appearances since May 1.

Gamel might seem random, too, but he’s really not. He’s been an effective fourth outfielder for the Mariners and Brewers and has been productive when given opportunities in Pittsburgh. Over his past 28 starts, Gamel is hitting .307 with seven doubles, five home runs, 12 RBIs and 14 walks.

Shreve is another one winning teams might value. Since June 25, Shreve has held lefties to a .100 average and has given up just six hits in 48 at-bats with runners on base (.125). He’s allowed just one homer in his last 25 appearances (23 1/3 innings).

Amazingly, only five MB relievers have made more appearances than Shreve (30) since his Pirates debut back on May 12.

Difo is probably a longer shot, but it’s not impossible. He’s played seven of nine positions this season while hitting .350 since rejoining the team on July 2. Pinch-hitting has been his forte, with Difo sharing the MLB lead in those (10) and connecting on two pinch-hit homers.

Good energy/clubhouse guy. Willing to do whatever. Can play a bunch of positions. Has hit a little bit. Could come cheap. There are certainly some things there that acquiring teams will like.

Earlier this season, Kuhl would have been a no-no, as he pitched to a 6.52 ERA over his first seven starts. He also missed time because of right shoulder discomfort and issued 21 walks in 29 innings. But after throwing more four-seam fastballs and upping his slider usage over his past six starts, Kuhl has seen his ERA drop to 2.48 over his past six while walking just 13 in 32 2/3 innings.

The X-factors

One good, one bad.

Jacob Stallings would be a slam-dunk if the Pirates wanted to make him available. He’s one of the best defensive catchers in MLB and the midseason favorite to win the National League Gold Glove. There’s also zero concern over Stallings’ easygoing personality, character, makeup or his ability to handle a pitching staff.

It might be worrisome that his speed could potentially embarrass teammates, but you could work through that. Stallings’ career-high 40 RBIs rank fourth among MLB catchers. A starter? Maybe. But absolutely above-average catching depth.

The other curious case remains Polanco, the Pirates’ longest-tenured and highest-paid player. If the Pirates got an offer they liked, they surely wouldn’t hesitate to trade Polanco. At the same time, acquiring teams have to wonder whether Polanco — even if he came cheap — would offer any sort of definitive upgrade over players they already have.

His arm in right is noticeably weak. Polanco has been average at best when it comes to range, and he’s hitting just .209 with a .680 OPS. The Pirates could swallow his remaining salary, but they can’t prepay his $3 million buyout.

An acquiring club would have to be convinced that Polanco was worth that sort of gamble. For a player who has struck out in 31.5% of his plate appearances since 2019 and has been worth -1.9 bWAR during that time, it’s tough to see.

The future pieces

Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, JT Brubaker and David Bednar should be untouchable. The first two are obvious — and no, there was never any legitimate interest in moving Reynolds, no matter the possible return.

The energy spent should center around signing a few of those guys this offseason to long-term deals. If nothing else, it would offer another important piece of evidence to fans that, yes, the Pirates are serious about this and committed to doing business differently than they have in the past.

Brubaker has been really good at times and has still made only 27 starts in the big leagues. Given his contract status — he won’t be arbitration-eligible until after the 2023 season — it makes sense to let him pitch and develop.

With the issues Mitch Keller has experienced, Brubaker might be the one current starting pitcher the Pirates have that they can use as a bridge to the next group.

Bednar should take over for Rodriguez as the Pirates’ closer if a deal is consummated.

The other group

Certainly not to say anything bad about these guys, but it’s hard to see anything lining up for a possible trade when it comes to Jared Oliva, Phillip Evans, Kevin Newman, John Nogowski, Wil Crowe, Austin Davis, Clay Holmes, Kyle Keller, Max Kranick, Nick Mears, Duane Underwood Jr. and Michael Perez.

Nogowski has obviously been a fun story, but it’s hard to imagine any other club would think what he’s doing right now was sustainable enough to acquire it. And besides, Nogowski could provide an interesting traditional player for the Pirates either at first or in the outfield.

Kranick should be obvious. Still young and needing experience, but there’s plenty there to offer intrigue as a potential arm of the future.

Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG. 

First Published: July 26, 2021, 9:48 a.m.
Updated: July 26, 2021, 9:51 a.m.

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