What are the Pirates' July Plans?

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Baron Dionis. Follow him on Twitter @BaronDionis

It is finally the MLB All Star Break and the Pirates sit at eight games under .500, which is disappointing given their hot start. With lots of prospects knocking at the door and the MLB Trade Deadline approaching, what should the next month-plus look like for the Pirates?

Don’t Stop Calling Up the Young Bucs

The month of June was fun to watch, as we saw the major league debuts for Carmen Mlodzinski, Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales, and Jared Triolo. Mlodzinski has secured himself a role in the bullpen with a solid 2.61 ERA. Davis has been a consistent starting outfielder and middle of the lineup bat. Gonzales has exceeded all expectations, launching baseballs left and right, and has secured an everyday spot in the middle infield. Triolo has held down the hot corner admirably while Ke Bryan Hayes has been battling a back injury. 

So who’s next to get the call?

We are all sick of watching Austin Hedges and Jason Delay behind the plate, so let’s change that by calling up Endy Rodriguez to be the everyday catcher. Despite having a down year offensively in comparison to his incredible 2022 season, he would easily be an offensive upgrade over the current catchers. Endy recently participated in the 2023 Futures Game in which he went 0-0 with two walks.

Rodolfo Castro hasn’t been quite what we expected as he has led the team in errors and has been below average at the plate. With Castro's struggles hurting the Pirates, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try out Liover Peguero instead. Peguero has had a very good year with Altoona and recently got promoted to Indianapolis. Without Oneil Cruz, players like Tucupita Marcano and Rodolfo Castro got an increase in playing time. As it isn’t working out with either, Pegueros' time may be soon.

Trade Deadline

Because of their free-fall, it is very unlikely that the Bucs will become buyers at the deadline. They do have multiple guys on one-year contracts, so we may see the Pirates as sellers again. What players may be traded away at this year's trade deadline?

Carlos Santana is a name that is definitely being talked about as a trade deadline acquisition. The 37-year-old first baseman was signed to a one-year contract this past offseason. With his contract expiring after the season, it would make sense for the Pirates to sell him to a contending team for a small return. Santana has been a top defensive first baseman and an above average hitter for the Pirates. As much fun as he has been to watch this season, it would make a lot of sense for the Pirates to ship him off. 

Rich Hill has had his ups and downs this season, but he could attract some attention to other clubs. The 43-year-old lefty has had some really good starts this year for the Bucs and could help a team trying to make a push for the playoffs. Hill also has a lot of mentorship value. I wouldn’t expect much out of a Hill trade, but it is very possible that he is moved at this year's deadline.

In conclusion, this Pirates' July is very important. The draft just happened (Paul Skenes!!!), the young Bucs are incoming, and the trade deadline is crucial for determining the direction the Pirates are taking for the future. This is a very exciting time of year in baseball, so let’s sit back and see what happens!