MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates are scouting Miami Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz. This comes on the heels of news that the Pirates have shown interest in another Marlins outfielder, Jazz Chisholm Jr. For the Pirates to go all-in on the National League Wild Card race, they need to add two outfield bats. Perhaps they’ll fill those needs with one trade.
Longtime baseball writer Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Pirates are interested in Marlins outfielders Jazz Chisholm AND Bryan De La Cruz pic.twitter.com/KPTtGv0ot5
— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) July 26, 2024
Pirates’ Interest in Bryan De La Cruz Portends Possible Blockbuster Trade
De La Cruz, 27, bats right-handed and is under club control through 2027. At the close of Thursday’s action, he’s hitting .241/.285/.410 with 17 HR, 47 RBI, and a 90 OPS+. He’s played both corner outfield spots. He rates as a below-average defensive outfielder, as his -7 Fielding Runs Below Average and -3 Defensive Runs Saved indicate. With his low OBP and poor defensive marks, De La Cruz is not the type who fits in with the organization’s philosophy. Then again, neither are many of the players on the Pirates’ current roster. At first glance, he doesn’t seem to be much of an upgrade over the Pirates’ right-handed-hitting corner outfielders, Connor Joe and Edward Olivares, the latter of whom is presently in Triple-A Indianapolis. What surely caught the Pirates’ eye were his 17 home runs, which is one less than Bryan Reynolds’ team-leading 18. De La Cruz hit 19 homers last year.
It seems that the talks between the Pirates and Marlins have taken a direction where a bigger blockbuster trade is in mind. From the standpoint of the Pirates, De La Cruz makes more sense if they also have Chisholm. Chisholm would man center field in place of the current Jack Suwinski and Michael A. Taylor platoon that has yielded woeful production. De La Cruz would then be more than adequate to take over right field. He may also step in as a designated hitter, where the Marlins have mostly used him this year. That would result in Andrew McCutchen playing some outfield, where he’s more than capable.
What It Might Cost the Pirates
With the Marlins buried in last place in the NL East Division with a 37-66 record, they’re going into an all-out rebuilding mode. They must have decided that neither De La Cruz nor Chisholm will be around when the rebuilding has concluded. Initially, it was thought that, for Chisholm, the Marlins would accept a package of low-level prospects. This means ranked prospects in Single-A or Double-A, but in the Pirates’ case, not Termarr Johnson. It would not take a major league player to land Chisholm, whose outspokenness might be a concern.
However, now one has to think that if the Pirates land both De La Cruz and Chisholm in the same deal, it might involve at least one major league player. The Marlins might be playing out the string, but they don’t want to put a ridiculous product on the field. The guess here is that a package of prospects, along with Joe, Olivares, or Suwinski might get it done.
The Last Word
This trade deadline is Ben Cherington’s first big test as Pirates general manager. His offseason moves have been a mixed bag as the team entered the season with higher expectations. Fans will forgive him in a hurry if he pulls off a deal for De La Cruz and Chisholm without weakening another area of the major league team.
Photo Credit: © Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
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