Pirates Open To Trading Rotation Arms To Bolster Offense

The Pittsburgh Pirates are shaking up their roster with a bold gamble. They’re trying to turn a surplus of young pitching into the bats they’ve sorely needed.

By dealing starter Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for rookie outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, the front office made it clear: almost any arm not named Paul Skenes is available if it means upgrading an offense that sputtered in 2024.

This winter feels pivotal in Pittsburgh. The Oviedo deal probably isn’t the last move we’ll see.

Pirates Flip Johan Oviedo for Jhostynxon Garcia

The biggest headline so far is the five-player trade that sent Johan Oviedo to Boston and brought back Jhostynxon Garcia, a rookie outfielder who seems poised to step right into the Pirates’ lineup next season.

Garcia looks set to open 2025 as the Pirates’ starting left fielder. This isn’t some long-term prospect stash—Pittsburgh wants his athleticism, arm, and emerging power to finally stabilize a corner outfield spot that’s been a revolving door.

Why Oviedo Was Movable

Oviedo’s exit shows just how comfortable the Pirates feel about their pitching depth. They’ve got a wave of arms in the majors already, with more on the way.

The front office decided that trading a controllable starter for immediate offensive help was worth it. For a small-market club, squeezing value from a position of strength is just smart business.

Ben Cherington’s Strategy: Pitching for Hitting

General manager Ben Cherington keeps saying it: the Pirates have more pitching than hitting, and that needs to flip. The Oviedo trade fits a pattern—deals involving Quinn Priester and Luis Ortiz also aimed to upgrade the lineup.

Pittsburgh isn’t hoarding arms anymore. They’re using them as currency.

Who’s Off Limits, and Who Isn’t

Only one name seems truly untouchable: Paul Skenes, the franchise’s budding ace and the rotation’s anchor for years ahead. Beyond Skenes, the Pirates are listening on most other starters, hunting for controllable bats with real upside.

Mitch Keller: The Most Obvious, Yet Complicated Trade Chip

In the current rotation, Mitch Keller stands out as the most obvious trade candidate. He’s an established big-league starter with innings, experience, and a record of success.

For pitching-hungry teams, that’s tempting. But things aren’t that simple.

Keller’s second-half fade in 2024 raised a few eyebrows. His salary—$16.5 million in 2025, rising through a contract that runs to 2027—makes things trickier.

Why Moving Keller Still Makes Sense

If the Pirates trade Keller, they’d have two main reasons:

Keller doesn’t have to go, but he’s the kind of asset Pittsburgh has to at least consider moving.

Young Arms Drawing Significant Interest

The real intrigue with this Pirates roster might be their younger, controllable pitchers. Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows are drawing attention from rival clubs.

Both pitchers offer upside, years of control, and enough performance data to make scouts think there’s more to tap into.

Ashcraft and Burrows: Value in Different Roles

Braxton Ashcraft, 26, shined in a multi-inning relief role with a 2.71 ERA and a 24.3% strikeout rate. That kind of versatility fits the modern game—he can handle bulk innings, bridge to late relievers, or maybe even stretch back out as a starter.

Mike Burrows worked more as a traditional starter, logging 96 innings with a 3.94 ERA and a similar strikeout rate. He’s the type who can stabilize the back half of a rotation, and that steady hand is exactly what contending teams want when injuries pile up.

Who’s Calling? Teams Shopping Pitching for Bats

The Pirates’ willingness to move arms comes at a pretty ideal moment. Several teams are openly shopping for starting pitching, and a few have the kind of young hitters Pittsburgh wants.

Reportedly interested teams include:

Each of these clubs has a pipeline of hitting prospects and a real need for controllable pitching. That’s the trade matrix Pittsburgh is aiming to exploit.

Depth on the Farm: More Arms, More Options

The Pirates can consider all these trade scenarios because they have genuine pitching depth. Beyond the MLB-ready arms, the system is stacked with prospects already catching the industry’s eye.

Guys like Hunter Barco, Antwone Kelly, Wilber Dotel, Thomas Harrington, and 2024 high school draftee Seth Hernandez give the organization a long runway of pitching talent.

Building a Sustainable Contender

Not all of those pitchers will get moved. They probably shouldn’t, honestly.

But having that level of depth gives Cherington the freedom to trade from a position of strength. If he plays it right, the Pirates can upgrade the lineup without emptying the cupboard on the mound.

What It All Means for the Pirates’ Playoff Hopes

The message feels pretty clear now: the Pirates aren’t just stockpiling pitchers anymore. They’ve shifted gears and started rebalancing the roster.

Now they’re looking to turn some of that pitching depth into real hitting—something that could nudge them closer to actual contention.

Jhostynxon Garcia looks set for left field. More trades? Yeah, probably coming soon.

Pittsburgh’s got a solid group of arms to deal from, so they’re trying to walk that tricky line—stay strong on the mound, but finally put together an offense that can back up a playoff push in 2025 and maybe even after that.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Pirates Remain Open To Dealing From Rotation For Offense