The Pittsburgh Pirates look like they will be aggressive come the trade deadline. However, some have gotten the idea that the Pirates should trade center fielder Oneil Cruz. The Bucs have been one of baseball’s best offensive teams, tied with the Washington Nationals for the most runs scored and ranking 2nd in team OPS, wRC+, and wOBA. They’ve done that without Cruz for over a month. However, the idea to trade Cruz because the offense has done so well without him for an extended period of time is not a bright idea in the slightest.
Trading Oneil Cruz Would Be a Terrible Idea for the Pirates
Cruz Is One of the Pirates’ Most Powerful Hitters
When Cruz landed on the injured list, he was hitting well. He was hitting .264/.350/.472 with a .357 wOBA, and a 124 wRC+. He had a solid 10.6% walk rate and showed his usual blend of elite power and baserunning ability. Cruz hit 14 home runs with a .208 isolated slugging percentage, while going 21-for-25 in stolen base attempts. His career-high 96 MPH exit velocity and .490 xSLG% both suggest there is more power in the tank.
Mangum Is Making Up For Cruz’s Absence
There’s no question Mangum has done a fine job at covering Cruz’s absence. Since Cruz’s last game on June 7th, Mangum is batting .330/.380/.438 with a .362 wOBA and 127 wRC+. Although he has only walked 4.1% of the time, his K% is 14.9%. His 0.7 fWAR over his last 30 games is the fourth highest among all Pirates batters since Cruz’s IL placement.
One Of The Best Teams At Scoring
Since Cruz’s last game, the Pirates still have the most runs scored. They also rank number one in all three triple-slash numbers (and in proxy, OPS), along with team wOBA and team wRC+. However, just because the Pirates have been the unquestioned best team in baseball in terms of hitting over the last handful of weeks does not mean they are better off trading Cruz just because Mangum is hitting well.
There’s No Such Thing As Too Much Offense
Despite their hitting prowess, the Pirates are just 16-15 since Cruz hit the IL. Now, it is true that the pitching (more specifically, the bullpen) has not held up its end of the deal this year, at least not entirely. The bullpen has cost the Pirates more than the offense has by a mile, but there’s no such thing as too much offense either. The Pirates would win more games and score more runs with Cruz on the roster over some of their other players.
The Pirates Need The Depth
Regardless, the point is the Pirates’ depth has kept them afloat. In previous seasons, losing a bat of Cruz’s caliber was a borderline death sentence. Mangum has stepped up and filled the void Cruz left behind without sacrificing much. He has less power, but Mangum’s overall wRC+ since Cruz’s IL stint started is nearly identical to Cruz’s season wRC+. Plus, trading Cruz means sacrificing a clutch bat this year.
Cruz has been one of the Pirates’ best hitters with runners in scoring position. He is slashing .265/.375/.515 with a 139 wRC+ with RISP. He has a .250 ISO when he has a chance to score someone from second, third, or both. Among all hitters this year with at least 75 plate appearances with RISP, Cruz is one of only 25 with at least an .850 OPS and a .250 ISO. His win percentage added on the year is +0.27.
It is not an anti-Mangum statement to say that the Pirates are better off keeping Cruz. They need both players and should not turn one of their biggest strengths into a potential weakness by trading away a key player like Cruz. Having two quality center field options is something many teams would love to have. The Pirates would put themselves at a massive disadvantage by trading Oneil Cruz.
Main Photo Credits: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
