The Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen needs a serious fix. The Bucs are well within the Wild Card race, and even a hot streak and a few key losses from division rivals could slingshot them into division contention. However, the Pirates’ bullpen remains the only thing truly holding back their full potential. Luckily, there will be plenty of trade targets out there. The New York Mets are prime trade partners for the Pirates, given the bullpen pieces they could be moving. It would be bold for the Pirates to fix their bullpen in one trade, but this mock swap would get the job done.
Pittsburgh Pirates acquire: Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazoban
New York Mets acquire: Wyatt Sanford, Easton Carmichael
Pirates Receive Two Reliable Relievers
Luke Weaver would head to the Bucs in this trade. The Mets signed him to a two-year contract during the offseason, and it looks like a huge steal. Weaver has a 2.08 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and 0.83 WHIP over 40 innings this season. He has struck out 27.9% of batters with a walk rate of 7.1%. Weaver is currently in the 85th percentile or better of chase% (34.2%), whiff% (30.9%), xERA (2.84), and xBA (.199). His 103 FanGraphs Stuff+ is currently his highest single-season mark (not including 2020).
Weaver is a high-leverage reliever. He has a 1.73 leverage index, and all of his appearances out of the bullpen have come in the seventh inning or later. The right-hander has faced nearly the same number of batters in high leverage (70) as he has in medium leverage (41) and low leverage (43) combined this season. He additionally comes with control through 2027, with a salary of $12.5 million for next season.
Weaver wouldn’t be the only controllable reliever the Bucs would get in this deal. They’d also receive late-bloomer Huascar Brazoban. Brazoban is in the midst of a career season, working to a 2.70 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and 1.07 WHIP over 46 2/3 innings pitched. Brazoban’s 23.5% K rate and 11.2% BB rate may not stand out, but his ability to induce soft contact will. He is in the 100th percentile of exit velocity at 83.7 MPH and the 98th percentile of barrel rate at 2.5%. Only one qualified pitcher has held opponents to a lower exit velocity: Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Edgardo Henriquez.
While Brazoban is in his age-36 season, he has consistently been an above-average reliever every year of his MLB career thus far. Brazoban comes with three more years of team control via arbitration after 2026. Brazoban has pitched in multiple different roles this year. He has been used as an opener six times, and his 1.39 leverage index indicates he is still seeing some high-leverage work. He has faced nearly the same number of batters in high-leverage (60) compared to low-leverage (57). Both Weaver and Brazoban could serve high-leverage roles in the Pirates’ bullpen. Weaver could also be a 9th-inning option for the Pirates’ bullpen.
Mets Receive Two Recent Early Round Picks and Top Ten Prospects
The Pirates shouldn’t have many untouchable prospects this trade deadline. The headliner of the deal heading back to the Mets would be infielder Wyatt Sanford. The former second-round pick is currently on the IL, but was in the midst of a breakout campaign before his injury. Sanford was hitting .287/.425/.539 with a 145 wRC+ over his first 224 plate appearances of the year at High-A Greensboro. He showed off both power and speed, swiping 21 bases in 22 attempts, and posting an isolated slugging percentage of .253.
Sanford has the glove and range to stick at shortstop long term, and has the arm to play anywhere else on the infield. Sanford may not have overly impressive raw power, but he makes up for it by using his pull-side power. However, there are some questions regarding his hit tool.
Sanford struck out at a 31.3% clip with a contact rate of just 62.1% before his injury. He is offsetting some of his hit-tool concerns with a patient approach, drawing walks at a 14.3% clip. His ceiling is a possible 20/20 shortstop, and even his floor suggests he can still be a useful infielder. Sanford currently ranks as a consensus top-five prospect in the Pirates’ system.
The Pirates would also send fellow High-A Prospect Easton Carmichael. The backstop was the Pirates’ third-round pick in 2025. He has kicked off his pro career with a .315/.359/.538 triple-slash with a 121 wRC+ at Greensboro. He has shown an interesting blend of both power and baserunning ability that most catchers don’t have. He has 16 home runs through 315 plate appearances and has also gone 11-for-15 in stolen base attempts. Only 11 minor league catchers have double-digit home runs and stolen bases this season.
Carmichael has a different profile compared to Sanford. His hit tool looks above-average, with only an 18.4% strikeout rate and 76% contact rate. His pull-side power also helps his power outlook. However, he has only walked at a 6.7% clip. His impressive athleticism should help him continue to improve his skills behind the dish, though his arm remains fringy. Baseball America ranks Carmichael as the Pirates’ 10th-best prospect.
Final Overview
It may hurt to trade two top-ten prospects for relief pitching, but this year’s market is going to favor sellers heavily. The Pirates aren’t just getting one controllable relief arm either; they’d be getting two from the Mets. It’s a high cost, but with how bad the Pirates’ bullpen has been for most of the year, they need help in any way they can get it. Weaver and Brazoban would immediately fix the back end of the Pirates’ bullpen and give them much more flexibility, reliability, and effectiveness.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
