The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a solid start to 2026. At the time of writing this, they are 11-8 and currently tied for the lead in the National League Central. However, they’re far from a perfect team. There are some small cracks in the foundation that they will have to patch. But these are not unfixable problems. The trade market will allow the Pirates to improve areas of need. So let’s identify three problems currently plaguing the Bucs’ roster, and a trade target that could solve them.
The Problem: Third Base
Third base was a questionable position for the Pirates entering the year, and it has proven to be so. Jared Triolo is on the injured list. Plus, while he provides fantastic defense at the hot corner, where he has +13 defensive runs saved and +9 outs above average, his career wRC+ is just 86, and his career xwOBA is .307. Since landing on the IL, former 2020 first-round picks Nick Gonzales and Nick Yorke have taken up the mantle. Unfortunately, both have struggled since their hot start in the batter’s box. Gonzales and Yorke have also shown their unfamiliarity at third base in the field.
The Solution: Casey Schmitt
San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt is off to a strong start in 2026. He has 14 hits, including five doubles, a home run, and a pair of walks through 50 plate appearances. That comes out to a 148 wRC+. Even if he doesn’t maintain that level of production, Schmitt has proven to be a solid hitter in the past. Between 2024 and 2025, Schmitt compiled a .240/.300/.420 triple-slash, with 18 home runs in 461 plate appearances, and 101 wRC+. Schmitt was also above the 55th percentile of xwOBA (.329), xBA (.255), and xSLG% (.409) last year. Although Schmitt has seen playing time at all four infield positions throughout his Major League career, his best position is third base.
It is the position where he has zero defensive runs saved and +2 outs above average, and where Baseball America once named him a potential future Gold Glove winner. Schmitt also isn’t a rental, as he still has control through 2029. With the Giants’ pitching staff off to a shaky start and without much depth in the minor leagues, a trade between these two teams involving Schmitt makes sense.
The Problem: Bullpen Depth
The Pirates’ bullpen has a solid core relief group. Closer Dennis Santana is backed by the likes of Isaac Mattson, Gregory Soto, and Mason Montgomery. Yohan Ramirez is also off to a solid start, despite his lack of track record. However, Justin Lawrence has not been nearly as effective this year as last. Offseason signee Jose Urquidy still resides on the Pirates’ roster. The Bucs have also rotated between Evan Sisk and Cam Sanders. As we’ve seen in the past, adding a quality reliever can make all the difference for a team to make a deep playoff run.
The Solution: LHP Brooks Raley
Brooks Raley has been a consistently solid left-handed reliever since returning from the Korean Baseball Organization. Although he missed time between 2024 and 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, he has put things back on track since returning. Raley’s last 32 1/3 innings dating back to the start of the ‘25 season with the New York Mets have yielded a strong 2.23 ERA, 2.06 FIP, and 0.80 WHIP. The veteran left-hander has only walked 7.2% of opponents, while owning a healthy 27.2% strikeout rate.
Raley has not allowed a home run in this time, and has a barrel percentage of just 2.5%. His pitch quality is already back to pre-surgery levels. Raley’s 116 Stuff+ is the 11th best among lefty relievers who have thrown at least five innings this season. With the Mets off to a poor start to 2026, and Raley being a rental, there’s a good chance he becomes available this summer in trade talks.
The Problem: Catcher Depth
Henry Davis has become a quality defensive backstop. His plate discipline is also improved (hopefully), combined with his raw power, leading to better results at the dish as well. However, the other catcher on the Pirates’ roster, Joey Bart, has struggled mightily, both in terms of defense and offense. He also went through similar struggles last season. His wRC+ for the last two seasons comes in at 95, and he has -7 DRS with -0.9 framing runs in just 729 innings. The Pirates’ two other catchers on the 40-man roster, Rafael Flores Jr. and Endy Rodriguez, are not off to hot starts at Triple-A. Plus, Flores Jr. does not provide strong defense, and Rodriguez has missed most of the last two seasons due to a myriad of injuries.
The Solutions: C Luis Torrens
Luis Torrens has become a quality part-time backstop since joining the Mets. He has +17 DRS with +3.7 framing runs, and was in the 97th percentile of poptime last season at 1.87 seconds. His blocking has also gradually improved over the years, going from -4 blocks above average in 2024 to only -1 last year and already up to +1 this season. Offensively, Torrens is only a .229/.285/.352 batter with an 81 wRC+ in 432 trips to the plate with the Mets. However, his .272 xBA, .439 xSLG%, and .333 xwOBA suggest there is more in the tank. Torrens is a free agent at the end of the year, making him a rental on a team off to a cold start.
Main Photo Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
