Pittsburgh Pirates fans have become used to the annual exodus of expiring contracts at the trade deadline. However, there might be more to this coming deadline for the Pirates. There’s speculation that general manager Ben Cherington may step outside of his comfort zone this time around. Specifically, the Pirates might be sellers and buyers. In addition to the usual potential-free-agent-for-prospects deals, Cherington might acquire a hitter who might help the team for several years. That might mean a young hitter with the ever-attractive years of control. Or it might mean a more established hitter under a long-term deal, perhaps even a lucrative long-term deal, provided Cherington could dump a similar contract (read: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mitch Keller, Bryan Reynolds) to offset the cost.
On his weekly radio show last Sunday, Cherington discussed the need for the team’s offense to become more left-handed to take advantage of PNC Park. That wasn’t necessarily a shocking revelation. His shortstop, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, said as much last month, and in any event, that’s been obvious to even the most casual baseball observer. On Tuesday, the Pirates recalled Jack Suwinski, perhaps because of the need for more left-handed hitting. Or maybe just because.
Pirates Might Seek Left-Handed Hitters at the Trade Deadline
With that in mind, let’s look at some left-handed hitters who just might be had. This isn’t to suggest that any of them are available or that the Pirates could swing a deal for them. Only the parties working the phones know these things. Thus, I won’t suggest any mock trade proposals, either. Finally, I get it – Cherington’s trades have mostly yielded disappointment. But let’s do some window shopping for the Pirates anyway. Now, some possible trade partners:
The Athletics
The Athletics are badly in need of pitching, with a 5.32 ERA team as of the close of Wednesday’s action. Only the Colorado Rockies are worse. Last spring, the A’s gave a seven-year, $65.5 million contract extension to right fielder Lawrence Butler. It seems they’ll build their offense around Butler, Nick Kurtz, and All-Star Jacob Wilson.
That might leave 23-year-old left-handed hitter Tyler Soderstrom as the expendable party. Why would the A’s part with him? Because they want to bring a good team to Las Vegas in 2028, they need pitching, and one has to give to get. He’d be attractive to a team like the Pirates at the trade deadline because he has no free agency rights until 2030. So far in 2025, he’s hitting .257/.339/.440, 15 HR, and 49 RBI.

After spending 2023 and 2024 as a catcher/first baseman/designated hitter, in 2025, Soderstrom finally found a position. Playing left field, he’s leading American League left fielders with six Fielding Runs Above Average (FRAA) and a 2.47 Range Factor per Nine Innings. Oddly, he’s also been charged with -1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox outfield suddenly became crowded last month when they promoted Roman Anthony, then baseball’s No. 1 prospect. The Bosox were already fairly solid in the outfield, with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu. Boston signed the gifted center fielder Rafaela to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension last year. Anthony and Rafaela aren’t going anywhere.
Neither are Duran and Abreu, says their general manager Craig Breslow. However, with the Red Sox sitting at 49-45, good for the last Wild Card spot in the American League, but just barely, they may listen to offers for one of the outfielders. Both bat left-handed. Abreu has more club control, making him more attractive to any trade partner. There were soft rumors that had Abreu headed to the Pirates last offseason. Could the Pirates make that happen this trade deadline?
Right fielder Abreu, 26, is hitting .260/.326/.508, 18 HR, and 52 RBI. He’s also a strong defender, who’s made more than his share of highlight-reel catches. He’s been credited with 12 FRAA and eight DRS so far. Like Soderstrom, he can’t be a free agent until 2030.
Duran, 28, is a left fielder who’s hitting .262/.318/.462, 8 HR, and 50 RBI. That’s a drop from last year’s All-Star season when he hit .285/.342/.492, 21 HR, 75 RBI, and a major league-leading 48 doubles and 14 triples, although he also leads the majors in triples this season with 10. Even so, his .262 would be third-best on the Pirates. He’s also an above-average defender. He can’t be a free agent until 2029. But he’s signed for $3.75 million this year, and the team has an $8 million option for 2026.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have two hot young catchers in switch-hitting Edgar Quero and left-handed-hitting Kyle Teel. For now, Quero is getting the bulk of the playing time, but ultimately, the Chisox would like to use them in tandem, perhaps in a platoon. But after setting a record for most losses in a season last year and needs all over the diamond, can the White Sox afford the luxury of two catchers of this caliber should the Pirates come calling at the deadline?
Teel, 23, is the White Sox’s No. 2 prospect. Since his recall last June, he’s hitting .246/.390/.311 in 22 games. In the minors, he hit .300/.401/.456. Teel is considered a strong defensive catcher. One might speculate that Chicago would want to keep him around.
Kyle Teel rips a liner the opposite way for his first Major League hit!
Welcome to The Show, Kyle
pic.twitter.com/tp9qssqXRD
— MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2025
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That leaves Quero, 22, who was Chicago’s No. 4 prospect in 2024. This season, he’s hitting .275/.353/.343, 1 HR, and 20 RBI. That’s not much power, but that .275 average would look good with Pittsburgh. The power may come, as he hit 16 home runs across two minor league levels in 2024.
Additionally, Quero has some odd splits. As a left-handed batter, he’s hitting .190/.291/.233. From the right side, he’s hitting .435/.478/.548. The latter is unsustainable, of course, and reportedly, Quero hit better from the left-hander’s box in the minors in 2023. He needs work behind the plate as well. He’ll be a good one eventually, at possibly the toughest position to break into the majors. Teams looking for immediate help from the left side of the batter’s box at the deadline will have to do their homework on this guy, however.
Main Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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