The July 30 MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching and, as the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to surprise, they could be open for business – per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

Said Heyman, “The Pirates are telling teams they will trade pitching prospects for big-league bats.”

After a miserable 2020 season that saw them go just 19-41, the Pirates have improved every season since. 2021 saw the Pirates win just 61 games, and they won 62 in 2022 before making a jump to 76 wins in 2023.

So far this season, Pittsburgh is 39-41 and just two games out of a potential NL Wild Card spot. But, despite their surprising success, the team could use more hitting if they want to make a legitimate push for the playoffs.

But the Pirates have struggled at the plate, hitting just .229 on the season with an 89 OPS+ so far. They could definitely use an outfield bat, which it wouldn't be surprising to see them make an attempt to acquire White Sox outfielder Luis Robert.

Although it is unlikely that the Pirates will make a strong effort to be on Robert's radar, it is still interesting to see what it may take to acquire for Pittsburgh to acquire a game-changing impact bat in the current market.

Robert is an All-Star center fielder with a five-tool profile. He can do it all, which makes him very valuable on the trade market this season (as well as valuable to the White Sox, even while they're mired in muck). The issue for him has been staying healthy, which has only allowed him to play one full season in his career of five years. 2023 was his only full season and he was incredible, posting an fWAR of 4.9, 38 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and an .857 OPS.

This season, Robert has gotten to a slower start after returning from an injury. Through 27 games, Robert has a batting average of .190 with seven home runs and 11 runs batted in.

Pirates' future is bright behind Paul Skenes

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) reacts after pitching the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park.
© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie phenom Paul Skenes has been great for the Pirates and now leads the way in NL ROY odds at -220 on FanDuel. Skenes is the betting favorite to become the next NL ROY Winner over Jackson Merrill and fellow pitcher Shota Imanaga. 

Skenes has lived up to the hype of the Pirates drafting him no.1 overall. He has a 4-0 record, a 2.14 ERA which is the best of any of the starting pitchers in Pittsburgh and he also has a 0.99 WHIP. He is well on his way to having a historic season as a rookie and because of that, he is the overwhelming favorite to win the award now. The Pirates have also been able to count on wins more often than not when he has pitched with the Pirates having a 6-2 record when he has been in the lineup.

Up next for the Pirates, they open up a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday.