Pirates predicted to make trade decision on 6-foot-7 slugger with .822 OPS

May 30, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) hits a three-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates are having a productive 2026 season and could look to be trade deadline buyers this summer in pursuit of a postseason berth.

This team doesn't need any offensive help, but they could certainly benefit from adding a good closer, and some more rotation help couldn't hurt either. To land such help, the Pirates could look to get creative at the deadline.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale predicted that 6-foot-7 Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz would not be traded, despite the opportunity to use him as a key piece to upgrade the pitching staff.

Pirates trade prediction with Oneil Cruz is very interesting

"Would the Pirates dare trade one of their potential young stars while fighting for their first playoff berth since 2015? Likely not, but they desperately need bullpen help and could always use depth in the starting rotation," Nighgengale writes. "Prediction: Staying."

While the Pirates might not actually entertain offers for Cruz this summer as they pursue help at the deadline, the 27-year-old outfielder is currently on the injured list, and the offense has been fine without him.

Nightengale predicting that the Pirates don't trade Cruz shouldn't come as a surprise, but the concept of using Cruz as a trade asset is a very intriguing one.

He's under club control through the 2028 season, and this season, before his injury, Cruz, in 64 games, posted 1.2 bWAR with 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, a .264 batting average, and an .822 OPS with a 123 OPS+.

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Those are some great numbers, and while he's a reason why the offense has worked so well this season, the sudden breakout of Esmerlyn Valdez, along with Jake Mangum coming into his own with a .726 OPS and .301 average, and Cruz suddenly is expendable.

Of course, the Pirates shouldn't just trade him away for no reason. But Nightengale does make a good point as to how Cruz is a legitimate trade option for the Pirates this summer.

It makes sense to keep him on the roster, and Nightengale is predicting the Pirates don't trade him this summer. But the possibility of using Cruz in a trade is an intriguing idea that could come to fruition next offseason, if not this year's deadline.

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