Pirates trade pitch gets $20 million slugger to bolster lineup from NL rival

The Pittsburgh Pirates have already done some work this offseason to improve their lineup, headlined by moves to acquire Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn.

Their fanbase would sure love to see more, too.

One possibility looms across the state with the Philadelphia Phillies. They want to get rid of the slugging Nick Castellanos, who is owed $20 million for this season but has declined as a player in recent years.

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ESPN's Jesse Rogers predicts that the Pirates could trade for Castellanos, and that the Phillies would be willing to pay $15 million of his $20 million salary just to get rid of him.

"The Pirates still need hitting, right? And Castellanos still needs a new home," Rogers writes. "How about an in-state swap with the big-spending Phillies picking up most of the contract -- say $15 million of the $20 million owed to Castellanos in 2026. The Pirates don't even have to send anyone back in the deal. Just give them his money and watch Castellanos light up PNC Park, proving all the naysayers wrong."

Castellanos is a poor outfielder, so maybe the Pirates could find a path to using him mostly as their designated hitter.

He's also declined at the plate, but he still has pop in his bat.

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A change of scenery could potentially help, too, especially joining a younger lineup where Castellanos could be viewed as a veteran leader.

If the Phillies pick up most of the tab, the Pirates don't have a great reason not to try this. If Castellanos happens to have a little more in the tank, Pittsburgh's lineup would be in position to support its still-strong pitching staff and try to surprise the rest of the National League.

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