The Pittsburgh Pirates need to be smart at the trade deadline while acquiring enough talent to help them stay in the playoff hunt. They really could use a basher for LF or RF. Josh Willingham, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Ludwick, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur, Carlos Beltran and Hunter Pence are the top targets for the Pirates. If they get one of those guys, look for them to try to move Garrett Jones or Matt Diaz in another deal. The Pirates could also use a nice set-up man for Joel Hanrahan late in games. The Pirates will likely be looking at Leo Nunez (Marlins), Jon Rauch (Blue Jays), Frank Francisco (Blue Jays), Octavio Dotel (Blue Jays), Koji Uehara (O’s), Grant Balfour (A’s), Rafael Betancourt (Rockies), Matt Lindstrom (Rockies) or Mike Adams (Padres). The Pirates could also use a utility infielder who can handle 3B. Jeff Baker, Blake DeWitt, Adam Kennedy, Omar Infante, Aaron Miles, Jamey Carroll, Jack Wilson and Mike Aviles are likely on the Pirates’ radar. The Pirates are also looking at Ty Wigginton of the Rockies and he can play 1B, 3B, 2B or a corner outfield slot and he has pop in his bat. The Pirates need to be careful this week but they also can’t afford not to add talent at the trade deadline at the same time.

I don’t think the Pirates need to punish the fans again in 2010. The Pirates are playing the kids already but I would still make some minor moves to help the team down the road. First off I would deal catcher Ryan Doumit and righty reliever D.J. Carrasco to the Red Sox for SS Jed Lowrie and catcher Mark Wagner who is a solid prospect. Lowrie would then take over as the starting SS for the Pirates from Day #1. I would then flip lefty reliever Javier Lopez to the Angels for catcher Bobby Wilson. Finally I would send SS Ronny Cedeno to the Padres for 2B Matt Antonelli. The Pirates shouldn’t make any deals that don’t make sense for both today and the future. At least in these deals Jed Lowrie and Bobby Wilson would be starting right away for the Pirates with Wagner and Antonelli coming to Pittsburgh down the road.

The Pirates are 30-52 on the season which has them in last place in the N.L. Central, 17 games behind the Reds. As the Pirates’ GM said during last season’s firesale….”It’s not like we’re breaking up the 1927 Yankees”! Expect more smart ass comments this season. Ryan Doumit, Lastings Milledge and Octavio Dotel seem to be the trio of players the Pirates would likely get the most for. Akinori Iwamura, Ronny Cedeno, Andy LaRoche, Bobby Crosby, Ryan Church, D.J. Carrasco, Brendan Donnelly and Javier Lopez could all have new uniforms on by the end of July but don’t expect a good return for any of them. Usually by now Pirates’ fans are more worried about the Steelers by now but it could be a long football season which will probably have Bucs’ fans more surly than usual.

I know this is starting to sound like a broken record for Pirates fans but the current roster isn’t going to win anything. With that in mind I think the Pirates should start making moves to get the team going in the right direction. The first move I would make is to offer the Twins Akinori Iwamura, D.J. Carrasco and Brendan Donnelly for starting pitcher Jeff Manship, 2B Alexi Casilla and infielder Matt Tolbert. This would give the Twins a starting 3B and the bullpen help they need while giving the Pirates infield help and a starting pitcher. Then I would trade Ryan Church to the Angels for catcher Bobby Wilson. This would allow Ryan Doumit to play some more at 1B the rest of the year freeing Garrett Jones up for RF duty. I would then move Javier Lopez to the Rays for outfielder Justin Ruggiano who would replace Church as the Pirates’ #4 outfielder. Finally I would trade Octavio Dotel and Bobby Crosby to the Phillies for Ben Francisco, Scott Mathieson and Antonio Bastardo. The Pirates need to start getting more prospects with high upsides like Bastardo, Manship, Wilson and Mathieson instead of just taking what other teams are giving which has been their problem for almost 20 years now.

The Pirates could use a lefty reliever for the bullpen and they are disgusted with the recent performance of Brandon Moss. With that in mind the Pirates should offer Brandon Moss to the Marlins for Taylor Tankersley. Tankersley is a very talented pitcher who has had some issues with control. If the Pirates could straighten him out this trade would be a steal and I’m almost positive that the Marlins would make this deal.