For the first time in a long while, this season looks like it might be one where the Pirates are serious buyers on the trade market. While it seems like fewer and fewer teams every year are interested in selling with the expanded playoff format, there is one name that has started popping up as a potential target.
By far the most glaring need for this Buccos team is behind the dish. Henry Davis is now one of the top defensive catchers in the league and is Paul Skenes’ personal catcher, but has been miserable in the box once again. After a solid breakout 2024, Joey Bart has been just as rough going on two seasons now. While Davis’ role with Skenes would suggest he will remain with the club, it is become more and more clear by game that the Pirates need a better catcher behind the dish for the majority of their games. Luckily, it appears there is going to be a relatively cheap option that would be a massive upgrade for the Bucs.
The Minnesota Twins started off the season as one of the best stories in the league, as they were first place in the AL Central just a few weeks ago after coming into the season pegged as one of the worst teams in the league. However, they hit a massive rough stretch, losing 9 of their last 10 to drop to 12-16. It looks like the team will be surefire sellers at the deadline, and they have a great piece for the Pirates to pursue. Now in the last year of team control with the Twins, Ryan Jeffers has quietly been one of the most reliable catcher in the league since he debuted in 2020. While he wasn’t great with the bat over his first few years, he has enjoyed a 115 OPS+ since 2023, headlined by an outstanding 2023 where he was worth 3.2 WAR in just 96 games. He has never been a standout with the glove, but he is far from bad. He has also mashed the ball in 2026 so far to the tune of a 139 OPS+, and his expiring contract makes him extremely likely to be moved at the deadline.
Jeffers provides solid on-base skills with above average pop at the catcher position. He has hit in the middle of the Twins lineup for the past few years, and has simply been consistently good – enough for the Twins to DH him on days where he is not catching. He would provide a massive boost on a regular basis for the Buccos, probably slotting into the 7 hole versus righty pitchers and even higher versus lefties, who he has absolutely crushed throughout his career.
The best part about this deal is that the Pirates would not have to give up much. A good comparison can be found last year, when the Rays flipped Danny Jansen to the Brewers. Jansen, similar to Jeffers, was a bat-first catcher on an expiring contract. He was in the midst of a great season (2.1 WAR in 73 games) when the Rays shipped him out, but the haul they got back for him was lackluster to say the least. The Brew Crew only had to give up 22 year old utility infield prospect Jadher Areinamo, who is hitting .135 this season in AA. He was ranked at 24th in their system when he was moved last year, meaning that an analogous prospect would be a player like Yodany De Los Santos – a 21 year old middle infielder at high A ball ranked at number 19 in the syste.. De Los Santos is a fun prospect, but if the Pirates could turn him into a starting catcher for a potential playoff run, they should absolutely pursue that possibility.
