The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly open to discussing Oneil Cruz trade rumors as the MLB trade deadline approaches, though a deal involving the center fielder appears improbable. According to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team is not actively shopping Cruz but has received numerous inquiries and is willing to consider offers. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com echoed this sentiment, noting the Pirates would demand an exceptional proposal to make a move. ESPN’s Jeff Passan emphasized that Cruz is unlikely to be traded anytime soon.
Context of the Pirates’ Trade Market This Season
The thought of trading Cruz gained traction about a month ago when reports highlighted that the Pirates had very few untouchable players ahead of this year’s deadline. Aside from highly regarded prospects Paul Skenes and franchise veteran Andrew McCutchen, most players were considered trade-eligible. The organization appears more focused on moving players signed to long-term contracts who have underperformed, such as Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, and Mitch Keller. While Hayes and Reynolds have struggled recently and are considered overpaid, Keller’s strong pitching performance could still make him expendable given the team’s depth in younger, cost-effective arms.
The Unique Value Oneil Cruz Brings to Pittsburgh
Oneil Cruz stands apart from these other players due to his youth, affordability, and remaining contract control, which extends through three more seasons beyond 2024. He will also qualify for arbitration after this year, adding to his value. Although his play has not been flawless, Cruz’s raw physical tools are among the sport’s best, as reflected in his consistent dominance in Statcast metrics measuring exit velocity, running speed, and arm strength. However, his high strikeout rate and inconsistent defense remain issues. Observers note that while his defensive routes may look awkward, his speed often compensates for positioning challenges.
Statistical Overview of Cruz’s Current Season
This season, Cruz has struck out in 31.9% of his plate appearances, yet he has drawn walks at a rate of 12.5% and hit 16 home runs. His overall slash line stands at .219/.319/.419 with a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 102. His baserunning remains a strength, successfully stealing 33 bases in 37 attempts. Defensively, metrics provide a mixed picture: Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) rates him at -7, while Outs Above Average (OAA) gives him a slightly positive +2. Overall, Cruz is still a valuable player—FanGraphs credited him with 3.5 wins above replacement (WAR) last year, and he is presently on pace for approximately 2.0 WAR in 2024.
Why the Pirates Might Hesitate to Trade Cruz
The Pirates’ reluctance to move Cruz stems from his status as the team’s strongest position player and the scarcity of comparable talent in their system. Other position players like Hayes, Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales, and Jared Triolo have not developed as hoped, limiting the team’s depth. Cruz is the only player on Pittsburgh’s roster to surpass 1.1 WAR this year and was the sole member to exceed 2.1 WAR last season. Trading him would create a large gap in a lineup that is already lacking, potentially setting back the team’s plans to reach playoff contention for the first time since 2015.
Franchise Direction and Future Considerations
The Pirates are in a rebuilding phase centered around an impressive group of young pitchers led by Paul Skenes. Their goal is to assemble a competitive roster around these arms, but losing Cruz would be a significant setback. Without an offer too good to pass up, it is expected the club will hold on to him. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is likely to focus trade talks more heavily on other players such as Mitch Keller, Bryan Reynolds, and Ke’Bryan Hayes in the coming days.
Potential Interested Teams and Market Competition
Several teams may require center field reinforcement, including the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels. However, many of these clubs might prefer other options like Luis Robert Jr., Cedric Mullins, Harrison Bader, or Alek Thomas over Cruz. Although the Pirates will hear out offers on him, the likelihood of a deal is overshadowed by the strength and stability Cruz brings to Pittsburgh’s lineup.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What surgery did Oneil Cruz have?
A. Greg Altman and Dr. Darren Frank fixed Cruz’s broken left fibula and treated damage to the syndesmosis—a ligament-connected joint near the ankle. Manager Derek Shelton felt somewhat relieved that the injury affected only the ankle area and did not extend to other parts of Cruz’s left leg.
Q. What was Oneil Cruz’s injury?
A. Cruz is heading to the injured list due to a broken right foot. This season, Oneil Cruz has played sparingly and now faces his first official time on the injured list. He got injured with a right-foot fracture during a game with Class A Advanced Bradenton last Saturday night.