FINAL TRADE PREDICTIONS

Well after this Travis Snider trade I thought I'd update this...

Pittsburgh Pirates trade middle/low tier prospect to Kansas City Royals for Jose Mijares

By losing Lincoln, a hole is opened in the bullpen. Bryan Morris can handle the job but I'd be more comfortable with a lefty. Mijares is just that and has a sub 2.20 ERA. We've been linked to him by John Perrotto as well. I don't know any other lefty relievers on the market so I'll throw this out there but we could also easily do nothing more today.

Other players to watch:

All lefty relievers on the market- don't know any others but I'm sure we're calling. Maybe on some righties too

Juan Pierre- Speedster with almost identical stats to Victorino. Just much cheaper. Perfect lead off guy to platoon with Snider/Presley/Marte

Any other possible bench player- Mercer/Sutton have overstayed their welcome and Mercer can be optioned. Probably would be an infield bench player.

Kevin Correia- I think we keep him now with the pitching woes we've been having and only way we trade him is in a deal for a bat or bench player

Trade Profiles: Vernon Wells

I'm sure a lot of you know this name. Wells was a superstar with the Blue Jays then was traded to the Angels and quietly has had some productive years. He hasn't been in a bunch of trade rumors this year because he's been on the DL. But with Hunter, Trumbo, Trout, Bourjos, there's just no room for him. So could he be a good trade target for the Pirates?

I see Wells sort of like the Soriano situation. Wells just has less power (but not weak), is younger, and doesn't have a no trade clause. He's been sidelined since May with a thumb injury but is coming back. He hit .244 with 6 HRs 12 RBIs and an OPS just over .700 before going down in limited action. He hit 25 HRs last year but carried an OPS lower than .700 and an avg. of .218. That will probably go up in the NL but that's just yikes. One thing I was surprised to learn though is that Wells is not as great a defender as I thought. He's averaged over his career to save -12 runs per year from the outfield. That's not good at all. I will say that I've seen him make some great plays in the outfield but that's still a concern. Then again, it can't be worse than Sutton/Jones platoon out there. Jones needs to play first. Wells also has a HUGE contract, much like Soriano. He's owed close to $40 million until 2014. The Angels would have to pay almost all of his contract (like the Cubs and Soriano) just to start a conversation.

Would I mind Wells? No not at all if the scouts believe he can turn his game around and hit for a better OPS in the NL. I'd still rather have Soriano but if we could do a trade straight up Kevin Correia for Wells and a lot of cash (Joel Sherman suggests this), I would do it.

New Pirates Trade Predictions

Since the Wandy Rodriguez trade and Upton news I think it's time to change it up. After seeing how the Pirates went about the Rodriguez deal I think I've got a good idea about what's happening next.

Pittsburgh Pirates trade Kevin Correia to the Baltimore Orioles for a prospect(s)

I'm more convinced after the Wandy trade then ever that Correia will be traded. I think he's the obvious man out of the rotation and being he's pitching for a contract I'd want to give him a chance on another team and get something for him. And being he's on fire in his past few starts I think we could get good value for him maybe as a piece to get a bat (I could see him going to Cleveland in a deal for Shin-Soo Choo) but I think this is more likely. The Orioles are looking for pitching and we can repay them for the Derrek Lee trade last year. I don't know how good a return would be so I'll leave it at prospect(s).

Pittsburgh Pirates trade 2 low tier prospects to the Chicago Cubs for Alfonso Soriano

Surprise! I'm sure many of you didn't expect us to get Wandy (including myself) but we did. Alfonso will be the same situation. I've heard Soriano mentioned as a target of the Rays but no one else. Just as the Astros have wanted Wandy gone for years, the same goes for Alfonso. They both make big money and limiting their team's pay roll flexibility. We got Wandy and Houston paying his deal. Alfonso could be next with the Cubs paying him. If you read my profile on Soriano, you'd know that he's been mashing the ball with better stats than Hunter Pence and is a sound defender even at age 36. He's a pure salary dump (like Wandy) and is under control through 2014 (like Wandy). And like the Wandy trade the Cubs will eat the almost $45 million left on his contract. I've even heard that they'd eat so much that all we'd have to pay would be $3 million a year. Not bad for Soriano who hasn't shown any type of decline in his power numbers. I think he's a cheaper alternative to a Pence or Choo with much more power which is what we need. Even if he flops after this year, $3 mill isn't bad considering Barmes is making $5.5 mill next year. He'll be 38 at contract's end and by that time Josh Bell or Gregory Polanco should be ready to come up and take over. It's the same risk as Wandy was just this is a bat. I can't ignore these similarities and have to think its a stronger possibility than trading say a Marte or Alen Hanson for 1 1/2 years of Choo or Pence. It makes sense. Only roadblock is his full no-trade clause but I don't know why he'd miss a chance to jump into a pennant race. This will also allow the Cubs to finally repay us for the Aramis and Grabow deals lol.

If you want more information and stats on Soriano I suggest you read his trade profile.

Trade Profiles: Hunter Pence

Yes Hunter Pence is back. There were rumors that the Phillies could put him on the block but the Cole Hamels signing just blew them up. Add in that Jose Cruz Jr. is tweeting that "Pence says his days as a Phillie are numbered" and it's just an all out frenzy. He's been linked to the Pirates by big names like Jayson Stark (speculation) and just today by John Perrotto (fact) so lets profile him shall we?

Pence is considered a star and is putting up stellar numbers again this year. He has 17 HRs a .267 avg. 59 RBIs and a .781 OPS. Not astonishing but the Phillies are having a poor season. Before you all say he's perfect, I want you to look at another player. He has 19 HRs, 58 RBIs, .274 avg. and an OPS over .800. You know who it is? You would if you read my last trade profile that many of you probably skipped over because of the name. That's Alfonso Soriano (you all will probably go read his profile now after you finish reading this). He's playing on a worse team and is putting up better stats. I don't know if giving up Starling Marte is worth Pence. Another concern is that he's been inconsistent in the field this year. I don't put much into that because he's been great over the past few years. He's arbitration eligible for next year so he's not a rental but can the Pirates pay what he's going to be worth?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Pence here but I wouldn't give up Starling Marte for him. Alen Hanson is another question but I'd probably do it. Honestly the odds of this trade depend on if the Phillies want value, or a pure salary dump. The salary dump works in the Pirates favor, but I'd say it's not likely. So what I'm saying, don't get too excited. I don't think Pence will be in a Pirates uniform this year even though he'd be a nice fit.

Trade Profiles: Alfonso Soriano

I know what a lot of you are thinking right now... Why the hell would we want Alfonso Soriano? And I'm sure a lot of you probably would stop reading right about now, but Soriano believe it or not could be our best option.

Soriano is killing it again with his bat this year like usual. He has 19 HRs 58 RBIs a .274 avg. and .827 OPS. That's perfect numbers for a cleanup guy. Batting has never been the problem for Alfonso but a lot of people will tell you he's a below average fielder including me but I was surprised to learn that this is not the case. This year playing LF Soriano has been worth 3 runs above average and has also saved 3 runs above average from LF. It's a fluke right? Think again. Over his career as in LF Soriano has been worth 38 runs above average fielding wise and has averaged 3 runs saved above average. So it's easy to see that Soriano is actually an above average player in the field. The other issue a lot of people point to, his huge contract. Soriano is making an annual salary of $18 mill over this season and through 2014. Before you explode, reports say that the Cubs are willing to eat almost all of his salary just to get him out. I've even heard they'll pay his whole contract except for $3 million. That could be huge value because it's not going to take any good prospects whatsoever to get it done. The only drawback is that he is 36 years old and will be 38 when his deal expires. He hasn't declined really yet but it's still a risk but they took the same risk with Wandy Rodriguez. Also he has a full no-trade clause but I don't think he'd miss a chance to join a pennant race.

I think this is currently plan C for the Pirates behind Shin-Soo Choo and Hunter Pence (John Perroto reported we're in on both) and it appears we can't match on a Victorino trade so he's out. Even though we haven't been linked to him I think he'a being considered. Remember, Wandy to the Pirates wasn't talked about much either until it happened. Contrary to popular opinion I think this would be a perfect target for the Bucs if the Cubs eat a lot of salary and I'm kinda hoping it happens unless we can get one of the mentioned above really cheap.

Where do the Pirates go from Here? What about Shin-Soo Choo?

The Pirates traded Rudy Owens, Robbie Grossman, and Colton Cain to the Astros for Wandy Rodriguez. I personally like the trade. Wandy is a very good #3 pitcher who could be a #2 on some teams. And we gave up a pitcher who can be a #3 at best (Owens), an outfielder who can be a solid MLB player but could just as easily flop (Grossman), and a lower to mid tier pitcher (Cain). Wandy is on the team through 2013 and possibly 2014 via a player option. The Pirates will only pay about half of his $30 mill he's owed for the rest of his deal. It's a good trade, but now that we have solidified the rotation, where do we go from here?

We know that the Pirates need a bat but the question is who do we get? We preferably want an OF bat or maybe 1B. The market for them is drying up quickly. Carlos Quentin signed an extension, rumors surface that Justin Upton is almost 100% sure to stay in Arizona for the year, Chase Headley has too many suitors and too high of a price, Hanley Ramirez has been traded. Who's left? Well the most likely target is Shane Victorino. He's a lead off spark plug who is a great OF. Rumor is we offered up Jared Hughes and a minor leaguer for Victorino but the Phillies want Brad Lincoln. I wouldn't do either of those deals because Victorino isn't much of an upgrade over Alex Presley. Think about that. Alex Presley. And you want to give up one of our most consistent relievers for him? Not to mention his huge salary and that he's a rental. Another possibility is Hunter Pence. Yes Pence again. He's under control through 2013. But I'm sure the price for him will be high. He's going to cost a bundle through arbitration. We'll also have to give up Marte in the deal which I also would not do but if the price is lower, I'd certainly listen. Justin Upton is still a possibility because maybe Arizona is just blowing smoke, but I think that idea is fading away fast. Giancarlo Stanton would take at least Taillon and Marte if Miamj even considered selling. So other than Victorino or Pence who could the Pirates get? What about Shin-Soo Choo?

Choo is a guy I actually really like and the Indians reportedly put him on the block. Choo currently bats lead off for the Indians but could easily move back to cleanup or #5 in the order. He's got pop in his bat and is excellent defensively. He's hit 12 HRs with 39 RBIs a .296 avg. and .871 OPS. He's a very good hitter and is having a nice bounce back from a below average year last year. He's also under control through 2013 making $4.9 mill this year and arbitration eligible next year. He's also only 29. I'll compare him to a poor man's Hunter Pence with less power. I think he's the perfect fit for the Pirates if they're interested and I don't think we'd have to part with any top prospects to get him. It would be a similar trade to the Wandy deal.

I haven't heard anything on the Pirates interest in Choo but then again there wasn't huge talk about us going after Wandy either. I'm just speculating here but I wouldn't be shocked if we suddenly jumped in on Choo since we're looking at all available bats or possibly went after/got a surprise player. Just remember I said it first if it happens!

Could the Pirates Trade for Two Outfielders?

It has been known for a while that the Pirates are looking to upgrade the corner outfield spots but could they upgrade both?

There have been rumors that say the Pirates think Shane Victorino is a perfect fit. If you read my trade profile on him you'd know I'm strongly opposed to that idea. However I may be changing my tune here. Alex Presley has fallen off the face of the earth and his stats are now the same as Tabata's. This leads me to believe that we really need a lead off guy. Victorino isn't great hitting for an average of .240 but he's got a good track record and has an on base percentage over .100 points over Presley and Tabata. So if the price comes down I think a Victorino trade could be beneficial, but what about the power bat?

I think that the Pirates could still trade for another outfielder. Let's be honest here, Alex Presley is a bench player. The Pirates bench is pathetic and Presley can upgrade it. I think a guy like Justin Upton, Hunter Pence, Josh Willingham, and maybe even Giancarlo Stanton with the Marlins selling, can still be had to play RF. In 3 of these 4 trades Starling Marte would probably be involved if you're wondering about that. I mean even with Victorino getting on base, who's gonna drive him in? Both OF spots are needed for upgrading and imagine a lineup going to the tune of Victorino, Walker, Cutch, and one of those 4. This team can be scoring runs left and right.

So do I think we could add 2 outfielders at the deadline. Absolutely. I think it's even probable but only if the price is right.