The Pittsburgh Pirates sit at 53-50, just one game back in the NL Wild Card race. That puts them in buying mode as the trade deadline approaches.
While their bullpen could use some help, the bigger needs are on offense and defense. Center field stands out as a priority, even with Oneil Cruz potentially returning from injury.
That’s where Daulton Varsho comes in. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden called the Toronto Blue Jays’ Gold Glove center fielder the “perfect” trade deadline target for Pittsburgh.
“If the Blue Jays decide to sell, Varsho would be the perfect trade target for the Buccos,” Bowden writes.
Right now, the Pirates are using Billy Cook, Jake Magnum, and Cruz in center field when healthy. The corner outfield spots rotate between Esmerlyn Valdez, Tyler Callihan, Ryan O’Hearn, and Bryan Reynolds.
Adding Varsho would solve multiple problems. It’d upgrade the defense in center field while allowing the Pirates to shift Cruz to designated hitter for their postseason push.
Gold Glove Defense, Questions at the Plate
Varsho’s calling card is his glove. He won the Gold Glove in 2024 and has been elite defensively for the past season and a half.
The bat tells a different story.
In 300 at-bats this season, Varsho’s hitting *.237/.678 OPS* with an 84 OPS+. That’s produced 0.8 bWAR – solid overall value thanks to his defense, but the offensive numbers are below average.
For a Pirates team that’s struggled to score runs consistently, that’s worth considering. But his defensive impact in center field could justify the trade-off, especially for a team trying to make their first playoff appearance since 2015.
The Math Works
Toronto’s sitting at 47-56, and they’re likely sellers at this point. Varsho becomes a free agent after 2026, so he’s not a pure rental but won’t cost premium prospect capital either.
From Pittsburgh’s perspective, it’s the type of move that makes sense. They get an immediate defensive upgrade at a position of need without mortgaging their future. For a team this close to a playoff spot, that’s exactly the kind of calculated risk worth taking.
The Pirates have been in rebuild mode for years. Now that they’re finally competitive, adding a proven defender like Varsho could be the difference between watching October baseball and watching it from home.
