Pittsburgh Pirates should look into a deal for Starling Marte
The 2019 season surely was a disastrous one for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had an unfathomably abysmal second half, when their first half was taken into consideration. Now on the brink of a lengthy rebuild, the question remains of who should be kept and who should be dealt away.
Starling Marte had a season of above-average production for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. He posted a WAR of 2.9 in 132 games and was able to attain a mark of .295 batting average, 23 home runs, 82 RBI, and a .845 OPS.
When taken into consideration that he missed thirty games in total this season- having injuries at the start and end of the season- his production appears very intriguing to would-be suitors. He can play center field and corner outfield spots- although his defensive ratings were not up to standard in 2019. Thus, aside from his offense, he will provide a prospective team’s defense with a degree of versatility.
The Pirates will almost certainly pick up his option, as it would defy logic to do anything to the contrary. They have an opportunity to recoup assets, either at the moment or at the deadline. They are unlikely to contend in any meaningful way, thus a trade of Marte would be the most sensible move.
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A few teams that should strongly consider offering a package in exchange for Marte’s services are the Mets, the Phillies, and the Cubs.
The Mets have a plethora of players that they use in the outfield, yet do not have three natural outfielders let alone a natural center fielder. The Cubs have severely lacked a centerfielder since the departure of Dexter Fowler. Finally, the Phillies were mired in the Odubel Herrera incident throughout 2019, thus they did not get much center field production. One must also remember that the Phillies have committed to the present with a series of moves last offseason, thus this would be a logical move given that mindset.
The Pirates cannot possibly expect a significant return for one season of Marte, however, they might be able to acquire a productive package. They are not likely to get any top-100 prospects, yet they can probably find a package of one or two average to above-average prospects.
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All in all, it is barely even a question as to whether the Pittsburgh Pirates should seek a deal out. There should be no other thought process considering their current outlook and the recent history of the team.