Where do Pirates stand after latest series loss?

PITTSBURGH -- Early Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, general manager Neal Huntington said Pittsburgh's front office was “still working through” its strategy leading up to the Trade Deadline. The Pirates like the players they have, Huntington said, and they’d love to add to that group.

But is it worth it? The Pirates’ frustrating 2-1 loss to the Phillies in 11 innings on Sunday dropped their record to 46-52. They’re in fourth place in the National League Central, 7 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs, and four teams stand between them and the second NL Wild Card spot.

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“You look at the number of clubs in the National League that are in some level of competition, and if you’re within a good two weeks, it makes it an interesting dynamic,” Huntington said. “We always want to [have a] long-term vision, but yet you want to respect that you’re in a pennant race even if you’re on the outside looking in.”

With every loss, the Pirates move further to the outside. Here are three takeaways from the seventh loss in nine games since the All-Star break.

1) They look more like sellers than buyers

Huntington rejects the literal definition of “sellers,” noting that the decision essentially boils down to buying for the present or buying for the future. In that case, the Pirates seem better situated to fortify their future than the present.

They stormed into the All-Star break by winning 12 of 17 games. They’ve limped into the second half by losing three straight series. They’re only five games out of a playoff spot, but they’d have to play significantly better than they have all season -- and outplay a number of other teams -- to reach that goal.

According to FanGraphs, they entered Sunday with just a 2.8 percent chance of reaching the postseason. Is it worth sending talent out of the farm system just to have slightly better odds of reaching a Wild Card Game where the prize would likely be a series against the Dodgers?

Or would they be better served testing the market for their impending free agents, evaluating their young talent and hoping for better luck (especially on the injury front) next year?

“There’s a good group of young players here who expect to win, that want to win, that are driven to help their teammates be better,” Huntington said. “And I’ve got to do everything in my power -- and, you could argue, a better job of adding to that.”

So don’t be surprised if Corey Dickerson is the subject of trade rumors before 4 p.m. ET on July 31. Or Melky Cabrera. Or Francisco Liriano. Or Jordan Lyles. Or anyone else. Even if those talks don’t lead to transactions, you can easily argue that the Pirates’ focus should be on building a better team for 2020 and beyond.

2) The lineup looks like it needs Josh Bell back in All-Star form

Bell went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in Sunday’s series finale, giving him a .138/.265/.172 slash line since the All-Star break. He is by no means the only Pittsburgh hitter working through a slump, but his struggles stand out considering the heights he reached earlier this year.

It doesn’t have anything to do with the Home Run Derby, Bell said. He continued to get on base and drive in runs last month, but he said he’s been just a little bit off since the end of May.

“I feel like I’m missing hittable pitches. I’m taking balls that are in zones that I maybe should look for,” Bell said. “Just kind of one step behind, it seems like. Hopefully that changes tomorrow.”

A turnaround from Bell would go a long way for the Pirates. They averaged six runs per game from June 1 until the break, but they’re averaging only 2.8 runs per game since.

Pittsburgh scored in the first inning on Sunday, but didn’t touch the plate again, giving Philadelphia plenty of time to wait for Rhys Hoskins’ game-winning homer off Chris Stratton in the 11th inning. The Pirates had a few opportunities before that, but came up short each time.

They loaded the bases in the ninth before Elias Diaz lined out to left. They wasted Adam Frazier’s leadoff double in the 10th, as Kevin Newman dropped down a sacrifice bunt before Bryan Reynolds struck out and Starling Marte grounded out.

“We just haven’t been able to get that traction that we like,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Not getting a string of hits outside of last night, really, that we’ve seen in the past -- the consecutive good at-bats, some extra-base hits, a home run here and there. None of that’s really happened.”

3) Dario Agrazal looks like he belongs

Every time Agrazal pitches well, Huntington breathes a deep sigh of relief. The Pirates designated him for assignment in January, but he cleared waivers, remained in the organization and began the season in Double-A.

“He took it as a challenge, and he’s answered the bell with ferocity,” Huntington said. “He wants to show us that we made a mistake in taking him off the roster.”

Agrazal is pitching like more than just a depth option for the Pirates. Locked in an unlikely pitchers’ duel with recently signed Phillies lefty Drew Smyly, Agrazal delivered his fourth straight quality start by allowing one run over six innings while striking out five.

Five starts into his Major League career, the rookie right-hander owns a 2.25 ERA. He has seemingly tightened his grip on a spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation, going from a non-roster invitee to Spring Training to a spot starter in June to one of the club’s most effective options.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” Agrazal said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “I really wanted to come out with the victory today, but so far, when it comes to my part, things are working along, and I’m trying to continue to be dependable for the team.”