Opening stretch of 2nd half vital for Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- Can the Pirates capitalize on their strong finish to the first half and force their way back into the National League Central picture? What will they do with Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole?Those will be the questions most frequently lobbed at the Pirates over the next 2 1/2
PITTSBURGH -- Can the Pirates capitalize on their strong finish to the first half and force their way back into the National League Central picture? What will they do with
Those will be the questions most frequently lobbed at the Pirates over the next 2 1/2 weeks as they embark on a critical 16-game stretch leading up to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Pittsburgh has a losing record, but the club is potentially only one sustained run from making noise in the NL Central -- and the Bucs will have plenty of second-half chances against the teams they're chasing.
General manager Neal Huntington's actions at the Deadline could be heavily influenced by the club's performance leading up to that date. If the Pirates are legitimate contenders, perhaps Huntington will supplement the roster as he did from 2013-15, and somewhat in '16 with the additions of
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If they fall farther behind, there will be trade rumors buzzing around Cole (under club control through 2019) and McCutchen ($14.5 million club option for '18) as contenders seek ways to bolster their rosters down the stretch.
The Pirates should have some financial flexibility leading up to the Trade Deadline. They have not had to pay
Trade scenario
If the Pirates don't view themselves as a serious contender, they could look to unload pending free agents as they've done in the past. Among those who fit the description: relievers
If the Bucs have a shot at the division, they could consider adding a reliever to shore up their shaky setup situation. Don't be surprised if they find a way to add long-term pieces while parting with short-term assets, as they did last July in the trade that netted them Rivero and Taylor Hearn for Melancon.
What are they playing for?
The 16 games between the start of the second half and the Trade Deadline could shape the Pirates' answer to this question. If they put together a run that thrusts them into the division race, perhaps they'll be playing for a postseason spot. Otherwise, they'll be looking toward next year.
The road ahead
The Pirates' next seven games will come at home against the division-rival Cardinals and Brewers, and then they'll play nine during a West Coast trip through Colorado, San Francisco and San Diego. The Pirates' second half includes 12 games against the first-place Brewers, 13 against the Cardinals and 12 against the Reds, who have taken six of their first seven meetings with the Bucs this season.
Key player
McCutchen and Cole are the marquee names, and the Pirates would greatly benefit from getting
Prospects to watch
If the Pirates need a starter down the stretch, they could call up
Adam Berry has covered the Pirates for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook and read his blog.