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With the MLB trade deadline still over two months away, the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves among the teams that could accelerate the summer trade market. Sitting at 17-34, the Pirates are firmly in last place in the NL Central, 13.5 games out of first, and own a -68 run differential—putting them in clear sell-mode territory.
On Friday, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand identified the Pirates as one of six teams that could potentially jump-start the trade market with an early move. Looking at Pittsburgh's situation from an unbiased point of view — it's hard to argue with him.
6 teams that could jump-start the @MLB trade market https://t.co/2UtdJ26k9B
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) May 23, 2025
General Manager Ben Cherington already dispelled any notion that phenom starting pitcher Paul Skenes could be traded this year. So while no blockbuster moves are expected from Pittsburgh, the club does have several players who could attract interest from contenders.
The bullpen, in particular, may be a focal point for potential trade discussions. Right-hander Dennis Santana has been a bright spot, posting a 1.77 ERA with five saves in 21 appearances. His affordable $1.4 million salary and an additional year of arbitration control make him an appealing target.
Closer David Bednar, a two-time All-Star, has rebounded after a rough start to the season that included a brief demotion to Triple-A. With a $5.9 million salary and another year of team control, he could be a sought-after arm if Pittsburgh shops him. However, hard to envision a solid return for Bednar unless he pitches lights out from now until the deadline.
According to Feinsand, left-hander Caleb Ferguson, an impending free agent making $3 million this season, may also be on the move. The 28-year-old has thrown 21 innings this season, with 15 strikeouts and a 4.22 ERA.
Given that the Pirates have one of the deepest stables of young starting pitchers in baseball, it would not be a surprise to see a rotation member get dealt.
Top prospect Bubba Chandler should be in the rotation by the end of June, which pushes one starter out of that role. It remains to be seen if Mike Burrows, called up for his first career start on Thursday, will consistently pitch effectively at the big league level. So his spot is more of a question mark. But it is likely that the Pirates will keep giving him opportunities, especially given his team-friendly, rookie contract.
That leaves six starting pitchers for five spots, and the Pirates have not expressed any interest in a six-man rotation. There's a seemingly obvious choice of who could get dealt, and this player has seen his name floated around in trade talks since late April.
Feinsand wisely pointed out that Andrew Heaney could serve as a cost-effective rotation upgrade for contenders. The left-hander has been solid this year, sporting a 3-3 record with a 2.91 ERA over 10 starts. On an expiring one-year, $5.25 million deal, he represents a low-risk rental option.
On April 23, the 33-year-old Heaney recorded his 1,100th career strikeout. Achieved during the 12th season of his career, the milestone is a symbol of pitching consistency that Heaney has shown at the big league level.
1,100 career strikeouts for Andrew Heaney pic.twitter.com/flKjCeTibE
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 24, 2025
More must-reads:
- Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani reaches yet another incredible milestone
- Why Red Sox may regret extending rookie Roman Anthony
- The 'MLB playoff home run leaders' quiz
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Why Red Sox may regret extending rookie Roman Anthony
To say that the Boston Red Sox are keeping MLB fans and analysts on their toes this season is an understatement. Almost two months after trading the face of their franchise, Boston signed MLB’s No. 1 prospect, Roman Anthony, to an eight-year, $130 million extension. Between trading Rafael Devers and locking Anthony up through 2034, the Red Sox have been the boldest MLB team this season by far. But will this move pay off? Fans expected Sox owner John Henry to spend money on the team during the offseason, but no one anticipated a massive mid-year pact with a rookie would occur. Anthony has only played 46 MLB games, during which he has slashed .283/.400/.428 with 19 RBIs and two home runs. While his rapid ascent through the minor league and hot start to his professional baseball career are beyond what fans could’ve asked for, Anthony’s extension is still premature from a financial perspective. With a $16.25 million AAV on his contract, the Sox have piled high expectations onto a player who recently turned 21 years old. For Anthony’s sizable and long-term commitment to be worth the investment, he should produce an annual 2.0 WAR at least and earn at least three or four All-Star, Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Awards by the end of his contract. For reference, Marcell Ozuna and Kyle Tucker received contracts within $250,000 AAV of Anthony’s contract AAV, according to Spotrac. All three achieved this criterion before they were rewarded with lucrative agreements. Weighing these standards against Anthony’s newness to MLB, it’s nearly impossible to say Boston’s decision-making was backed by more than just impulse. Somehow, Anthony isn’t the first rookie the Red Sox extended this year. With five games of baseball under his belt, Boston closed an eight-year, $60 million deal with Kristian Campbell, who was MLB’s No. 6 prospect at the time. While Campbell’s $7.5 million AAV is drastically different from Anthony’s, the Sox’s strategy to hoard young players before they’ve had enough time to prove themselves isn’t logical. Keeping Anthony off the free-agent market for the next decade may be the best risk the Sox have ever taken, or it may be one of the most expensive decisions made. Anthony must deliver the high-performance projections his contract sets for his early extension to pay off, but odds are, Boston is putting the cart before the horse.
Jerry Jones takes another jab at Micah Parsons over contract stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys have a big problem on their hands right now. Micah Parsons has formally requested to be traded, and he took to social media to vent his concerns and frustration with his contract extension situation. However, team owner Jerry Jones isn't ready to budge. If anything, the controversial business mogul doesn't sound too worried about that. Talking to the media, he implied that he had already shaken hands on an extension with Parsons, so he just has to wait now: "I bought the Dallas Cowboys with a handshake," Jones said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. "It took about 30 seconds. I gave the number, shook hands, the details we worked out later." Jones, one of the most successful businessmen of his generation, pretty much stated that he wouldn't change the way he does business. "Just so you understand the way that I communicate with people that I negotiate with. Let's leave it at that," Jones continued. "There's is no question that in the case of a player contract, you have to have it in writing. All parties do. We have a contract in writing, yet we're still talking about renegotiating, so so much for that." Parsons has every right to feel frustrated. He's one of the best pass-rushers in the game, and he's the youngest in the short list of superstars at the position. The Cowboys have a long history of dragging out negotiations for as long as they can, and that's usually rubbed their players the wrong way. Parsons is still under contract, and the Cowboys can technically wait to give him an extension because the market isn't likely to go any higher after T.J. Watt already got a deal done. But sometimes, it's not just about money, and these power struggles are terrible for team morale.
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Maple Leafs' Forward Trio Could Be Moved Before Next Season, Claims Insider
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be finished reshaping their forward group. NHL insider Chris Johnston reported for The Athletic that the trio comprised of depth-forwards Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok, and David Kampf, is on the trade block as the franchise continues to explore roster changes ahead of the 2025–26 season. Johnston noted that of the three, the Leafs are most reluctant to part with Robertson, who just signed a one-year, $1.825 million deal and avoided arbitration. Still just 23, Robertson’s age and goal-scoring upside keep him in Toronto’s long-term picture—for now. "With that glut of NHL-calibre players, the Leafs could still ship out one or more of David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok or Robertson before the season begins, Johnston wrote. "However, they’ve been reluctant to part with Robertson because of his age-related upside and ability to put the puck in the net. "Just 19 players from the 2019 NHL Draft have scored more career NHL goals than the 53rd pick. And Robertson has done that while receiving depth minutes at 5-on-5 and limited power-play usage." Veterans David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, More Likely to Be Moved Kampf and Jarnkrok, both in their thirties, are viewed as more expendable by Johnston. Kampf has two years left on his four-year, $9.6 million deal, carrying a $2.4 million cap hit. He has been a staple of Toronto’s penalty kill for the past four years, but he only produced 13 points in 59 regular-season games last year. Jarnkrok, meanwhile, has only one year left on his contract at a $2.1 million cap hit. He has filled a middle-six role when healthy, but is coming off appearing in just 19 games last season and scoring a meager seven points. Toronto’s summer acquisitions have added competition for bottom-six spots, leaving little room for how either veteran fits the NHL roster next season. Johnston suggested the team has “tried for weeks” to move both players, and with only $1.9 million in cap space remaining, a trade could help provide flexibility for another move. Nick Robertson’s Upside Keeps Him in Play—For Now Robertson scored 15 goals in 69 games last season while averaging limited minutes. Despite trade rumors and facing questions about his fit, the Leafs still appear willing to bet on his upside. The 23-year-old forward had 22 points overall last year, and he reached a career-high figure in goals. Robertson added two points (one goal, one assist) in three Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Leafs crashed out of the postseason early once again, falling in the second round of the playoffs.
Travis Kelce's attitude about Super Bowl LIX loss won't help Chiefs return to the big game
How does a team move on from a crushing Super Bowl loss? According to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, forget about it immediately. The Philadelphia Eagles dismantled the Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans last season. While it was disappointing for the TE, Kelce said he moved on from it quickly. "I've thrown that thing in the trash," the TE told the media at training camp Wednesday. "I've moved on. It happened sooner than you can imagine. I was pretty focused on this year in the offseason." But can the Chiefs simply trash the Super Bowl loss, or will its effects linger throughout the season? History says the latter. Just six teams have made it back to the big game after losing the previous season. Of those six teams, just three have won it: the 1971 Dallas Cowboys, 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2018 New England Patriots. The San Francisco 49ers imploded last season after losing Super Bowl LVIII to the Chiefs. They went 6-11, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. The 49ers lost several stars to injury, including running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee). The injury bug could already be biting Kansas City. Kelce, who turns 36 on Oct. 5, just had a major admission about his injury status. Meanwhile, two of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top targets are both dealing with injuries early in camp. Meanwhile, Kansas City is also dealing with a few glaring concerns in camp. The Chiefs also may face increased competition in the AFC West. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is confident his team is a Super Bowl contender. New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, meanwhile, thinks the Silver and Black are being underestimated. And the Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a playoff trip in their first season under HC Jim Harbaugh. Forgetting about the loss may not help the Chiefs. They must learn from it to navigate what should be a difficult path back to a championship.
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