Surprise NL Central team expected to be aggressive ahead of trade deadline

With the Aug. 3rd MLB deadline rapidly approaching, teams will soon be figuring out whether to buy or sell.

One team that is a bit ahead of schedule and will reportedly be leaning toward the buyer side are the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pirates planning to be aggressive at trade deadline

According to an update from MLB insider Bob Nightengale, Pittsburgh is planning to make aggressive moves ahead of the trade deadline, only under certain circumstances though. 

"The Pirates, who entered the break having scored an MLB-leading 516 runs, plan to be aggressive at the deadline," Nightengale wrote. "Yet, only if they can acquire pieces without increasing payroll. Their biggest need is the bullpen after blowing 17 saves in 36 opportunities with a 4.49 ERA. It’s the worst save percentage in MLB."

Who are the viable options?

In a year where there hasn't been much separation from the bad to very bad teams, Pittsburgh may not be able to find a ton of trade partners. 

Teams such as the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets are certainly sellers, but they both have large contracts that the Pirates likely aren't willing to take on.

It'll be intriguing to see how the deadline plays out for a Pittsburgh team that is hoping to get healthy and make a serious playoff push for the first time in 10 seasons.