Pirates Named As Fit For Former 31-Home Run Catcher Ahead Of Deadline originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are battling for a playoff spot and could be buyers ahead of the August 3 MLB trade deadline.
Pittsburgh was aggressive this offseason to bolster the roster and that could continue on the trade front. The Pirates could look to add an impact bat and ESPN’s Jeff Passan named the Pirates as one of the top fits for Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers.
“Jeffers should return from a hamate bone fracture well before the deadline, and he’s clearly the best catcher available,” Passan wrote in an article published on Wednesday. “Few contending teams are actively interested in acquiring a catcher, which muddies the situation slightly. The Yankees are the obvious match. Other options could emerge, including the Pirates if Endy Rodriguez doesn’t continue raking and the same for the Padres and Luis Campusano.
“And Jeffers certainly has the bat to carry at DH. This one might take time to develop as Minnesota seeks leverage. Best fits: Yankees, Rays, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Padres.”
Although Jeffers is still injured, if he can return before the deadline and prove he’s healthy, he will be sought after. Jeffers can start at catcher for the Pirates and be an impact bat for the team.
Jeffers is hitting .295 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs this season. His best year was in 2024, as he had 21 home runs and 64 RBIs. The 29-year-old is a pending free agent, so the cost to acquire him likely wouldn’t be that high.
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