The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to acquire a hitter or two before Tuesday’s trade deadline, and that could mean trading for a former All-Star.
According to The Athletic insider Jim Bowden, the Pirates are one of the teams rumored to be in the running to acquire Oakland Athletics slugger Brent Rooker.
Rooker was an All-Star last year and is doing even better this year, batting .294/.369/.585 with 25 homers and 72 RBIs. The Pirates, Mariners and Red Sox have expressed interest in him. He’s under team control through 2027. The Athletics would have to exert a lot of pressure to trade him.
The Seattle Mariners are unlikely to acquire another hitter after acquiring Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner, and the Boston Red Sox could be a threat, but the Pirates have a stronger farm system and the A’s might be willing to poach a prospect or two from Pittsburgh to acquire Rooker.
Rooker, 29, was the A’s primary designated hitter this season and is expected to assume that role with the Pirates, freeing up Andrew McCutchen to play center and relieving pressure on Michael A. Taylor and Jack Swinski to alternate center field more frequently.
The MLB trade deadline is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.