\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781898395_838_Cherington-1120x630.jpg\")
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington listens to a question from the media after signing third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year contract extension through the 2029 season with a club option for 2030, before the home season opening baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
A series loss in Cincinnati and yet another injury blow will not deter the Pirates from buying at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n
Despite falling a game below .500, the Pirates are looking to add more pieces to their roster ahead of the 6 p.m. ET buzzer, a source familiar with the situation told Pittsburgh Baseball Now.<\/p>\n
The Pirates made a notable move on Saturday, when they acquired right-handed reliever Camilo Doval<\/a> from the Yankees for a pair of prospects. Among the other additions Pittsburgh has made so far this month are infielder Jacob Gonzalez, left-hander Brandon Eisert and right-hander Ron Marinaccio. But it\u2019s not yet enough. <\/p>\n This is the second time general manager Ben Cherington has been looking to add pieces at the deadline and not subtract. The other was in 2024, and if the Pirates want to be serious contenders, they can\u2019t repeat what they did two years ago. <\/p>\n That year, the Pirates were teetering between buying and selling but entered the deadline a couple games over .500. To bolster its roster, Pittsburgh acquired infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Blue Jays, outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins and left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks from the Rockies. <\/p>\n Beeks was fine out of the bullpen. The other two players did not pan out. <\/p>\n I like to call that strategy the illusion of adding. Essentially, the Pirates \u201cwent for it\u201d by finding players who weren\u2019t difference makers, ones who didn\u2019t cost significant prospects to acquire. Then you hope for the best. <\/p>\n In a way, it made sense then. The Pirates\u2019 roster didn\u2019t scream contender despite a record above .500. Mortgaging the future to supplement that team probably wouldn\u2019t have been a great strategy.<\/p>\n But as long as the Pirates are adding to this year\u2019s club, they can\u2019t afford to have another half-hearted effort.<\/p>\n Despite an ugly series against the Reds, the Pirates are still within striking distance. They are 3.5 games out in a crowded National League Central race. With the roster they have, this is the best chance they\u2019ve had to make the playoffs since they last did in 2015. <\/p>\n Cherington is reportedly aiming high in the final hours leading up to the deadline. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote<\/a>, \u201cThe Pirates have been engaged in some fanciful pursuits.\u201d He even mentioned the Pirates considered a deal for Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman at one point.<\/p>\n It might not be Goodman, but the Pirates need to get serious about winning over the next handful of hours before the deadline passes. They need to make real moves if they want to be a real contender over the final two months of the season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a rare opportunity for the Pirates, and if they are going for it, they must deliver. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n