MLB Trade Deadline: 5 trades Pirates should make

Will they Pirates be buying or selling this summer?

The Pirates sit at the crossroads as they enter the August 1st trade deadline. They are currently nine games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. Even with the Cubs current streak of average play, it would be a surprise to see them get caught from behind with such a big lead.

They are currently three games back of the second wild card as well. This is a team that has hosted the last three wild card games and has gone 1-2.

So they seemingly have two options. Buy, try to take the wild card in round four, and see if it can bring better fate than the last three years. Or they can move some players, accept younger talent and find paths to competing next year.

It brought up Andrew McCutchen rumors this year. McCutchen is having a year below expectations and has only two more years on his current contract. He is now at the age 29 and they may not be looking to extend him past 2018. Still, do not expect any Andrew McCutchen trades. At least not this July. This is a team that has all the pieces to compete in 2017, regardless of what happens in 2016.

The Pirates will likely be a mix of buying and selling this summer, if they are active at all. They will try to unload some money and space for playing time, all while adding to a young core already on the roster. It may not feature a blockbuster, but the Pirates still have to head into this trade deadline thinking they can get better for now and for the future.

With that said, here are the five trades that the Pirates should make

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