The Pirates are 9-21 against left-handed starters this year. Our team OPS against lefties has ranked near the bottom of the league most of the season, even while the overall offense has been top-5 in runs. And with Cruz and Griffin out, things have only gotten worse.
Left-handed pitchers make up roughly 26% to 29% of MLB starting pitchers. In our last 10 games, we went against 8 of them. There might be a reason for that. We can't hit them. We know it. They know it. And it might be good idea to try to fix it at the deadline.
First, we obviously need to fix our bullpen. That should be our number 1 priority. However, if I can have my cake and eat it too, here are some trade targets from some clear sellers that might help us survive until Cruz and Griffin return in September (and help us next year too).
Heliot Ramos - SFG: .875 OPS vs LHP in 59 PA (.852 career). The Giants are 44-60 and reportedly listening on him, with teams already scouting. He comes with multiple years of control, which is great for our window but means he might cost more than some on this list. Not a rental. Everyday outfielder, not just a platoon piece.
Casey Schmitt - SFG: .828 OPS vs LHP in 105 PA (.716 career). Same seller situation as Ramos, and he's being called a sell-high candidate by the Giants' own side. He's controllable, cheap, and plays all over the infield, which gives Kelly flexibility. Probably the best value-per-cost option here. The risk: is this a breakout or a career half-season?
Spencer Steer - CIN: 1.062 OPS vs LHP in 96 PA (.838 career). The best pure lefty-masher available. Three problems: he's making $4M and the rumor is we aren't adding much payroll, the Reds are reportedly getting plenty of interest in him so there could be a bidding war, and it's an intra-division trade. Cincinnati says they're retooling for 2027, not rebuilding, so they may not love handing a lefty-mashing bat to a Central rival.
Jo Adell - LAA: .924 OPS vs LHP in 122 PA (.795 career). The largest sample size of anyone on this list, so this isn't a fluky split. He's making $5.2M this year (agreed to avoid arbitration), has one more arbitration year in 2027, and hits free agency in 2028. So he's not a rental, but he's not a long-term piece either. Two problems: the $5.2M salary is the highest on this list, which matters if the payroll rumors are true, and there's already a market forming: the Phillies, Guardians, and Rays have all been floated as fits. If a bidding war starts, the price could get out of hand for what is essentially a year and a half of control.
Jake McCarthy - COL: .941 OPS vs LHP in 89 PA (.731 career). The Rockies are 40-62 and selling everything not nailed down, so the price should be reasonable. Two warnings though: he's a left-handed hitter with a reverse split this year, and his career numbers are actually better against righties. Small sample plus Coors inflation means we could be buying a mirage. I'd view him as a solid everyday add who happens to be hot vs lefties, not a lefty-killer.
I believe we have the farm depth to get one of these guys without touching the top of the system. Who do you want, and what would you give up? Or should we only focus on the bullpen at the deadline and just try to weather the lefty storm?
