What Might a Blockbuster Pirates-Cardinals Trade Look Like?

Teams rarely make blockbuster trades inside their division. Yet the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals -- National League Central rivals -- match up for a potentially big deal.

The Pirates need left-handed hitters to bolster an offense that finished last in MLB in runs scored, home runs, and OPS this past season. In rebuilding mode, now that Chaim Bloom has succeeded John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations, the Cardinals are seeking young pitchers they can control under contract for multiple seasons.

The Cardinals made such a trade earlier this week when they shipped veteran right-hander Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Richard Fitts and left-hander Brandon Clarke.

Among the left-handed hitters who the Pirates reportedly have interest in are infielder Nolan Gorman, infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan, outfielder/first baseman Alec Burleson, and outfielder Lars Nootbaar. The Pirates should aim high and acquire Donovan and Burleson.

Donovan was an All-Star this year, hitting .287/.352/.422 with 10 home runs in 118 games. The 28-year-old won a Gold Glove as a utility player in 2022 when he finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Donovan is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and will likely have a salary of around $5.5 million next season. He doesn't become a free agent until 2027.

This past season, Burleson won an NL Silver Slugger as a utility player, though he doesn't really fit the description. Burleson, 27, batted .290/.343/.459 with 18 homers in 139 games.

Burleson is a first-time arbitration-eligible player, and his salary projection is about $3.5 million. He has three more seasons of club control remaining before he becomes eligible for free agency in 2028.

The Pirates, though, would have to give up a lot from their stockpile of young pitching to get this trade one, according to various talent evaluators polled by Pirates Roundtable Sports.

Any offer would have to start with Seth Hernandez, who was the sixth overall selection in this year's amateur draft from Corona (Calif.) High School. Baseball America ranks Hernandez as the fourth-best prospect in the Pirates' organization and No. 26 overall.

The Cardinals would also want someone who could fit into their rotation in 2026. Mike Burrows could interest them after going 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA this past season in 23 games (19 starts) as a rookie.

The Pirates would likely need to sweeten the deal with two more pitching prospects, and Po-Yu Chen and Wilber Dotel could satisfy the Cardinals. Chen finished 2025 by posting a 0.66 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Indianapolis after being promoted from Double-A Altoona. Dotel spent the year at Altoona and is ranked as the Pirates' No. 9 prospect by Baseball America.

That package would be a lot to give up, but the Pirates need left-handed hitters badly if they are going to climb out of the NL Central basement and into contention next season.