Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently surveyed several MLB executives to get a sense of what could unfold as the trade deadline approaches. According to those polled, the Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to shop left-hander Andrew Heaney in the coming weeks. Bowden noted that the 34-year-old southpaw owns a 4.16 ERA over 17 starts and described him as a reliable, back-of-the-rotation starter who could be especially valuable to playoff contenders dealing with injuries—such as the New York Mets.
The Pirates have a chance to take control of the trade deadline if they decide to part with some of their more experienced players. Heaney stands out as a prime candidate for a move: while he’s not pitching at a level that would justify a contract extension, he’s been solid enough to attract interest from clubs in the postseason hunt. Potential suitors include the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are in need of rotation reinforcements due to numerous injuries, and the Chicago Cubs, who share a division with Pittsburgh but could still make a play given Heaney’s value.
The Mets, dealing with the loss of Griffin Canning, could also be in the mix, while the Toronto Blue Jays—struggling with inconsistency in their rotation—might aggressively pursue a dependable arm like Heaney to stabilize their staff.
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