Once again, the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves out of playoff contention with a month to go before the trade deadline. Despite this, the front office seems intent on limiting potential moves to only major league talent. Prospects in the minor leagues remain largely off-limits.
A good example of this approach came last July when the Pirates traded pitcher Patrick Reilly to the Orioles in exchange for Billy Cook—both minor leaguers—in a deal that avoided impacting either club’s MLB roster.
There’s still a looming possibility that GM Ben Cherington could make bold, job-preserving trades. However, some prospects must be kept untouchable, regardless of any drastic decisions from the front office. Three such names have now joined Bubba Chandler and Konnor Griffin in that protected tier.
3 Pirates Prospects Now Considered Untouchable Alongside Bubba Chandler and Konnor Griffin
Esmerlyn Valdez
While Konnor Griffin has rightly earned headlines for his outstanding debut season, Esmerlyn Valdez is making a strong case to be considered just as untouchable. The 21-year-old is on the verge of a call-up to Double-A Altoona and is making his way into the Pirates’ top 30 prospect rankings.
Valdez boasts a .316/.397/.617 slash line with 19 home runs, 18 doubles, and 52 RBIs across 66 games for High-A Greensboro. With the big league team in dire need of power bats, Valdez’s breakout year positions him as a cornerstone prospect the Pirates can’t afford to move.
Carlson Reed
Taken in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, Reed has delivered consistently in the lower minors over the past three years. In 2024, he posted a 1.99 ERA in 23 starts across Low-A and High-A, striking out 130 over 108.2 innings and holding hitters to a .173 average. That performance boosted him to 20th in the Pirates’ prospect rankings.
In 2025, Reed has kept rolling with a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings for Greensboro. The 22-year-old features a four-pitch arsenal, including two fastballs that touch 97 mph. With the Pirates heavily focused on pitching development, Reed’s ceiling makes him a long-term asset worth protecting.
Edward Florentino
Signed during the 2024 international period, Florentino began his career in the Dominican Summer League before earning a promotion to the Florida Complex League in 2025. He thrived there, posting a .347/.442/.642 line with six homers and 23 RBIs—good for a 1.084 OPS.
Last week, the 18-year-old advanced to Low-A Bradenton. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, the left-handed slugger has room to grow and physically mature. Currently ranked 23rd in the system, Florentino’s rising stock suggests he could make a major leap in the next update. He’s not just promising—he’s someone the Pirates must keep under tight protection.
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