Pirates’ potential outfield trade target could solve one major problem while creating another

Rum Bunter's Emma Lingan argues that Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jo Adell is an intriguing trade target for the Pittsburgh Pirates, though his profile presents major drawbacks. Pittsburgh struggled mightily against left-handed pitching in 2026, ranking last in MLB in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage against southpaw starters. Adell could address that weakness, having posted a .288/.345/.591 slash line across his last 400 plate appearances against lefties alongside consistent 20-plus home run power.

However, Lingan highlights that acquiring Adell carries significant risk due to his swing-and-miss tendencies, low on-base numbers, and overall .230/.292/.430 slash line over the past three seasons. Additionally, Adell is projected to earn roughly $9.6 million via arbitration in 2027 before reaching free agency, leading Lingan to conclude that committing substantial salary and trade capital to a potential platoon player could reinforce Pittsburgh's existing offensive inconsistencies.