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For most of Ben Cherington’s tenure, the Pittsburgh Pirates have treated their prospect capital like something to protect at virtually all costs. That approach may have made sense while they were rebuilding, but it makes considerably less sense now.
The Pirates have a major-league roster capable of competing for a playoff spot, a young core they can build around and a farm system that remains deep even after graduating players like Konnor Griffin. At some point, prospects have to become more than future possibilities. They have to become currency — and there are three emerging names in particular that Pittsburgh should be willing to discuss before the trade deadline.
3 Pirates prospects forcing their way into trade deadline conversation
Termarr Johnson
Termarr Johnson is the biggest name of the three, even if his 2026 season hasn’t gone according to plan.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft is currently MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 Pirates prospect, but he is batting just .198 with a .634 OPS at Triple-A Indianapolis. He has still drawn enough walks to post a .327 on-base percentage and has stolen 20 bases.
Trading Johnson now might technically qualify as selling low, but Pittsburgh also has to consider his path to the majors. The Pirates have accumulated significantly more position-player depth since Johnson was drafted, and he no longer looks like a player the organization absolutely must reserve a spot for.
Johnson does appear to be heating up at the right time to be considered in trade conversations. He had three doubles in his first three games after the All-Star break, which briefly pushed his season average above .200. He's batting .240 in July, and his pedigree alone could still make him an intriguing centerpiece in the right deal.
Sammy Stafura
Sammy Stafura might be doing more than anyone to increase his trade value. The shortstop, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in last year’s Ke’Bryan Hayes trade, has exploded in 2026. Through Wednesday, Stafura is hitting .286 with a .379 OBP, a .961 OPS, 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases at High-A Greensboro.
MLB Pipeline ranks Stafura No. 10 in Pittsburgh’s system, and his combination of speed, defense and suddenly emerging power makes him exactly the type of prospect another organization could covet. With Griffin blocking his eventual path to Pittsburgh at shortstop for the foreseeable future, Stafura has now become valuable enough to help acquire something meaningful.
Lonnie White Jr.
Perhaps nobody has rebuilt his stock more dramatically this season than Lonnie White Jr. The 2021 competitive-balance pick has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout his professional career, but he is finally putting everything together.
White is batting .269 with a .373 OBP, a .900 OPS, 18 homers and 16 stolen bases this season while reaching Double-A Altoona. That resurgence has pushed White back onto MLB Pipeline’s Pirates Top 30 at No. 30.
The Pirates shouldn’t trade prospects simply for the sake of making a deadline splash. But they also can't afford to continue hoarding every talented minor leaguer while asking the major-league roster to win without enough help.
Johnson, Stafura and White all have upside, and they figure to part of an already crowded infield picture in Pittsburgh including the likes of Griffin, Nick Gonzales and the newly acquired Jacob Gonzalez. If the Pirates areemma vs adam serious about contending, they need to become comfortable trading some of that future upside for players who can help them win right now.
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This article was originally published on rumbunter.com as 3 Pirates prospects forcing their way into trade deadline conversation.
