The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first move ahead of the 2025 trade deadline by sending veteran utilityman Adam Frazier to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Triple-A infielder Cam Devanney. Frazier, who returned to Pittsburgh this offseason after spending 2024 with Kansas City, posted a .255/.318/.336 slash line over 78 games while playing second base and both corner outfield spots. With Nick Gonzales back from injury and younger players needing reps, Frazier’s role had diminished, making him a logical trade candidate on an expiring contract.
In return, the Pirates acquired Devanney, a 28-year-old infielder who has yet to make his major league debut. He was enjoying a breakout season at Triple-A Omaha, hitting 18 home runs with a .931 OPS. Devanney’s batted-ball data shows improved exit velocity and success against breaking pitches, though his elevated strikeout rate remains a concern. Defensively, he’s spent most of his time at shortstop, where he’s posted a .969 fielding percentage. With limited shortstop depth in the organization and Isiah Kiner-Falefa expected to be traded, Devanney could see major league action soon.
The Frazier trade is expected to be the first of several moves for Pittsburgh, which currently sits last in the NL Central and is focused on building a more competitive roster for 2026. General manager Ben Cherington has emphasized short-term decisions aimed at long-term improvement, and several players are drawing interest from contenders. Kiner-Falefa, Andrew Heaney, Tommy Pham, and Caleb Ferguson are all on expiring contracts and could be moved. Additionally, players with team control like Mitch Keller, David Bednar, and Dennis Santana are potential trade chips, especially given the demand for pitching across the league.
The Pirates’ strategy appears to center on acquiring offensive talent and clearing space for younger players to develop. With the deadline approaching, further transactions are likely as the organization continues to reshape its roster with an eye toward future competitiveness.
Yep….another rebuild.
(photo courtesy of the Sports Forecaster)