Potential Trade Targets: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh represents perhaps the best potential trading partner for the Astros this deadline.  Whether you want quality or quantity, the Pirates can match up through one of the best and deepest farm systems in baseball.  The Pirates' major league needs also match up fairly well with what the Astros are selling.

Heyman reported earlier this week that the Pirates have been scouting Norris' starts.  Veras might also be appealing for them now with their closer, Jason Grilli, going down this week with an arm injury.  With the second best record in the league, they may be more inclined than in the previous two year to sell off the future for the present.

POTENTIAL PROSPECTS THAT MAY BE DEALT

Any discussion of Pirates prospects likely starts with their two best: Jameson Taillon and Gregory Polanco.  Unfortunately for Astros fans, those two are likely off-limits for what Houston has available.  Nevertheless, the Pirates have a host of other talented prospects in the lower minors who could provide excellent value for Norris, Veras, and/or Bedard.  Here's a look at some of the Pirates prospects who could headline a deal with Houston.

Tyler Glasnow

Glasnow, a 19 RHP, has taken a huge step forward in his first year of full-season baseball.  A 6'7 5th round pick out of high school in 2011, Glasnow is all arms, legs, and upside.  The fastball that sat 88-90 in high school, is now regularly in the mid-90s.  The breaking stuff needs work and he is a long way away, but, with a big arm and big projection, you can dream on a potential top of the rotation arm.  He probably fits somewhere in the back-half of a top 100 prospect list and is the type of prospect that could headline a Norris deal.  However, he's likely too rich to be in a Veras or Bedard trade.

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	ERA	G	IP	R	HR	BB	SO	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2012	18	2 Teams	Rk-A-	1.88	12	38.1	17	3	17	44	0.7	4.0	10.3
2012	18	Pirates	Rk	2.10	11	34.1	15	3	16	40	0.8	4.2	10.5
2012	18	State College	A-	0.00	1	4.0	2	0	1	4	0.0	2.2	9.0
2013	19	West Virginia	A	2.27	19	87.1	29	7	48	122	0.7	4.9	12.6
2 Seasons				2.15	31	125.2	46	10	65	166	0.7	4.7	11.9

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/25/2013.

Josh Bell

Bell, a switch-hitting corner OF, was a consensus mid-first round pick coming out of high school in 2011.  He was thought to be unsignable due to a strong commitment to the University of Texas, but the Pirates shocked everyone by signed him to a record $5,000,000 bonus in the sandwich round.  Based on his high school reputation, Bell was ranked the #60 overall prospect by Baseball America and #69 by MLB.com entering his first year of pro ball.  He struggled out the gate in 2012 and then went down to a season ending knee injury after just a few weeks.  He's back in the Sally League and playing better, if not quite up to the lofty expectations that accompanied him after the draft.  With Marte and McCutchen set in the outfield for the next five years and Polanco, 2012 supplemental round pick Brandon Barnes, and 2013 first round pick Austin Meadows in the system, the Pirates may be willing to part with Bell.

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	PA	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2012	19	West Virginia	A	66	17	5	0	1	1	2	21	.274	.288	.403	.691
2013	20	West Virginia	A	375	95	29	2	9	1	33	72	.283	.344	.461	.805
2 Seasons				441	112	34	2	10	2	35	93	.281	.336	.452	.788

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/25/2013.

Others to keep an eye on: Barrett Barnes, Nick Kingham, Luis Heradia, Alen Hanson