Pirates-Nationals trade pitch creates All-Star caliber infield for Paul Skenes

Pirates-Nationals trade pitch creates All-Star caliber infield for Paul Skenes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a competitive baseball team.

That's something that couldn't be said often in the past decade. A significant portion of their competitiveness comes from ace Paul Skenes and the pitching staff.

But the offense is also handling its own. Zachary Rotman of FanSided has a trade idea that would continue to improve the Pirates' lineup as they make a postseason push.

"Sure, Konnor Griffin is the Pirates' shortstop of the present and future, but CJ Abrams can slot in nicely at DH in place of the reeling Marcell Ozuna, or even second base or third base," Rotman wrote. "He won't win any Gold Gloves, but he'd probably improve defensively away from shortstop, and the Pirates would be acquiring him for his bat, which can be game-changing with how he's played thus far."

Abrams, 25, has already hit nine home runs and owns a .296/.391/.539 slash line with a .931 OPS. Adding his bat to Pittsburgh's lineup could make them serious contenders in a tightly contested NL Central race.

Rotman's deal includes left-hander Foster Griffin heading to Pittsburgh, too. The Nationals would acquire pitchers Bubba Chandler, Hunter Barco, and Levi Sterling, and second base prospect Termarr Johnson.

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"It'd take some convincing for Pittsburgh to make this trade. I have no doubt that Abrams is a player they'd show a ton of interest in if he were to be made available, but trading Chandler would be easier said than done," Rotman wrote. "This was one of the best pitching prospects in the world this time last year. Things haven't gone smoothly for him in the Majors, but giving up on him this soon could really backfire."

It takes talent to acquire talent. Rotman's trade idea sounds great on paper, but there are many other factors at play here.