The air crackles when the Dodgers and Padres meet. Their recent series in late June was a pressure cooker, culminating in a benches-clearing incident where managers Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt were ejected after exchanging heated words. The drama escalated when superstars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani were both hit by pitches. Now, their biggest battle may not happen on the field, but in the front offices for a generational talent who could define their futures.
The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, this period is the most important time for decision-making. The team is in the midst of a full rebuild, trying to collect pieces for the future. A big piece of news has recently jolted the market. Renowned MLB insider Ken Rosenthal revealed a shift in the Pirates’ strategy. He reported that the team’s list of untouchable players has shrunk. Pittsburgh is now only holding onto rookie sensation Paul Skenes and bona fide baseball hero Andrew McCutchen.
This stunning report means one thing: Oneil Cruz is available on the trade block.
This development has front offices buzzing about the enigmatic centerfielder. He is a player of immense physical gifts but frustrating inconsistency. As analyst Jim Riley from BALLCAP Sports argues, “O’neal Cruz could hit .300 in the second half of the season, and all of this would be forgotten. I think there’s tremendous talent here.” Because of his cheap salary and years of team control, the price will be steep. A bidding war is inevitable, and two teams have emerged as the clear frontrunners.
The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be in a prime position. Their deep farm system allows them to make a compelling offer without gutting their future. According to Riley’s analysis, the Dodgers have a unique advantage. “This is the only team where we don’t have to send three pieces. We only need to send two,” he states, pointing to a lean package centered on top shortstop prospect Alex Freeland and pitcher Bobby Miller. Riley explains that the deal works because of “Freeland’s value. It’s extraordinarily high.”
However, the San Diego Padres could counter with a true blockbuster. Riley proposes a massive deal, noting, “Padres could also use some starting pitching.” He envisions a package where the Padres acquire Oneil Cruz and pitcher Mitch Keller. In return, the Pirates would receive a king’s ransom. “You know who’s gonna have to go to the Pirates? One of those top two. Either Salace or Dere has to go to Pittsburgh,” Riley says, floating a deal headlined by catcher Ethan Salas and pitcher Kash Mayfield.
This high-stakes chess match forces us to look closer at the pieces. What exactly makes Oneil Cruz such a polarizing and valuable asset?
The Pirates’ Cruz conundrum
He is a difficult-to-quantify combination of elite potential and present struggles. So far this season, Cruz is hitting only .205 with a .319 on-base percentage. But he is earning only $785,000, and he remains under team control through the 2028 season. That makes him an incredibly cheap, long-term asset. The Pirates know he could command a contract over $200 million in free agency. That is a figure they are unlikely to pay.
That now allows them to trade him, maximizing their return on his tantalizing potential.
The Dodgers’ interest is a strategic move of opportunity. They’re most in need of pitching, but Cruz is a former Dodgers prospect they could recapture. They would probably have to give up Alex Freeland, a switch-hitting No. 3 prospect who is tearing up Triple-A with a .845 OPS. He would be joined by Bobby Miller, a hard-throwing righty with elite stuff. Miller, a former top-20 prospect, is a classic reclamation project.
The Padres’ potential trade is born from desperate need. Their outfielders produce near the bottom of the league. It’s a two-birds-with-one-stone solution. They would send Ethan Salas, a generational catching prospect with 70-grade defending tools, to Pittsburgh. He would be joined by Kash Mayfield, a refined lefty from the 2024 draft. To receive such a haul, the Pirates would have to include Mitch Keller as well. Keller is a cost-controlled starter on a very team-friendly long-term contract.
Still, a trade is not a certainty. The Pirates could choose to hold onto their unicorn. Imagine a future outfield built around Cruz, with top prospects like Termarr Johnson and Lonnie White Jr. developing alongside him. The team’s young pitching core, led by Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, is already emerging. Cruz’s timeline for hitting his prime could align perfectly with Pittsburgh’s next competitive window. Trading him now might feel like selling a winning lottery ticket just before the numbers are drawn.
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