MLB insider Ken Rosenthal says Pirates could deal a competitive Balance pick ahead of MLB Draft

The 2026 MLB Draft is right around the corner on July 11-12, and MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes the Bucs could be willing to trade a competitive balance pick ahead of the draft.

Teams that acquire them would gain not only an additional selection in the upcoming amateur draft, but also extra bonus pool money.

Competitive balance picks are the only ones that can be traded in the draft. Pittsburgh owns one of them which is the 34th overall pick. According to Rosenthal rival clubs believe the Pirates are open to trading it.

In the past two seasons a team has traded a competitive-balance pick for a reliever, establishing precedents for the kind of deal the Pirates could end up making.

The Washington Nationals did it in 2024, trading away third baseman Cayden Wallace and the 39th overall pick for right hander Hunter Harvey.

While last year the Tampa Bay Rays traded the 37th overall pick to the Baltimore Orioles for right hander Bryan Baker.

The team also is willing to trade prospects. And it is not limiting their search for potential upgrades to bullpen help, though that is the club’s biggest area of need. You can expect Pittsburgh to be aggressive during the draft and the Trade deadline which is August 3 because of how close they are in the playoff race.

The Buccos already made a move Thursday night by trading away catcher Joey Bart for right handed pitcher Hunter Stratton from the Atlanta Braves. Bart was a nice piece for the team but there is a higher need right now for relief pitching and you would assume that will not be the last move made by the Bucs.

I think this could be a beneficial move for Pittsburgh who needs to think about the second half of the season. If trading away a competitive balance pick means you can get a relief pitcher who can make an immediate impact, then Pittsburgh should definitely consider it.