MLB trade rumors: Were Pirates serious about Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft talks with Mets?

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley analyze reports that the club discussed a trade with the New York Mets involving key pitching assets Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chander. How seriously should fans take the reported talks? Would dealing these young arms be a smart move for GM Ben Cherington, given his pitching depth surrounding names like Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller? Or would it weaken the only obvious strength of the team? And how would possible trade targets like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos look in this Pirates lineup alongside names like Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe? Could they make the Pirates a legitimate threat offensively? Our duo tackles those topics; the chances Eugenio Suarez could still join the team via MLB free agency; and low win total projections for manager Don Kelly's 2026 roster. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.