EPISODE · Jul 22, 2026 · 18 MIN
The Oneil Cruz Trade Rumors Have Lost the Plot
from North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast · host North Shore Nine
Bob Nightengale says the Pirates could be willing to listen on Oneil Cruz as they search for bullpen and rotation help. Alex Stumpf explains why trading Cruz now would solve nothing, why his ceiling still matters, and why Pittsburgh should use prospect capital to acquire multiple relievers instead. Before landing on the injured list, Cruz had 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases and a 123 wRC+ through 64 games. The offense may have survived without him, but that does not mean the Pirates would be better without him. Read Alex Stumpf’s work at Book Rule Bucs: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Subscribe to North Shore Nine for more Pittsburgh Pirates coverage throughout the 2026 season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
Bob Nightengale says the Pirates may be willing to listen on Oneil Cruz as they search for pitching help, but Alex Stumpf argues that trading him now would make the 2026 team worse. The Pirates need multiple relievers, and the answer should be using prospect capital rather than creating another hole in center field.
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The Oneil Cruz Trade Rumors Have Lost the Plot
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