Pittsburgh Pirates weigh Oneil Cruz trade as he moves to 60‑day injured list

The Pittsburgh Pirates are fielding offers for Dominican center‑fielder Oneil Cruz as the club battles for a playoff spot. Sources say the team could trade Cruz to acquire bullpen help or a starting pitcher, noting his breakout season with a .264 batting average, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.

Meanwhile, general manager Ben Cherington explained that Cruz was shifted from the 10‑day to the 60‑day injured list on July 18 after a broken hand. The move keeps him out until at least August 7, allowing the Pirates to free a 40‑man roster spot and give Cruz more time to heal before a rehab assignment. Cherington said the bone is healing, but symptoms remain, so the longer IL stint will not delay his overall return timeline.

The dual focus on a possible trade and the extended injury list highlights the team’s effort to balance offensive production with pitching depth during the final stretch of the season.