Andrew Heaney pitches today in Detroit in a doubleheader that'll feature Paul Skenes and the Tigers' brilliant lefty Tarik Skubal. And it's to Heaney's credit that he won't be an outlier, carrying a 3.33 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through 14 starts.
He's been terrific. So trade him.
Not in any negative context, of course. That's just how things go with Ben Cherington's Pirates. Sign some Jose Quintana or other for a year and a few million bucks -- Heaney's getting $5 million -- hope they pan out, then peddle them to whoever's willing to part with their system's No. 31 prospect. From there, act as if it's all some structured process.
As opposed to, you know, endless failure.
It's another example, heading into the MLB Draft and trade deadline, of how absurd it remains that Cherington's clinging to his job. Absurd and offensive, I'll add, to anyone still invested in 2025, notably Don Kelly and his players.
Try this ground rule, maybe: Can't trade a pitching prospect. Because if the hoped-for return is hitting help, this sure isn't the GM to be identifying that.
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THE ASYLUM
Dejan Kovacevic
6:57 am - 06.19.2025DowntownDK: Trade Heaney ... and that's it
Andrew Heaney pitches today in Detroit in a doubleheader that'll feature Paul Skenes and the Tigers' brilliant lefty Tarik Skubal. And it's to Heaney's credit that he won't be an outlier, carrying a 3.33 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through 14 starts.
He's been terrific. So trade him.
Not in any negative context, of course. That's just how things go with Ben Cherington's Pirates. Sign some Jose Quintana or other for a year and a few million bucks -- Heaney's getting $5 million -- hope they pan out, then peddle them to whoever's willing to part with their system's No. 31 prospect. From there, act as if it's all some structured process.
As opposed to, you know, endless failure.
It's another example, heading into the MLB Draft and trade deadline, of how absurd it remains that Cherington's clinging to his job. Absurd and offensive, I'll add, to anyone still invested in 2025, notably Don Kelly and his players.
Try this ground rule, maybe: Can't trade a pitching prospect. Because if the hoped-for return is hitting help, this sure isn't the GM to be identifying that.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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