Morales/Vargas Trade Takes Mark Trumbo off the Table for the Pittsburgh Pirates

While there weren’t any pressing rumors suggesting Mark Trumbo was headed to the Pittsburgh Pirates, there was a natural fit there as the Los Angeles Angels had a surplus of position players at first base/corner outfield and the Pirates have a need for a right-handed power bat.

But the Angels took care of that surplus when they traded first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales to the Seattle Mariners for left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas. That move makes room for Trumbo as the Angels designated hitter, with Albert Pujols manning first base, and an outfield of Peter Borjous, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton.

Which is a shame because Trumbo would have been a great fit in Pittsburgh and could have helped the Angels rebuild a farm system badly in need of a re-stocking of talent.

Trumbo could have been the right-handed version of a platoon at first base with Garrett Jones while playing left field against righties. The odd-man out would have been current right fielder Travis Snider, but while Snider is still more potential than production, Trumbo has two straight seasons of at least 29 home runs. He’s not a perfect player, but the Pirates don’t have the budget for perfect players and Trumbo fits the Pirates exact needs.

But alas, Trumbo isn’t coming to Pittsbugh and the Angels are prepared to go for it this year without worrying about their farm system of their future.

And the Pirates are running out of options to upgrade their lineup, which, at the moment is very susceptible to left-handed pitching.