Just over two days from MLB's trading deadline, the Pirates are still looking to add a bat and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Biertempfel tweets the club is "looking into" Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, but that the price would likely include recently called-up outfielder Starling Marte.
Choo, 30, is hitting .295 with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs and an .871 OPS so far this season. He is arbitration-eligible in 2013 and could become a free agent in 2014. For that reason, the Pirates would likely be hesitant to move Marte, a player they control for at least the next six seasons and who has shown a lot of promise in the minor leagues. Before getting the call to the big club earlier this week, Marte was hitting .286 with 12 home runs, 62 RBIs and an .847 OPS in Class AAA.
If the Bucs can find another way to bring Choo into the fold for the stretch run, however, he'd be a major upgrade at a corner outfield spot.
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