Here is a piece I did for TPOP on the Pirates evolving needs heading into the trade deadline.
Link to TPOP
Similar thoughts to mine except if they acquire a SP I would really like it to be a non rental as we could use the help for next year. I've been rolling around a crazy deal with the Padres of Alonso/Cashner/Quackenbush for Alvarez/Worley (or Locke)/Caminero/prospects. Obviously it makes sense for the Pirates as it gives them an everyday 1B in Alonso, a mid rotation starter under control next year in Cashner and a fairly steady relief arm in Quackenbush.
For the Padres the reasons they would take this are less obvious but I think still makes some sense. First off the real value for them would be in the prospects not the MLB pieces but as to why I think the MLB pieces could intrigue them. With Alvarez obviously his father in law is the interim manager there and probably wouldn't mind his son-in-law on his team. Besides that though this season isn't going anywhere for them and they desperately need infield help and with Middlebrooks being sent down to AAA they may be crazy enough to put Pedro back at 3B for the rest of the year and just see what happens. Worley or Locke is about giving them a relatively cheap arm to soak up some innings and with all the discussion about them possibly trading everyone in their rotation it makes sense they could use something like that. Finally the Padres are reportedly looking to move Kimbrel and if they do bringing in Caminero gives them a potential cheap flame throwing closer in the future.
Now as for the prospect this needs to be built around my original idea was maybe Hanson seeing as they need infield help but they have Taylor Lindsey close so I'm thinking that need isn't as striking. So I'm thinking the center piece could be Josh Bell. Bell gives them a potential long term answer at 1B or if they decide to get smart and play Kemp there he could rather easily shift back to a corner OF spot. The Pirates need for Bell lessens with Alonso under control two more years so he is at least somewhat expendable. There would probably need to be another prospect or two to even things out but I see those guys as being less impactful and farther from the majors.
Alonso/Cashner/Quackenbush for Bell/Alvarez/Worley/Caminero/low level prospects
A crazy dream that would never ever happen in a million years but alas its something that has been rolling around my head
