Pirates May Trade Oneil Cruz; Mets, Phillies Interested

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz has drawn trade interest from the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, both seeking to strengthen their outfield and offensive depth before the deadline. Cruz recently broke out of a slump with a two-homer, four-RBI game against the Mets after being benched for lack of effort and dropped in the batting order. Despite a .210 average and high strikeout rate, his power and speed make him a coveted asset with three years of club control remaining. The Pirates are reportedly open to offers for Cruz but have deemed Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen off-limits. Meanwhile, the Mets, currently leading the NL East, have added José Azocar as outfield depth. Both teams hope Cruz could thrive in a new, competitive environment.