Pirates crushed by White Sox 10-1 on July 19, 2025, as Bailey Falter struggles. With a 1-9 skid, will a trade deadline sell-off be the only answer?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
If you're a Pirates fan, Saturday's 10-1 shellacking at the hands of the White Sox felt painfully familiar. It wasn't just another loss—it was the ninth in ten games, a brutal post-All-Star break skid that has slammed the door on any faint playoff hopes and firmly shifted the organization's focus toward the July 31 trade deadline and the prospects of tomorrow.
That's my goal: get more extra bases.
The on-field product was once again tough to stomach. Starter Bailey Falter (6-5) was hit hard and early, surrendering a first-inning home run to Edgar Quero that set the tone for the night. The White Sox piled on, with Luis Robert Jr. adding a homer and Michael A. Taylor delivering a back-breaking, bases-clearing double. The Pirates' offense, which had looked so potent during a six-game winning streak before the break, was completely stifled by Chicago's Jonathan Cannon. The team has now scored a paltry 17 runs during this 1-9 slide, with Oneil Cruz's two singles and lone RBI representing the entirety of Saturday's production.
With the team plummeting out of contention, all eyes are now on the front office. A significant sell-off is expected before the deadline, a process that already began with the trade of veteran Adam Frazier back to Kansas City for minor league shortstop Cam Devanney. Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a pending free agent, is almost certainly the next to go. The front office's stated goal is to acquire offensive talent in return for these veterans, a clear admission of the lineup's fatal flaws.
While the present is bleak, the organization continues to stockpile assets for the future. The 2025 MLB Draft class is officially in the books, headlined by 6th overall pick Seth Hernandez, a hard-throwing righty from the California high school ranks. He's joined by intriguing bats like LSU first baseman Jared Jones and Arizona State shortstop Matt King. Hernandez immediately slots in near the top of a system that ESPN recently ranked as strong, with Bubba Chandler and Konnor Griffin holding the top spots. Down on the farm, catcher Omar Alfonzo is making noise, recently posting a four-hit game and showing off impressive power. His desire to 'get more extra bases' is exactly the mentality the big-league club is sorely lacking.
The rest of July is shaping up to be a tough watch at PNC Park, but the real story isn't on the field—it's in the front office. As the trade deadline approaches, the moves made in the next two weeks will tell us far more about the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates than any single box score. Keep an eye on the transaction wire, because that's where the real games are being played.
