It is that time of year again. The last three years, the Pittsburgh Pirates made an arguable case to buy at the time of the trade deadline. This year, they’ve done so again. However, they are trending in the wrong direction.

Anyone who has followed this season’s team can tell you they are a team of streaks. One minute, they win four or five in a row. The next, they are swept by the Chicago Cubs after the all-star break. The latter part of that just happened over the weekend. Getting swept has pushed the Pirates back to 5.5 games out of first place.

Pittsburgh’s next task will be to win the series against the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Monday evening. If the Pirates lose or get swept, their direction seemingly becomes a formality. They will likely be anywhere from 6.5 to 8.5 games behind in the division. With two weeks until the deadline, that borders pretty much on sell territory.

Let’s take a look at what of the three options seems the most prudent for this ball club.

Buy

Everyone from the players to the fans want their team to be in a position to buy. No one wants to be doing well and then their general manager does nothing to add to their club.

Just three games ago, you could argue it was time to buy for the Pirates. They resided just two games out of the National League Central lead. Obviously, things have changed just a bit.

A lot can happen over the next few weeks. Right now, buying may not be the best thing to do. However, if things do turn around, the Pirates’ needs are fairly obvious.

Due to injuries, their starting pitching depth is compromised. Between using openers and failed starting pitching projects, we are seeing a team in desperate need of starting pitching depth.

Dario Agrazal, who has seven starts at the AAA level, is the fifth starter right now. He has done well but is no sure bet to keep up. Without, Jameson Taillon, the rotation is even more of a question mark.

Bullpen wise, the Pirates have just as many problems. Felipe Vazquez is an all-star again. Richard Rodriguez has completed a 180 from the first two months of the season. Otherwise, some of the teams expected key cogs have not been good enough.

Kyle Crick is sputtering lately. Keone Kela has been out since early May with an injury. Meanwhile, the Pirates have gotten 25 innings total out of Kela since acquiring him at last season’s trade deadline.

As far as throughout the lineup and bench, the Pirates don’t need a lot. Could they use an upgrade? Sure. However, it isn’t as high on the buy priority list.

If they buy, starters and bullpen help have to be top priority.

Sell

Based on record, the Pirates look to be a team that should be in sell mode. They are hovering around .500 and would be clearly out of literally any other divisional race. Due to a lack of real pieces to trade, it would be tough to call a full sail change.

Vazquez is certainly the number one chip the Pirates have. Fortunately, general manager Neal Huntington is setting an enormous price tag on the controllable, left-handed closer.

Vazquez has three more seasons at a very team friendly price. The Dodgers, an early favorite to land Vazquez if they so choose, could clearly pay his salary.

Rumors state that Huntington wants at least two of the Dodgers’ top four prospects, one current roster player, and one more prospect. That would be an absolute haul for the Pirates.

Following the trade for Chris Archer last season, the Pirates’ depleted system could use that boost. This deal would certainly help the Buccos in the future.

Vazquez is one of the best closers in baseball. If they plan to contend next season, losing Vazquez isn’t going to help them do that. Unless they believe Crick or even Rodriguez could eventually move into that role.

They won’t sell off anyone like Josh Bell just yet because he has some team control left. Most other guys are young enough that they could keep them in Pittsburgh to build a core around.

A veteran like Starling Marte likely would also give the Pirates a solid return that could boost the farm.

Struggling veterans like Francisco Cervelli, Gregory Polanco and Jung-Ho Kang won’t be worth riding unless the Pirates prefer to drop their salary. Considering how management works, that is entirely possible.

This is the middle ground of likely options for the Pirates this deadline season.

Stay Put

With where the Pirates are at, this seems to be the most likely course of action.

Huntington admitted that he is 0-for-3 in the last three deadlines as far as what decision he should’ve made. Most teams of the Pirates’ ilk would probably be in full sell mode. With them still in the race ever so slightly, maybe keeping everyone would be best. They could even make a marginal addition or two just to say they tried.

As previously stated, trading Vazquez puts the team in the hunt for a new closer. The next one likely won’t have a power 100 MPH fastball paired with devastating off-speed stuff. However, there are at least solid options for the job.

They keep Vazquez and Marte, their two biggest trade chips, and don’t add much future farm help. Guys like Bell, Kevin Newman, Bryan Reynolds and Marte can be your core. Young guys like Cole Tucker, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mitch Keller and Will Craig soon figure to be in Pittsburgh.

They certainly have guys to look forward to. Adding to that list would be ideal but not if you want to contend as soon as next year. Retool, not rebuild, always seems to be this management teams quota.

Truthfully, there is enough youth on the squad to at least try to make a run eventually.

Personally, I think the “stay put” option is the best and most likely option for the Pirates unless they free fall before the deadline.

I’d love to hear what you guys think the Pirates should do. They are in a peculiar spot at this moment in time. They could truly get a haul for two marquee players but also want to contend relatively soon.

Should they add marginal pieces? Do they stand pat and add nobody besides their own minor league pieces? Do they sell and allow those young guys ample playing time over the last few months and see what they might have?

Comment below or tweet me @LetsTalkPIT on twitter and let me know your thoughts.

PHOTO: Could Felipe Vazquez be on the move at the trade deadline?/ Courtesy of Keith Srakocic.

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