Each Tuesday I stream on Twitch.tv/OOTPDevelopments and since the launch of Out of the Park Baseball 26, my weekly stream has been “Burn The Ships – A Pittsburgh Pirates Franchise”. This past stream was definitely an intense one. After a decent 2025 season with the pirates where we finished “INSERT 2025 RECORD HERE”, we’ve had our sights set on making the playoffs in 2026.
Last night, the stream started in mid-July of 2026. With our team on keeping our playoff hopes alive at 50-47 (6.5 GB), we needed to make some more moves to try to get the team over the hump. What transpired next will be a combination of moves that will either make me look like the G.O.A.T. or a goat.
The first move happened on July 22nd. After an offseason trade with the Braves that lead to Matt Olson becoming our DH, we turned to them to be trade partners again. This time we’d be sending Endy Rodriguez and Jake Suwinski to Atlanta for, Endy’s replacement, Drake Baldwin, Hurston Waldrep, Sebin Cabellos and $12.5 million in cash.
Two days later, we made a trade with the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers for veteran reliever, Blake Treinen and RHP Mike Villani. We were able to get them for Enmanuel Valdez, who was blocked from moving up, and Tony Blanco Jr. Then, a few days later, we went back into talks with the Dodgers to also get Raisel Iglesias and some prospects for, minor league centerfielders, Ji-hwan Bae.
Next up, to solidify our struggling outfield, we reunited Jake McCarthy with his Arizona teammate, Pavin Smith. We got Smith, and a minor league pitcher, but it did cost use Duce Gourson. Duce has been been playing very well this year, IRL.
Lastly, we needed to find a middle of the lineup right-handed hitter. It’s something this team Pirates team had been sorely missing. On deadline day we found ourselves talking to the Cubs about Seiya Suzuki. While it did cost us our extremely productive second basemen, Nick Gonzales, we were able to get back Suzuki, have the Cubs eat 55% of his remaining, expiring, contract, as well as throwing in an $18m which will hopefully be go used to extend or resign him.
All in all, a very exciting 2026 trade deadline for our Burn The Ships Pittsburgh Pirates franchise.
Burn The Ships is streamed every Tuesday over on Twitch.tv/OOTPDevelopments. Here is the archive of the stream that had all these trades, as well as the playoff push that ensued.