Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles executed a prospect-for-prospect trade, with the Pirates sending pitcher Patrick Reilly to Baltimore for outfielder/first baseman Billy Cook. The Orioles sought to bolster their pitching depth, while the Pirates needed an outfielder close to MLB-ready. With similar needs persisting, a new mock trade could appeal to both teams.
In this proposed one-for-one deal, the Pirates would trade right-handed pitcher Khristian Curtis to the Orioles. A 12th-round pick in 2023, Curtis had a solid 2024 in Bradenton but struggled early in 2025 after a promotion to Greensboro, posting 17 earned runs, 11 walks, and 23 hits in 13.1 April innings. Since May, however, he’s found his rhythm, delivering a 2.96 ERA, 28.3% strikeout rate, and 1.27 WHIP over his last six starts, though his 12.3% walk rate and 1.48 HR/9 remain concerns.
Curtis features four average-or-better pitches: a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a low-90s cutter, a mid-80s changeup (both rated above-average by Baseball America), and a slider with average potential. His curveball, however, is less impressive.
In return, the Pirates would acquire outfielder Jud Fabian, a 2023 second-round pick by the Orioles. Fabian is thriving at Triple-A, slashing .227/.327/.483 with a 115 wRC+ over 200 plate appearances, including 12 home runs and a .256 ISO (sixth-best in the International League). His strengths include elite power (90.7 MPH exit velocity, 13.4% barrel rate), a 13% walk rate, plus speed, and strong defensive skills across all outfield positions, with a ceiling as a 20/20 center fielder.
However, Fabian’s hit tool is a major concern, graded at 30-35 by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, with a 28% strikeout rate and a 35.9% whiff rate (15th-highest in Triple-A). This could limit his power output.
Fabian could slot into left field for the Pirates immediately, while the Orioles, flush with outfield prospects (four in their top 15 per MLB Pipeline) and major leaguers like Tyler O’Neill, Heston Kjerstad, and Colton Cowser, could afford to move him. Curtis, meanwhile, carries risk with his 40-grade control, potentially pushing him to the bullpen, much like Reilly in last year’s trade.
This trade mirrors last season’s deal: Cook, like Fabian, is a speedy, defensive outfielder with power but a weak hit tool, while Reilly, like Curtis, is a hard-throwing High-A pitcher with control issues better suited for relief. The Pirates still need young, offensive outfielders, and the Orioles need pitching prospects with upside, making this swap a logical fit.
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