There is no time with more in-season 40-man roster shuffling than late-July as the trade deadline approaches. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, perhaps the team that is most open for business during this busy trade season, that means a lot of members of the big league roster will be shown the door, and 40-man roster spots will be opened up for youngsters, both incoming and already within the organization.
With the rumors intensifying, it has become clear that one way or another, these five Pirates players' days are numbered.
5 Pirates who will be off the 40-man roster by the July 31 trade deadline
Starting pitcher Mitch Keller
Mitch Keller has become one of the trade deadline's hottest names, with the Chicago Cubs being one of the earliest teams to start sniffing around the 29-year-old right-hander.