MLB Payroll Analysis and Offseason Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates

Under Contract

23 HR C Francisco Cervelli 3.5 M 9 M 22 M to 2019 1.3 .262/.377/.305, 14.5 BB% UTIL Josh Harrison 5.25 M 7.75 M 10.25 M 2018, 22 M in CO to 2020 1.4 .283/.311/.388, 19 SB RP Antonio Bastardo 5.38 M 6.63 M FA 0.2* 22 G, 2.29 ERA* OF Starling Marte 3.33 M 5.33 M 18.1 M to 2019, 24 M in CO to 2022 4.0 .311/.362/.457, 47 SB 3B David Freese 3 M 6.25 M 4.25 2018,

6 M CO 2019 1.9 .268/.351/.408, 12 HR 1B John Jaso 4 M 4 M FA 0.3 .263/.348/.391, 23 2B IF Jung-Ho Kang 2.5 M 2.75 M 3 M 2018 2.2 .262/.358/.525, 19 HR OF Gregory Polanco 535 K 1.6 M 33.4 M to 2021, 26 M in CO to 2023 2.7 .261/.326/.477, 22 HR C Chris Stewart 1.35 M 1.4 M 1.5 CO 2018 0 .214/.319/.286, 12 BB Totals 42.01 M 58.92 M 91.25 M, 185.25 M w/CO’s 15.1 –

*Discounts Bastardo’s stats with Mets in 2016

CO = Club Option

The Pirates have done a terrific job in locking up their own talent to very reasonable extensions. Most importantly, young outfielders Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte are locked up for the foreseeable future while they continue to improve. Both are elite fielders, and Marte has taken the next step as a hitter while also on pace to steal 50 bases.

Jung Ho Kang dealt with an injury early on and was then in legal trouble during a trip to Chicago. All of this has overshadowed his tremendous performance for such a small salary. With 19 home runs in a half season, Pirates fans can be very excited to see Kang play an entire year in 2017 if healthy.

Star Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison slightly regressed this year, but still are not strains on the payroll as they have maintained productivity by their base running and fielding. McCutchen should be expected to bounce back to better offensive numbers, and Harrison will most likely continue to hit for a high average without much power. His 13 home runs in 2014 were most likely a fluke, as he has eight in 905 at-bats since.

All three of Chris Stewart, Antonio Bastardo and John Jaso can be let go after the 2017 season with no salary repercussions, and that is most likely what will happen. Jaso struggled in his first season in Pittsburgh and there seems to be no room for him anymore. With David Freese signed to an extension, he will most likely man first base with Kang at third. Unless the team is comfortable with Kang at short, which they have not shown yet, there will most likely not be a starting spot for Jaso. He could take Matt Joyce’s role as a bench player specializing in hitting off of righties, though he has never played the outfield. A productive season next year would go a long way to improving his stock for the 2017 offseason.

Stewart has never hit much, but has regressed after a halfway decent 2015 at the plate. Depending on how much the Bucs value his defense, he may not even be back for the 2017 season.

Bastardo has pitched well so far after being traded from the Mets. Though the Pirates would most likely not pay a middle reliever $6+ million on the open market, they will be fine with one year of Bastardo as long as he pitches like he has thus far in Pittsburgh.

The last player under contract is an interesting one. Francisco Cervelli broke out last year and was extended early in 2016 as a result. The deal looked like a good one, especially after the Pirates lost Russell Martin after 2014. After an injury cost him almost two months, Cervelli has seen his always pedestrian slugging percentage drop to an awful .305 with zero home runs. His average has also dropped a bit, but he has maintained his elite plate discipline. Though his defense is considered good, this contract will look ugly soon if he does not start to improve.