Call to the pen
Fansided

Pittsburgh Pirates: Top Five Offseason Priorities

By Bobby Mueller

Sep 27, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Pirates hat and glove sit in the dugout prior to the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Pirates hat and glove sit in the dugout prior to the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

Mix It Up in the Infield

Looking at the roster breakdown with contract information for the team’s position players gives us an idea of where the Pirates stand.

  • C Francisco Cervelli—$9M in 2017 ($22M in ‘18/’19)
  • C Chris Stewart—$1.4M in 2017 (team option in ’18)
  • 1B Josh Bell—Pre-arbitration
  • 1B John Jaso—$4M in 2017
  • 2B Josh Harrison—$7.75M in 2017 ($10.25 in ’18, plus two team options)
  • SS Jordy Mercer—$4M in 2017 (projected in arbitration)
  • 3B Jung Ho Kang—$2.75M in 2017 (3M in 2018)
  • 3B David Freese—$6.25M in 2017 (4.25M in 2018, team option in ’19)
  • LF Starling Marte—$5.33M in 2017, ($18.17M in ‘18/’19, plus two team options)
  • CF Andrew McCutchen—$14M in 2017 ($14.5M team option in ’18)
  • RF Gregory Polanco—$1.6M in 2017 ($30.4M for ’18 to ’21, two team options)

Lost to free agency:

Top position player prospects (ranked by MLB.com):

  • #2 OF Austin Meadows, ETA 2017
  • #3 1B Josh Bell, ETA 2016 (45 games in MLB in 2016)
  • #4 SS Kevin Newman, ETA 2018
  • #6 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, ETA 2019
  • #7 SS Cole Tucker, ETA 21019
  • #8 3B Will Craig, ETA 21019
  • #9 C Elias Diaz, ETA 2016 (1 game in MLB in 2016)
  • #13 2B Alen Hanson, ETA 2016 (27 games in MLB in 2016)

The Pirates could conceivably stand pat with their offense. They have starters at each position, with roster flexibility to field a full bench. Catcher Francisco Cervelli hit for almost no power last year, but did have a .377 on-base percentage and is well-regarded defensively. The outfield is set with Marte, McCutchen, and Polanco. If McCutchen is traded, Josh Bell could play a bigger role in the outfield or prospect Austin Meadows could get a shot at regular playing time.

They could use more offense in the middle infield. Josh Harrison hit .250/.282/.367 as a utility infielder for the team in his first three years in the big leagues. Then he had a breakout season in 2014 when he hit .315/.347/.490 and made the NL All-Star team. He even finished ninth in the balloting for NL MVP (just ahead of Anthony Rizzo). The Pirates rewarded him with a four-year, $27.3 million contract, with two team options.

Unfortunately, Harrison hasn’t been the same hitter over the last two seasons (.285/.318/.389) as he was in 2014. He went from being a 5 WAR player to a 1.5 WAR player. His contract was back-loaded, so he’ll get paid $17.5 million over the next two years after receiving just $7.8 million over the previous two. This makes him harder to trade, should the Pirates explore that option.

If Harrison continues to hit the way he has the last two seasons, the Pirates could limit his playing time some by using Jung Ho Kang at shortstop, where he played 50 games in 2015, and give some time at second base to Jordy Mercer or Alen Hanson. This would allow the Pirates to give more time at third base to David Freese, who is a better hitter than Harrison, Mercer, and Hanson.

Home/Pittsburgh Pirates