Three moves for Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason
For years, the Pittsburgh Pirates could not figure out a direction. They would sell off pieces of their roster, only to turn around and start buying months later. This left the team in a strange situation where they were not a contender, but would not exactly rebuild either.
That ended once Ben Cherington came on board. The Pirates have a direction now, and with it, there is some hope. It may take years before the Pirates are ready to compete once more, but there is starting to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Three moves for Pittsburgh Pirates
At this point, it is a matter of continuing to move closer to the goal of contending. It will be a long process, but the Pirates can take steps toward that desired result this offseason. The right moves could help in expediting that timeline, or at the very least, beginning to put that core together. This may be an important offseason for Cherington and Company.
Let’s take a look at three moves the Pittsburgh Pirates should make this offseason.
Bring back Yoshi Tsutsugo
The idea that Yoshi Tsutsugo could be a viable major league piece appeared to be over. He had flamed out with both the Rays and Dodgers before the Pittsburgh Pirates gave him a chance, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
The Pirates did just that. The light clicked on for Tsutsugo, who produced a 136 OPS+ with eight homers and eight doubles over his 144 plate appearances. That OPS+ was the second highest on the team of any player with at least ten plate appearances with the Pirates in 2021.
Maybe he was not ready to face the pressure of being a part of a team with championship aspirations. Maybe that pressure, coupled with the adjustment to a new country, was more than he could handle. Or maybe the Pirates were able to fix something that they noticed, allowing Tsutsugo to tap into his ability.
With Tsutsugo’s production during his time in Pittsburgh, and his ability to slot in either corner outfield spot or first base, he would be worth bringing back. Chances are, he would not cost much in terms of a dollar amount, and if he shows that he can continue to be the player he was at the end of last year, he could become a building block for the Pirates.
Yoshi Tsutsugo was a pleasant surprise for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021. It is time to bring him back and see if he can be a part of the future.
A pair of extensions
As the Pittsburgh Pirates look to build their roster, they will need to identify pieces for their future. A pair of youngsters have made a case for long term extensions.
The Pirates had already approached Ke’Bryan Hayes about a long term extension in spring training. He wisely rebuffed those overtures, likely wanting to get a sense for the direction of the franchise going forward. However, he has indicated that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, and may be open to those discussions now.
Hayes did not exactly light up the stat line during his rookie campaign, posting an 87 OPS+ in his 396 plate appearances, hitting six homers and 20 doubles while stealing nine bases. However, he showed more than enough to allow the Pirates to feel that he can become the player he was projected to be.
Bryan Reynolds is on the opposite end of the spectrum. After a miserable 2020 campaign, he posted a career best season in 2021. He produced a 146 OPS+ in his 646 plate appearances, hitting 24 homers and 35 doubles. Reynolds appears to be exactly the type of player that the Pirates need to build around.
And he absolutely should be. One of the first things the Pittsburgh Pirates need to do this offseason is to find out how much an extension for their two burgeoning stars will cost and make it happen.
Trade Jacob Stallings
There are plenty of teams that could use a catcher. The Pittsburgh Pirates may have an underrated trade chip in Jacob Stallings.
He had taken over as the Pirates’ primary catcher last season, putting together a respectable showing in the pandemic shortened campaign. However, the Pirates were certainly going to be interested in seeing what he could do over a full season when given the chance to start.
Stallings had another reasonably productive year. He posted a respectable 92 OPS+ in his 427 plate appearances, hitting eight homers and 20 doubles. While he was a bit below average in regards to throwing out baserunners, Stallings did save two runs behind the plate.
Having earned $1.3 million last season, and with several years of team control left, he would be a cheap option for a team looking to upgrade the catcher position. Even if he is viewed as more of a backup, Stallings could have plenty of value on the trade market.
Next. Tsutsugo finding success in Pittsburgh. dark
The Pittsburgh Pirates need to continue to build towards the future. Trading Jacob Stallings would be a step in that direction.