3 players for Pittsburgh Pirates to target this offseason

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are very slowly starting to put a core together.

With Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, and Oneil Cruz, there are reasons to hope that the lineup can start to be more dangerous. Roansy Contreras, Mitch Keller, and Johan Oviedo could be a solid trio atop the starting rotation. David Bednar has the ninth inning locked down. And with coming prospects such as Quinn Priester, Endy Rodriguez, and Henry Davis, the Pirates would seem to have a bright future that could be closer than expected.

Three players for Pittsburgh Pirates to target

While the future may be bright, that does not change the present. And the reality is that the Pirates are likely going to struggle again in 2023. They are not about to spend lavishly in free agency, especially at this point in their rebuilding process, making more one year stopgaps the likely path. Maybe that will change at some point, but that time is not now.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will likely focus on reclamation projects and hope to catch lightning in a bottle. Let’s look at three players they could target.

Tucker Barnhart

Although the Pittsburgh Pirates have intriguing prospects behind the plate, they are still a year or two away from the majors. What they had as major league options last year simply could not handle a starting role.

As it stands, the Pirates do not have a single catcher on their major league depth chart. Endy Rodriguez and Ali Sanchez are the only catchers on the 40 man roster. It is a position that is set for a stopgap until either Rodriguez or Henry Davis are ready to take over.

Tucker Barnhart could be the perfect option in the interim. He is not exactly an offensive dynamo behind the plate, posting a .221/.287/.267 batting line with one homer and ten doubles in his 308 plate appearances. He will not exactly do much to improve the Pirates’ offensive production.

But Barnhart is a brilliant defensive catcher. A two time former Gold Glove winner, he is the type of veteran presence behind the plate that could make a difference in the development of the Pirates’ young arms. He could also be a trade chip at the deadline, especially as teams look for upgrades at the position, even if it is a backup role.

Tucker Barnhart is not the type of free agent that will excite anyone. Nonetheless, he could make a difference in the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ young pitchers.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Joey Gallo

The Pittsburgh Pirates could be a perfect landing spot for players that need to rebuild their value.

With so many openings on the roster, the Pirates could be exactly what those players need. The opportunity for playing time is there for those players who would be willing to head to Pittsburgh. In some cases, that opportunity might be all they need.

Such is the case with Joey Gallo. His stock has taken a significant beating after his disastrous stint with the Yankees. A move to the Dodgers did not help much either as Gallo ended the season with a combined .160/.280/.357 batting line, hitting 19 homers in his 410 plate appearances. While he still showed some of his prodigious power, that performance is not going to lead to many chances.

It is not that long ago that Gallo was still a feared part of a lineup. He had been an All Star for the Rangers in 2021 before his ill-fated trek to New York, hitting 25 homers in 388 plate appearances. Gallo is a two-time Gold Glove winner as well, making him someone who could dramatically impact a lineup if he can return to form. For a rebuilding team such as the Pirates, he is worth a look.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in a perfect spot to take advantage of those players looking to rebuild their value. Joey Gallo would be the type of player they should target.

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /

Archie Bradley

As is usually the case with any rebuilding team, the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen was a disaster last season.

There are pieces that can be part of the future. David Bednar performed admirably as the Pirates’ closer while Chase De Jong showed that he could be a solid piece in a setup role. But two relievers does not a bullpen make as the Pirates came to realize last season.

That leaves the relief corps as a place for potential bargains heading into next year. One such bargain could be Archie Bradley, a pitcher who had been a valuable setup man as recently as 2021. Injuries had ruined his 2022 campaign as he spent three months on the Injured List with a broken right elbow and a strained forearm that he suffered two days after his return. In that time, he posted a disappointing 4.82 ERA and a 1.286 WHiP over 18.2 innings, striking out 15 batters with seven walks.

This makes him a perfect buy-low candidate. Bradley is likely to earn less than the $3.5 million he received last year and may even be looking at minor league contracts. If that is the case, the Pirates offering a major league deal and a guaranteed setup role could be enough to bring him on board.

The Pittsburgh Pirates need lottery tickets in the bullpen as well. Archie Bradley’s track record makes him an intriguing option.

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