The Pirates, due to a fairly strong group of young players and to a long string of multi-year contracts for their core hitters (including Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart, John Jaso, David Freese, Josh Harrison and Jung Ho Kang) have a limited number of jobs available in camp this year. It makes sense, then, that the Bucs signed only a few veterans to minor-league deals this year, and that none of the veterans they did sign appear to have much chance of making the team.
There are, however, a few spots open. Let’s take a look.
FIRST BASE
Josh Bell
Age: 24
Bats: B
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options remaining: 2
John Jaso
Age: 33
Bats: L
Contract status: One year, $4MM remaining on two-year contract
Options remaining: 0
The first base job appears to be Bell’s to lose, but there are a couple of wrinkles here. Bell did not move from the outfield to first base until fall of 2014, and his defense at first still rates as well below average. Also, he recently had knee surgery, although he has already been cleared to do everything but run. Assuming he’s healthy, he’ll likely get the job, with Jaso moving to a bench role. In that scenario, Bell could also see time in the outfield, with Jaso or Freese taking over first base when the Bucs wish to give one of their outfielders a rest.
Prediction: Bell wins the job.
THIRD BASE / BACKUP INFIELD
Philip Gosselin
Age: 28
Bats: R
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2020-21 offseason
Options remaining: 2
Alen Hanson
Age: 24
Bats: B
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options remaining: 0
The Pirates’ group of position players appears mostly set, but there appears to be at least one job open, and a number of moving parts will factor into the Pirates’ choice. One is the status of Kang, who appeared in court in South Korea last week to answer for a DUI charge. It’s unknown when Kang will be able to report to camp. If he can’t be ready by Opening Day, Freese would likely take most of the playing time at third base, but a player like Gosselin’s chances of making the team would also increase.
Assuming Kang is ready, though, the team will likely have a bench of Stewart, Freese, Jaso and Adam Frazier, with one spot open. Super-utilityman Frazier played middle infield in the minors, but the bench is otherwise short on middle infield talent. The problem with both Gosselin and Hanson is that both are more second basemen than shortstops, but the Pirates also don’t really have a pure shortstop bench candidate unless they go somewhat off the beaten path and take someone like light-hitting minor-leaguer Gift Ngoepe north.
Between Gosselin and Hanson, Gosselin has much more big-league experience, having amassed 501 career big-league plate appearances over four years with the Braves and Diamondbacks. He also appears, generally, to be a better player than Hanson, who batted a disappointing .266/.318/.389 for Triple-A Indianapolis last year. But there is at least something to be said for Hanson’s candidacy — he’s a former top prospect who’s out of options, and his base-stealing ability would at least give Clint Hurdle an interesting tactical option off the bench. There is perhaps also a possibility the team could keep both — Kang could get stuck in Korea, and there might be a chance the Pirates could option Frazier, although that appears unlikely after his solid 2016 rookie season.
Prediction: Assuming Kang is ready, Gosselin makes the team, and the Pirates lose Hanson off waivers.
FIFTH STARTER
Tyler Glasnow
Age: 23
Throws: R
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options remaining: 2
Drew Hutchison
Age: 26
Throws: R
Contract status: One year, $2.3MM; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2019-20 offseason
Options remaining: 1
Steven Brault
Age: 24
Throws: L
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options remaining: 2
Trevor Williams
Age: 24
Throws: R
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options remaining: 2
The pitcher to watch here is the 6-foot-8 Glasnow, who towers over the other three pitchers both literally and in terms of upside. Glasnow, though, has had trouble with his control and is still working on a third pitch — he arrived in camp this season throwing a new changeup after rarely using a change last season. The Pirates might feel he’s better off continuing to work out the kinks in the minors.
If that’s what they decide, the other three pitchers would battle for the final rotation spot, with the choice perhaps coming down to Hutchison and Brault. Hutchison arrived in the controversial Francisco Liriano trade last season and did not perform well in the Pirates’ organization down the stretch, either in the minors or the Majors. The Pirates’ decision to tender him, though, suggests that they see something in him. Hutchison also has plenty of big–league experience, unlike the other three candidates.
Brault fared well in the minors last season and would give the Bucs a left-handed option to fill out what otherwise figures to be an all-righty rotation, but he looks like a back-of-the-rotation type. Williams did good work for Triple-A Indianapolis but received fewer opportunities in the big leagues than Brault last season; he looks like a long shot.
Prediction: Hutchison wins the job over the howls of Pirates fans, but Brault pressures him early on.
BULLPEN (ONE SPOT)
Wade LeBlanc
Age: 32
Throws: L
Contract status: Signed to a one-year, $750K deal with a team option for $1.25MM or a $50K buyout in 2018
Options remaining: 0
A.J. Schugel
Age: 27
Throws: R
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2021-2022 offseason
Options remaining: 1
Tyler Webb
Age: 26
Throws: L
Contract status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options remaining: 3, but cannot be optioned as a Rule 5 pick
I assume here that Tony Watson, Daniel Hudson, Felipe Rivero, Juan Nicasio, Jared Hughes and Antonio Bastardo are assured jobs. The complication is that Watson, Rivero and Bastardo are all left-handed, as are LeBlanc and Webb. Bastardo’s name came up in trade rumors over the offseason, but the Pirates did not deal him, perhaps hindered by the late-breaking lefty relief market. He could be a logical trade candidate late in Spring Training as teams finalize their rosters, especially if a lefty reliever on another club suffers an injury. If Bastardo were to be dealt, LeBlanc and Webb’s chances of making the team would increase. It’s perhaps also worth noting that Hughes has an option and looked like a non-tender candidate following a mediocre 2016 season, but the Bucs did tender him and have shown few indications of tiring of his contact- and grounder-inducing ways.
Assuming Bastardo stays, that leaves one bullpen spot. On talent, Schugel looks like the best choice — he was quietly effective in the Bucs’ bullpen last year, and he’s right-handed to boot. He is, however, optionable. The team’s decision to extend LeBlanc last winter might indicate that he has the inside track, even though he’s left-handed. Webb, who the Pirates selected in the Rule 5 Draft last winter, is another possibility after he posted a solid 3.59 ERA, 10.2 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 with Triple-A Scranton in the Yankees’ system in 2016. It’s been years since the Pirates have kept a Rule 5 pick on their roster for any significant period of time, but Webb could have a real shot if he impresses in camp. Otherwise, LeBlanc could get the job, with the team continuing to look for opportunities to deal Bastardo.
Prediction: LeBlanc makes the team, loading the Pirates’ bullpen with lefties. Schugel heads to Indianapolis, and the Pirates offer Webb back to the Yankees.
freese, mercer, frazier, bell is the infield. Harrison is a 1 year wonder. he’s a platoon guy on any other team. Ngope is a glove man and that’s it. They need an arm in the rotation. Do we trust Cole for a full season? Does Nova still have magic? 3 sophomore starters? get one more arm. it’s never too late. Last year was supposed to be a “bridge year”….well see about this one. we’ve seen it before though. a winning decade followed by losing, e years of winning followed by 20 years of darkness and now 3 years if winning followed by a mediocre year. what’s gonna happen this year?
Frazier does not have a starting job at this point. Despite how you feel about JHay, Hurdle loves him and his glove at 2B.
I’d say Hanson has the inside track on the job. He’s a switch hitter, fast, fair defender and OOO. I don’t think they let him go on waivers if they can help it. I can see him getting traded though.
I don’t think Webb goes back to the Yankees. I’d expect one of Watson or Bastardo are gone along with Lablanc. With Schugel ending up in the pen giving them Watson/Bastardo, Hudson, Rivero, Nicasio, Hughes, Webb with Hutchison possibly being a swing man.
The only thing reasonably set in stone for the rotation is Cole Taillon and Nova. Kuhl, Glassnow, Brault Hutch and Williams fighting for the bottom two spots. I’d expect Kuhl and Brault out of the gate but Glasnow make a strong push to get i the rotation early in the season. Hutch and Williams will probably be the 6th man possibly long relief options.
I agree that they probably dont want to lose hanson on waivers for nothing so I’d imagine Gosselin is optioned and stashed as depth to start the season but I doubt leblanc is traded considering they signed him to a deal with a club option for next year. Would love to see Bastardo traded before the season to make room for Webb to see what he has though. Guessing Watson is traded at the deadline regardless of where theyre at in the standings like melancon last year barring multiple injuries in the bullpen.
Frazier will be the new Harrison and be in a super utility role. Harrison at least has some good contact rates, even though it’s not hard contact
Plus, they have enough money invested in Harrison to give him every chance to improve his offensive numbers, and Harrison is better defensively than Frazier at 2nd and 3rd. Frazier is going to play a lot regardless.
I don’t think you are right on Bell. The Pirates have a history of waiting till June to bring up prospects, because they need more ‘seasoning.’ We all really know the real reason. So Jaso starts the season, Bell comes up around June. See ya in June Bell.
he was already up last season. So the “real reason” You’re referring to, the Super 2, is a non issue. Try to keep up.
No reason to call anyone an idiot.
You’re such a tough guy.
I’m sorry you feel like you need to belittle someone. Big respect to a small man.
Seriously Ron, take a chill pill. No need to make other Pirates fans here look bad by association.
Bell already came up last year
Thanks dwhitt3. I thought if they kept him in the minors, it would delay his eligibility for arbitration, similar to what happened to Marcell Ozuna a few years back. Is that not right?
Bell was up for almost half a season last year and was something like 5 at bats away from losing rookie status so tecnically they could keep him in the minors for 2/3 (or more) of the season to avoid super 2 status but hes too important to winning games this year to do that.
Although I agree with Jimmy’s general assessment, I’d like to clarify how super twos work, per this site:
“According to the MLBPA: Super Twos come from the group of players who have between two and three years (of) service time and at least 86 days (of) service time the previous year. The 17% of those players with the most service time become Super Twos.”
To my knowledge, this didn’t significantly change in the new CBA. So it’s a constantly moving target. It’s looking likely he would be in the top 17 percent if he stays up for all of the next two seasons, but it’s not certain until that second year of service time hits.
The Pirates have been willing to make occasional super two exceptions, such as Neil Walker. They likely would be willing to do the same with any of their young bench players and young back-end starters. They likely will not want that to happen for potential ace talents, such as Taillon and Glasnow, but justifying a move of Taillon to Triple-A without an ERA worse than 4 would likely prove difficult.
They arent going to add another SP, they want to see what they have in the young pitchers.
Assuming Glasnow makes the team out of camp. They will have 4 starters playing their first full years in the bigs. Glasnow, Taillon, Kuhl and Bell, 3 of whom are/were highly regared prospects.
They are retooling on the fly. This July trade Watson. Then, depending on the standings, trade McCutchen this summer/offseason and insert Meadows.
Glasnow is coming off a season where he walked 5/9ip and is working on his delivery, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him start in the minors
Gosselin intrigues me. It doesn’t seem like he’s ever gotten much consistent time in the majors, but it seems like he can be a useful bench bat. I wonder if Gosselin shows enough in camp leads the Bucs to possibly try to find a trade partner for Hanson. I would be fine if Hanson made the team over Gosselin, but I don’t think Hanson is ever going to be much more than a late inning defensive sub/pinch runner.
I want to see Glasnow start in AAA. He wasn’t ready last year, they just needed something to sell to the fans in July. He needs to work on several things. Plus, I read they can pick up an extra year of control depending on how much service time he gets this year. Why bring up a guy who is not ready and cost service time? Makes no sense. Made no sense last year.
I could see Frazier beating out Harrison for 2nd base putting Harrison back into the super U role, where he’s actually better.
Depending on how they all pitch obviously, I could see them trying to hang onto Webb (maybe some phantom DL’s during the year) and trying to sneak LeBlanc down to AAA.
I think I saw all of two at bats from Hutchison, so I won’t comment, but I did like Brault.