The Pirates are known to be looking for corner infield help and free agent Randal Grichuk is one player they are interested in, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. They were also connected to Alex Verdugo in rumors this week.
Grichuk, 33, is coming off a strong season. He signed with the Diamondbacks for a modest $2MM guarantee, one of several veteran players left out in the cold during last winter’s frosty market. The Snakes mostly used him in a short-side platoon capacity, so Grichuk only got 279 plate appearances, but he made the most of them. He hit 12 home runs and slashed .291/.348/.528 overall for a 139 wRC+.
In his career, Grichuk has been better against lefties but also held his own against righties in 2024, in a limited sample. The D’Backs only sent him to the plate against a righty 95 times on the year but he slashed .242/.274/.527 in those for a 116 wRC+. His career line in that split is .242/.288/.449 for a wRC+ of 93. Against southpaws, he hit .319/.386/.528 for a 159 wRC+ in 2024, with a career line of .273/.324/.509 and a 121 wRC+.
Whether or not those improved results against righties are sustainable, it was a solid campaign on the whole and one that will likely earn Grichuk a raise. In addition to his offensive contributions, he’s also been a solid defender in his career. Both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average have him an above average fielder, though they were split on his 2024 season, with Grichuk producing +3 DRS and -2 OAA.
For the Bucs, their search for outfield help is understandable. Bryan Reynolds is likely to be in left field and Oneil Cruz in center, but right field is wide open. Including Reynolds, eight different guys played at least 27 innings for Pittsburgh in 2024, the other seven being Bryan De La Cruz, Edward Olivares, Connor Joe, Joshua Palacios, Ji Hwan Bae, Jack Suwinski and Billy Cook. None of them took hold of the position and many of them have been expunged from the roster.
It was reported last month that they would be looking for corner outfield upgrades, though it seemed fair to expect them to keep the investment fairly modest. They have never been a big-spending club and RosterResource projects them for a $79MM payroll next year. That’s already pretty close to the $86MM figure they had to open last year, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
Despite his strong season, Grichuk’s market has been pretty quiet so far. It was reported last month that the Orioles had some interest in him, though that came out after they had already signed Tyler O’Neill and thus reduced or perhaps eliminated their need for Grichuk.
The outfield free agent market has seen some movement but there’s still more to come. Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernández, O’Neill and others have signed but Anthony Santander and Jurickson Profar are still out there, with those two looking for multi-year deals. Guys like Grichuk, Verdugo, Jesse Winker, Mark Canha and others are also available and likely to end up with one-year deals.
Given the Pirates’ history, they are probably going to end up with someone in the latter group. If it’s Grichuk, he could perhaps find a platoon partner already on the roster, as Palacios, Suwinski and Bae are still there and each of them hits left-handed. Palacios and Bae have been subpar against both lefties and righties in their respective big league careers but Suwinski has been solid against righties. He has a brutal .173/.264/.306 slash and 58 wRC+ against southpaws but a .218/.323/.442 line and 107 wRC+ the rest of the time.
Nooooo
Just kidding he’s actually not that bad
OF D is prob necessary
Hilarious.
This is definitely a Pirates signing. Old, limited, very little upside. My grasp of reality felt like it was slipping when I heard they were interested in Verdugo, who is only limited with little upside.
So many teams that decide that it is too expensive to make a move
This is why I am an nfl fan more nowadays
Exactly. Maybe a world wide draft would fix baseball, but in the NFL the talent distribution makes for the rise and fall of teams more efficiently
The talent is distributed also because of the salary cap/floor that the NFL has plus revenue sharing.
Chiefs 3 years in a row though
Patrick Mahomes + Travis Kelce + Taylor Swift + NFL Script = 3 peat
I meant as far as teams being competitive and having good rosters, not necessarily just championships
And more specifically was thinking in line of 20 year windows across organizations.
Not sure why the Reds aren’t the way he hits lefties.
agree….
just what this team needs , another player who strikeouts too much and doesn’t draw walks
Might as well use Suwinski
He doesn’t strike out too much. Crushes lefties so well you don’t want him walking.
He struck out 163 times in 2019 and 96 times 2 years ago
Had he played an entire season last year he would struck out more.
This team needs base runners and runs scored
96 K is not a lot in a season.
By rate, Grichuk has K’d below the league average three of the last four seasons. His K% last season was 16.5% vs a 22.7% average across MLB.
The man 3: You are referrring that strikeout numbers thats from 6 years ago. 6!
2019: 163 = 27%/AB
2021: 114 = 22%/AB
2022 127 = 25%/AB
2023 96 = 22%/AB
2024 46 = 18%/AB
SO/AB been declining – also obvisiouly if he played more games he wouldve struck out more – same as trout or ohtani
His strikeout % was under 17 in 2024. As long as he’s used in a mostly platoon role, strikeouts aren’t a big problem.
Pirates should have signed Rizzo or Bell for 1b. Just look what they did in 2019!!!!! Trade for Rendon!!!
Don’t forget that your “low k%” numbers are for a player who was heavily platooned. He strikes out a helluva lot. Try to avoid missing the big picture to prove a point. He’s a limited player whose salary reflects that fact.
He doesn’t strike out a lot. Last year his k rate was fantastic. Being a platoon is irrelevant. If he wasn’t a platoon he would get like 80m 100m.
TheMan3
Suwinski might be their plan all along
Anthopoulos should be interested in one of Grichuk or Verdugo as well if the price is palatable.
Pirates wouldn’t be interested if it wasn’t
You mean the Dodgers Yankees and Mets don’t want him .. ?
Yeah, the Pirates’ window has opened up and are still going after just inexpensive players.
The Pirates are the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets of the bargain basement. Always interested in guys they can get cheaply, and usually settle for the even-cheaper variety
pirates PR department using all their data plan the last 2 days leaking info. Neither of the last 2 players mentioned will sign in Pittsburgh
They should’ve found more exciting players
It’s ok, TJ. We’re nearing the time for Nutting’s Annual “We Won’t Tolerate Losing” speech. He should have won a Golden Globe in the Best Comedic Act Award by now
Pittsburg pirates! National leagues version of the blue jays. “Interested” in everyone
I don’t think the pirates even thought about signing Soto or burnes etc
At least Toronto has a big owner that gives money their problem is horrible FO
Cherington won’t offer enough money for him and by the start of spring training, he will dive into the dumpster for the cheapest alternative
But the Jays have money and spend it.
The Diamondbacks need him back, but I don’t think he wants to be a platoon bat again.
Of course he wants that if they pay his asking price.
Wouldn’t say, RF is wide open. Whoever they acquire will mean Reynolds plays the opposite corner. If it’s a lefty or righty will help determine who their platoon partner will be heading into 2025.
Pretty solid player.
The article begins with infield help, should read outfield help, proof read please!!
Why do people act like having a typo is a direct assault upon them? You figured out the meaning of the sentence even with the error, so what is the difference? Lighten up Francis.
well when i read it, i was a bit confused and had to read it again, and realize the mistake. took a few seconds out of my day, and i am a busy man with no seconds to spare every day
Then you shouldn’t be here at all. This is not a place for busy people.
Hiflew, it’s about professionalism. You’d expect newspapers and information sites to have proofreaders or at least, writers who proof their own work. Nothing more. No big pet peeve to me
These days, I’m more put off my people who think they play in “Pissburgh,” go to a “groshery” store or find something “im-por-unt”
They have simple programs that can proof read their work in seconds. No excuse. If you texting me then fine make all the errors you want. If your writing an article to be read by 10’s or 100’s or 1000’s of people then do your best to make it readable. Society is losing the skills of the written word and need to put in more of an effort not less.
Without giving my background, agree 100%. Glad someone else sees it
@bullred you should practice what you preach. You just wrote a post about proofreading for grammatical errors and turned proofread into two words while also using both you and your instead of you’re.
jimmyz;
LOL
Proofread systems simply check for spelling. Ones here on MLBTR check posters comments. It doesn’t take into consideration the way the word is used, and often when I click on one of multiple options of words in a pop-up box it takes the wrong one.
Even though I double and triple-check, most of my posts have erroneous words in them that I don’t notice until hours later when I re-read the post after someone has responded to it.
Have worked with spellcheck-type software for over 30 years. This is possibly the worst I’ve ever used. I use email service software that automatically checks and picks up not just misspellings, but changing tenses, etc.
The syntax of so many of the posts here are awful, even from people submitting one or 2 sentences.
I have trouble with the way the writers use cherry-picked statistics to bolster the points they’re making in articles, and pull my hair out because I know they watch very few games, so I’m responding to an article based on someone downloading data onto a spreadsheet and sorting it multiple ways. So be it. Surprisingly, AI will be more objective. A misspelling here or there is no big deal.
And yet, as a retired teacher, the original poster’s comment was on target. The language has evolved into some strange morphing of English and street laziness.
I get the problem one has with keyboards. In an earlier life I was a journalist with big, clumsy fingers
The keyboards have shrunk. The fingers are still big and clumsy. I can forgive any spelling error here where perhaps I would not have from a student. But the butchering of the language one hears linguistically on a daily basis is disappointing, at the very least
That pronunciation and syntax errors often eventually become mainstreamed by media is simply laziness run amok.
To wit, again, there is no “h” in grocery
There is no extra “i” in mischievous
I don’t live in Picksburgh. Or Pissburgh, as Leveon Bell would often say
It’s “ important.” Not impor-unt
End of old man rant
jimmyz — I expect errors in comments where your answering on your phone but not in articles. That was what I was referring to. There should be a higher standard in articles.
Dude was awesome last year for so cheap! No idea why the dbacks wouldn’t resign him. He kills lefties
He is the new Reggie Sanders or Matt Stairs or Corey Dickerson. He is good enough to stay in the league, but never good enough to re-sign. So he bounces from team to team each year.
And all 3 of those guys you mentioned came to the Bucs at the tail end of their careers. Not sure if you knew that or not, but quite funny.
Not to mention, all 3 put up very solid numbers as Pirates as I recall.
would rather have winker but please just sign somebody
agreed
Buns- They need a right hand batter to platoon with Suwinski but who can play full time if Suwinski does not hit better this coming year.
suwinski is trash dude. winker would be a realistic upgrade
Dude-He wasn’t trash his first two years,quite good against right handed pitchers,and suffered,like all Pirate hitters,from poor batting instruction.
Winker may or may not be a realistic upgrade if the Mets want him because they will overpay.Plus he would be much more expensive.
Suwinski also should have been platooned from the start.
Mendoza Line 215;
I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you!!
Did you know that Derek Shelton was a hitting coach with Cleveland at different levels for 3 years, and with Tampa Bay for the better part of 7 years. That’s his MO.
Apparently the Pirates hitting coaches just aren’t paying attention to his guidance.
It will be interesting to see if the Pirates can resurrect Jack. Didn’t realize he knocked in 74 runs to go with the 26 homers a couple years back. Thought most were solo shots
Given those numbers, I can’t blame them for trying
Now about Henry Davis….
The Mets might overpay, but the Pirates will definitely overpay to get anyone of name. Most decent players in their 30s will sign for less for a shot at a ring. The ones who sign with Pittsburgh do so because of lack of options.
Team better sign 2 solid relievers as well
Ahha! Grich and dugo make a hell of a player combined!
Checks out
It would be ideal to sign 2 bats. They haven’t spent a damn thing. Make a trade & sign a free agent. Still would go after Ward, I think tha Angels would love 1 of their minor league arms along with another player or two. Their would have a very good lineup with 2 of Ward, Jesus Sanchez, Grichuk, Winker or Verdugo. Just dreaming !!
I don’t know that they have room for two if they want to keep both Cook and Yorke on the ML roster because they would lose either on waivers as I do not think that either has any options left.
Just angry at the cheapness of their billionaire owner, 2 good players won’t bankrupt him. I just don’t get it
Just imagine if the Pirates would take a chance and give their fan base some hope that they would try to be competitive while we have this Rotation!
Anthony Santander isn’t happening but put him in the middle of this lineup and now Cruz and Reynolds are better! They would win the division with the addition of Horowitz already! They have saved money for 10 years! It’s time to spend more!
If Toronto or Angels are supposedly the most serious, I don’t think he sticks up his nose at Pitt.
Good fit. Power bat but his limitations otherwise don’t compel the big boys to offer him a ton. If 4/80 seals the deal, go for it. Not crippling.
At Santander best he is a 3 bwar player. Pirates are that close to winning the division that he is the missing piece?
I think it would be a awful move. You can do better with 80m. But if that was only issue than fine. Big issue is draft pick. That pick should be a top 15 prospect. For Pirates who are picking high yet again it’s a top 10 prospect. Many teams it would hurt but you could do it. Not the Pirates who can’t hit on picks past the 4th round and get absolutely nothing from international market.
A Winker Grichuk platoon would be better cheaper and less years than Santander. That’s what I would do.
Profar is a back plan if Mets go insane on Winker.
Pillar would be a add for me as well.
Canha can play outfield and 1b.
My point is imagine if we went after legit free agents. I really was just using Santander as an example. I don’t think you will see both sides of your platoon either. Maybe Grichuk/ Suwinski.
@Mike What are legit free agents? If they are 20 some million a year and cost draft picks I hope they never go after legit free agents.
It’s also hard to imagine. When your teams yearly cap is 110m it’s difficult to spend that on a good not great outfielder. This year sure. But Keller $ is going up. Skenes Jones Cruz Bart Gonzales Horowitz will all be getting arbitration $ soon. Then more expensive arbitration. Just the team friendly extensions and arbitration will eat up most the payroll.
Tauchman is who they should have signed. 2 or 3 million everyday outfielder. Verdugo better if tattoos don’t eat away his hands. But not 6 7 8 million better. Same with Winker. If they can get Jack back to what he was he is superior to all those guys.
Grichuk is fantastic though. Pirates should get him. Like all end. He has more value to them than anyone else. They might want him as everyday player and if so it’s pretty much a guarantee he signs with them. Jack and Palacios as your competition is about as weak as it gets. If he could prove he can hit rhp he makes much more $ next year.
Anything is imperfect if Pitt doesn’t develop enough cheap decent bats in-house. Idea would be to get Reynolds some assistance before he’s too old and have the lower cost (for now) pitching counterbalance the need to spend to acquire a couple decent bats to have any chance of reaching WCard. The other way is via trade, but then teams will insist on good cheap SPs. Absent strong player development, it is tough to line things up for the non deep pocket teams.
Exactly right
One would have thought some effort would have gone into building a lineup around their pitching staff
Instead, they’ve gone the other way
Unless as ESPN states, the remaining pool of free agents is so big and talented that the Pirates are crazy like a fox and to be rewarded for waiting, things look kind of bleak
nah – waiting for Conor Joe’s price to drop.
Why is there a lot of talk about the A’s needing to hit $105M in payroll to avoid an MLBPA grievance, but nothing about the Pirates? Don’t they get revenue sharing as well?
Because Bob Nutting #1 priority is knowing exactly the minimum $ needed to keep his revenue sharing down to the last cent. You don’t never need to worry about Bob not getting every cent of $ available to him from mlb.
Would be perfect for Cleveland….
But hey, if he’s half-decent in 2025 he’ll probably be traded in-season by the team that signs him anyway.
Not sure how either Grichuck or Verdugo help in the corner Infield but they would probably help in RF.
The Pirates don’t seem to know what type of team they want to be but the contention window is open now and they only have 6 more years of Skenes before he leaves for a massive contract somewhere else
Won ROY so only 5 more years. Can they afford to let him leave just for a draft pick? Will there even be draft picks? So maybe only 4 years.
Mike Tauchman. All 29 teams messed this one up. For 2 million why wouldn’t you want this guy.
baseball-reference.com/players/t/tauchmi01.shtml
F Winker Verdugo this is the guy.
Definitely sign Grichuk though.