On Thursday, the Pirates formally introduced Ryan O’Hearn – their first multiyear free-agent signing since 2016 and the proud new owner of the largest free-agent contract for a position player in franchise history.
“We have several weeks between now and Opening Day. It’s our job to use every day to hunt opportunities to get better,” general manager Ben Cherington said Thursday. “I’m confident we will continue to add to the roster during that time.
“[We] would like to add back to pitching,” Cherington continued. “We’ve traded a little bit of pitching, so would like to add back to that. We’d still like to add to the position-player group. You look at the left side of the infield; obviously there are guys we like. [Jared] Triolo emerged [in] the second half of the year. He’s earned opportunity there. But if we could add someone on the left side of the infield, that’s something we’ll keep an eye out for. We’ll remain opportunistic in the outfield. See what comes our way. Hope to add to the pitching group in some form.”
Let’s take a look at those areas and add some more context.
The Pirates have already traded two starters who could have theoretically been in their Opening Day rotation: Johan Oviedo and Mike Burrows. Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller are the only starters on the roster who have thrown 140 innings in a season and Jared Jones is coming off of right elbow surgery, so while the Pirates could potentially have one of the best rotations in the game, they could use some veteran depth.
Pittsburgh usually likes to have a lefty in the rotation, especially given that PNC Park is kinder to left-handed pitchers, and rookie Hunter Barco (Pirates’ No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) is the only southpaw starter option right now (and far from guaranteed to make the Opening Day team). That doesn’t mean the Bucs are guaranteed to have a lefty in the rotation, but if they do, a reunion with José Quintana or Tyler Anderson would make sense (and the club has been in contact with both).
Adding pitching could also refer to the bullpen. The Pirates have already picked up lefties in Soto and Montgomery, but the expectation back at the Winter Meetings was they were going to circle back to the reliever market once they were in a better position offensively. That could be now.
The outfield needed an upgrade this winter, and the Pirates have definitely improved the group so far. Mangum is a contact, speed and defense-oriented option who could potentially be a starter or a fourth outfielder. Garcia is a top 100 prospect with a high upside. With that said, there’s not a lot of Major League experience between the two, and Garcia is going to have to earn his spot on the team.
O’Hearn can play some outfield, but he’s also going to get reps at first base and designated hitter. Jack Suwinski is going to get another look this Spring Training, but after struggling the last two years, how much can they count on him? That leaves Billy Cook, No. 12 prospect Nick Yorke (who only got cups of coffee in the Majors last year) and No. 16 prospect Esmerlyn Valdez (who has yet to reach Triple-A Indianapolis) as their other options on the roster.
There is potential here, but it’s easy to see why a little more depth has appeal.
No. 1 overall prospect Konnor Griffin is going to have a chance to earn a spot out of Spring Training. Triolo had a solid final two months of the season. There’s a scenario where the two handle shortstop and third base just fine, but given that Triolo can play all over the infield and Griffin is still just 19 — and hasn’t played a game at Triple-A — this market needs to be explored.
While there was some buzz around Eugenio Suárez (and the Pirates have checked in), it doesn’t seem likely at this point in time. They’ve checked in on Yoán Moncada as well, and while he has had some injury problems in recent years, he did post an .815 OPS against right-handed pitchers last year. That could make him an appealing platoon partner for Triolo, who had a .798 OPS against lefties.
