Some offseason issues are resolved, others await resolutions
There are many questions facing the Pirates before pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12 to Bradenton, Fla. Last season, the team finished fourth in the National League Central with an 82-80 record. The sportsbook at Caesars Palace set the Pirates’ over/under for wins in 2019 at 78.5 games.
The picture became a little clearer when several Pirates got an early start with a minicamp in Florida last week. After the weeklong camp ended Friday, it was announced that the team avoided arbitration by coming to agreements with left fielder Corey Dickerson and reliever Keone Kela. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bill Brink reported Dickerson signed for $8.5 million in 2019, his third and final year of arbitration. Kela will make $3,175,000.
General manager Neal Huntington was with the team at its minicamp, and while Vegas might not be bullish on the Pirates, Huntington has confidence in the team and oft-maligned owner Bob Nutting.
“We have the ninth-best record
in baseball over the last six years,” Huntington said. “We are one of a few teams that have made the postseason three times in the last seven years. However, we haven’t brought a World Series home. There’s a tremendous group of people whom I’m honored to work with, and they’re committed to bringing a championship here.”
Huntington provided insight on how the Pirates plan to address some concerns heading into the season:
• Who’s the fifth starter? Jameson Taillon, a full season of Chris Archer, Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove is a potentially strong rotation. The uncertainty lies in the fifth starter. Jordan Lyles is the leading candidate. He had a 2 -4 record and 4.29 ERA in 2018 for Milwaukee and San Diego.
“Jordan Lyles has a history of starting,” Huntington said. “Lyles made a great adjustment to his pitch sequencing out of the [bullpen] for Milwaukee last year. We believe that he can replicate that in a starter’s role. Nick Kingham and Steven Brault will have a chance to win it, as well. Of course, we will continue to look at the free agent and trade market.”
Another set of questions could be answered by what happens in the battle for the fifth starter position. Especially if Lyles wins the role.
“Kingham is out of options, so we would fully expect that Nick would be a multi-inning reliever and a spot starter with an opportunity to earn his way back into the rotation,” Huntington said. “Brault would also have the chance to earn a spot out of the bullpen.”
A wild card could be newly acquired Aaron Slegers, 26. The Pirates claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Minnesota Twins Friday and designated righthander Dario Agrazal for assignment. Slegers, 6 feet 10, had a 3.80 ERA in 15 Class AAA starts and scattered 17 hits while giving up eight runs over 13⅔ innings for the Twins last season.
“We like that he can take the ball in multiple roles as a starter or a bullpen guy,” Huntingto said. “He has the ability to create soft contact. He has options available. “
• What will you do at shortstop? Kevin Newman had an uninspiring slash line of .209/.247/.231 in 32 games and 91 at-bats. Erik Gonzalez’s line of .265/.301/.375 in 81 games and 136 at-bats for the Cleveland Indians in 2018 was better, but not top shelf. Unless something changes in the next 20 or so days, the Pirates will have a position battle.
“We like Erik Gonzalez and Kevin Newman and we like what we feel is the level they can produce at in comparison to what else is truly out there,” Huntington said. “We recognize they don’t have the backs of the baseball cards that some of the available free agents do. But they each bring skills and tools and attributes that give us confidence they can each be a quality big-league shortstop.”
• How’s Gregory Polanco coming along? Polanco will miss the start of the regular season with a shoulder injury. He attended minicamp and has made some progress.
“I saw him down here in Bradenton, and Gregory has progressed as well as we could possibly hope,” Huntington said. “He got to swing the bat and was thrilled at how he felt swinging the bat. The question will be, how will the shoulder handle him throwing once he starts? That’s why we went and got Lonnie Chisenhall. Chisenhall is great because he can play left, right, third and first.”
• Can Jung Ho Kang be great again? Kang’s troubles and injuries the previous two years have been well documented. Perhaps, he could be an offensive spark. Huntington has noticed Kang’s work ethic. Of course, you have to wonder what can be expected of Kang at age 31 after not playing for two seasons.
“He worked so hard to get himself in shape last season before the wrist injury,” Huntington said. “He then worked hard to come back from it.”