WHO ARE THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES BENCH OPTIONS FOR 2019?

What players could make up the Pittsburgh Pirates bench during the 2019 season? Last week, we took a look at various bullpen options for the Pittsburgh Pirates as Spring Training 2019 begins. Now, we will take a similar look at the Bucco bench.

The Pirates have the ingredients to have a strong bench in 2019. This will be especially true when Gregory Polanco returns from the injured list and bumps Lonnie Chisenhall to a bench role. Due to Polanco missing the start of the regular season, the Pirate bench could look much different on Opening Day from what fans will see for the majority of the 2019 season.

So, what will the Pirate bench look like on Opening Day and who is in contention to earn a spot on the roster? Will the team value catching or infield depth more? Could veterans added on minor league deals make the squad? Let’s dive in!

THE JACKS OF ALL TRADES

Clint Hurdle is entering his ninth season as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his first eight seasons one thing fans have come to learn about Hurdle is his love for players capable of playing multiple positions. This has made utility players key cogs in Hurdle’s bench each season he has been in Pittsburgh.

In 2019, the Pirates could have multiple utility men on their bench.

As Spring Training begins, Erik Gonzalez looks like the clubhouse leader to start at shortstop on Opening Day. If he wins the job, this will likely bump Kevin Newman to a utility bench role. Newman, a former top-100 prospect, has the ability to play third base, shortstop, or second base. If Newman wins the job at shortstop, then Gonzalez, who can play the same positions as well as the outfield, would be bumped to a utility role.

There is also Pablo Reyes. For much of the offseason Reyes looked like a lock to make the team out of Spring Training. However, as we will get to in a later slide, a recent free agent signing makes things murkier for Reyes.

Reyes made a big impression last September during his first taste of MLB action. In 18 games he looked like a plus defender at third base, second base, and in right field, all while slashing .293/.349/.483 with a 127 wRC+. Reyes can play left field and shortstop as well, and, even if he starts the season at Triple-A, due to injuries and ineffective play from other players will see action at the MLB level at some point in 2019.

With his ability to play both corner infield spots, as well as both corner outfield spots Jose Osuna finds himself in the utility man discussion as well. The past two seasons Osuna has been the star of Spring Training for the Pirates, but this success has yet to translate to the MLB level. Especially as a pinch hitter, which is something we covered earlier in the offseason.

Odds are Osuna will start the season with the Indianapolis Indians. But, like Reyes, Pirate fans can expect to see Osuna in Pittsburgh at some point during the 2019 season.

Two other utility men to watch are infielders Kevin Kramer and Nick Franklin. Kramer can play third base, shortstop, and second base, and is one of the team’s top hitting prospects. After raking at Double-A and Triple-A the past two seasons, Kramer struggled immensely during his September call-up in 2018. While Kramer is unlikely to crack the Opening Day roster, he has the tools needed to be a solid contributor at the MLB level one day soon.

As for Franklin, the former top-100 prospect was signed as a minor league free agent this offseason. Due to injuries, Franklin played in just one game at the MLB level for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. Other than 2016 when Franklin posted a .270/.328/.443 slash line and a 109 wRC+ for the Tampa Bay Rays, his minor league pedigree has never translated to the MLB level. Look for the utility infielder to start the season with Triple-A Indy and to potentially earn a call-up later in the season if he is hitting well for the Indians.

COULD THE PIRATES CARRY THREE CATCHERS THIS SEASON?

Typically a MLB team will carry just one backup catcher. However, that may not be the case with the 2019 Pirates. At least to start the season.

As I wrote about on Saturday, it would behoove the team to carry three catchers to start the season. There are a few reasons that the team should do this. First off, Jacob Stallings is out of options. The odds of Stallings clearing waivers and therefore being capable of starting the year at the Triple-A level are slim. If another team were to claim Stallings, this would leave the Pirates with no catching depth behind starter Francisco Cervelli and primary backup Elias Diaz.

A second reason to carry three catchers is it gives Hurdle the ability to use whoever does not start between Cervelli and Diaz, who were two of the team’s best hitters in 2018, as a pinch hitter. Additionally, Cervelli can then serve as Josh Bell‘s primary backup at first base when Bell gets a rare day off. Hurdle would also be able to use Cervelli or Diaz at designated hitter when the team plays in an American League ballpark.

If Cervelli did not have a history of concussions then taking the risk of putting Stallings on waivers would be easier to do. But due to Cervelli’s injury riddled past, it would be too great a risk to put Stallings on waivers. Look for the team to carry three catchers to start the 2019 season.

WHOEVER IS NOT STARTING AT THIRD BASE

While the Pittsburgh Pirates enter the 2019 season with questions surrounding third base, there is also a lot of potential at the position. Between Colin Moran and Jung Ho Kang third base could very well become a position of strength for the Pirates. However, it could also be a position that struggled to contribute offense on a consistent basis.

During his first full MLB season Moran slashed .277/.340/.407 for the Bucs in 2018. Moran’s 8.4% walk rate and 17.6% strikeout rate were both encouraging signs for a rookie, but his power never flourished leading to an ISO of just .130. Posting a wRC+ of 103 Moran rated out as a slightly above league average hitter with the league average being 100.

After missing all of 2017 due to work visa issues, Kang got a new work visa late last spring. After hitting the cover off the ball in the minor leagues, Kang appeared close to a return to the MLB level during the summer. However, wrist surgery shut that down and limited Kang to just six at bats during the season finale series in Cincinnati.

If Kang can knock the rust off this spring and return to the hitter he was for the Pirates in 2015 and 2016, then the Pirates have a bonafide slugger at third base. This, however, may prove to be a lot easier said than done. Although, Kang’s .310/.408/.517 slash line in the minor leagues last season and his ability to pick up a pair of base hits in his six MLB at bats last season were both encouraging signs.

Both Moran and Kang will be on the Opening Day roster. Seeing a platoon of the two at third base with Moran starting against right-handed pitching and Kang against lefties may prove to be the way Hurdle goes at third base. But one of the two grabbing the bull by the horns at third base and running with it is a possibility, too.

Regardless of how it shakes out at third base, Moran or Kang may prove to become Hurdle’s go to pinch hitter. They also have the ability to make third base a position of strength for the Bucs in 2019.

THE FOURTH OUTFIELDER

To start the season, veteran free agent addition Melky Cabrera looks like the front runner to be the team’s fourth outfielder. Despite Cabrera’s contract being a minor league deal, it would be a surprise to see not make the Opening Day roster. While there are questions about his defense, Cabrera still slashed a healthy .280/.335/.420 for the Cleveland Indians last season. He would also give Hurdle a switch hitter on the bench.

Reyes could be a factor here, too. But, as we covered earlier, it seems like a safe bet that Reyes will start the season at Triple-A. Veteran minor league free agent signees JB Shuck and Patrick Kivlehan also appear to be safe bets to start the year at Indianapolis.

This is a bench spot that will be impacted when Polanco returns from starting the season on the injured list. When Polanco returns to right field, Chisenhall will then move to the bench. However, if Cabrera is hitting well then the Bucs will likely carry both ex-Indian outfielders on their bench. If not, they could look to cut ties with Cabrera.

Two other names to keep an eye on with backup outfield spots are prospects Bryan Reynolds and Jason Martin. Both were acquired in offseason trades last January, and both are top-10 prospects for the Bucs. Additionally, they both hit the ball well at the Double-A level last season before being promoted to Triple-A. Both players will begin the season as starters for Indy, but do not be surprised to see either make their MLB debut at some point in 2019.

WHO HEADS NORTH ON MARCH 28TH?

When the regular season begins the Pirates could always carry four bench players and eight relievers as they did last season. But, it is tough to envision that happening if they carry three catchers. If they do risk losing Stallings on waivers, though, then it becomes a stronger possibility.

That said, right now signs point toward the team carrying seven relievers and five bench players to start the season. The team having a better, deeper, and more reliable bullpen than this team a year ago is a factor, too.

As the season progresses the Pirate bench, like the bench of every team across baseball, will change. Injuries, ineffectiveness, and players forcing the door open at the Triple-A level will lead to changes throughout the season. The team may even make additions to the roster between now and Opening Day that could change the makeup of the bench as well.

However, to start the 2019 season, look for the Pirate bench to consist of the below prediction.

OPENING DAY BENCH PREDICTION:

C – Elias Diaz, Jacob Stallings
UTL – Kevin Newman
3B – Colin Moran/Jung Ho Kang
OF – Melky Cabrera