Where will Triolo fit into Bucs' mix in 2026?

This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf's Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

At this time about a month from now, pitchers and catchers will be underway at Pirate City, preparing for another season of Pirates baseball. Some players will go to camp with a pretty clear understanding of how they fit into this year’s team. Some will have to earn an opportunity in the Majors.

And for some, their role is very much up in the air. Put Jared Triolo into that third category.

Last year was an up-and-down campaign for Triolo, but he definitely finished on a high note. He adjusted his hand placement after being demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis in July, going back to something more comfortable that just felt right. Once he was recalled at the start of August, he was one of the team’s best hitters down the stretch, slashing .276/.353/.422 with four home runs over 216 plate appearances.

According to Baseball Reference, Triolo was the Pirates’ most valuable position player last year, being valued at 2.3 WAR. He plays Gold Glove-caliber defense, is versatile in the field and can run the bases, tenets of an all-around quality player.

There’s just one cloud hanging over: the fact that he was optioned to the Minors in July with a .519 OPS. Usually, the returning position player with the most WAR has a pretty firm job going into the next season. Triolo will be a factor in next year’s team, but it’s hard to forecast what his role will be.

“We certainly believe he can,” general manager Ben Cherington said last week when asked if Triolo will have a big role next season. “He’s been a good Major League player for a while, really. He’s always been able to help the team do a lot of things to help the team win games. Feel like he took another step forward this past season.

“Exactly what role that is, I don’t think we know yet. We’re confident with him at shortstop. We’re confident in him at third base. We’re also confident with him being on the team and playing six spots and moving around. It could be any of those. We’ll have time in Spring Training to sort that out.”

The Pirates shored up the right side of their infield this winter with Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe, so the 2024 Opening Day second baseman’s best chance to be an everyday player will be on the left side, at either shortstop or third base.

At multiple points this offseason, sources have expressed confidence if Triolo is the Opening Day third baseman. The Pirates are also on the market for another infielder, whether that’s through free agency or trade. In an interview with MLB Network Radio this weekend, Cherington expressed a desire to add “at least one more position player.” It seems likely that they will, and third base would appear to be a preference.

Let’s assume Pittsburgh acquires an everyday third baseman. Shortstop is an option for Triolo, but MLB’s No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin is expected to have a shot to crack the Opening Day roster this Spring Training. He will, of course, have to earn it, but even if he doesn’t break camp with the team, a 2026 promotion seems extremely likely. Shortstop would appear to be a short-term solution for Triolo at best.

The Pirates could lean into Triolo’s defensive versatility and make him a utility player again, but there might be a catch there. In each of his three seasons in the Majors, Triolo got off to a slow start offensively, made some sort of mechanical change around August, and then finished the season strong. Was that a product of the change or getting more consistent playing time down the stretch? Being a bench player is tough and can mess with timing when a couple of days pass without seeing live pitching.

At this moment, Triolo looks penciled into an Opening Day starting job. That could change if the club acquires another infielder, which seems a distinct possibility. Depth is a good thing and a luxury the 2025 lineup didn’t have, but what if Triolo could do more? The goal is to improve the offense. That also means maximizing the players already on the team.

For years, people theorized how valuable Ke’Bryan Hayes would be if he were an average hitter. Here the Pirates are again with a Gold Glove third baseman with offensive upside but plenty of question marks. Time will tell if they want to take another risk for the potential high upside.