Now that Jordan Luplow is gone, will we sign a right fielder who can be the fourth outfielder when Gregory Polanco comes back? I'd like to see Bucco killer Jonathan Jay in black and gold.
-- James T., Pittsburgh
It certainly seems more likely now that the Pirates will sign or trade for another outfielder. I honestly thought they might try to get by with some combination of Adam Frazier and Luplow -- their initial plan for left field last year -- and maybe sign a veteran infielder to temporarily handle second base.
But the fact that they dealt away Luplow, their most likely fourth outfielder heading into the offseason, leads me to believe Pittsburgh will address that need with another acquisition. GM Neal Huntington hinted at that possibility when we talked last week about the trade's impact on their roster.
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"We felt that we had a better chance to get an outfield corner bat externally that fills the need more than we did getting another quality option at shortstop," Huntington said. "We will continue to explore the trade market, and we will continue to explore the free-agent market to see if there's someone out there that makes us better than our internal options."
Those internal options are not ideal if Polanco's recovery turns out to be a matter of months and not weeks. Putting Frazier there takes him away from second base. Pablo Reyes had a strong September, but is he ready for that responsibility? Jose Osuna's range is limited in the outfield, and he hasn't hit much in the Majors. Minor League signee Patrick Kivlehan hasn't proven himself at the Major League level.
It's hard to say what could happen on the trade front, but there are plenty of veteran outfielders available via free agency. Really, there are so many outfielders who may be competing for the few available starting jobs that it may increase the appeal of Pittsburgh's part-time role, because at least there will be an extended stretch of everyday at-bats available here.
One of them is Jay, indeed a "Bucco killer," although he may not be an ideal fit as a left-handed hitter. I don't think this would drive their decision-making process, but it'd probably be better to have a righty-hitting reserve, since Polanco and Corey Dickerson bat lefty and Starling Marte, oddly, has struggled against lefties the past two years.
Keep in mind the Pirates didn't land Dickerson until last spring, but there are a lot of names to watch as the offseason activity ramps up . Austin Jackson and Cameron Maybin are righty-hitting veterans who can play all three spots. Our friend Jim Duquette recently wondered if even Adam Jones, a proven hitter who moved to right field late last season, might have a slow-developing market.
Could the Pirates put Jungho Kang at second base and use Frazier in right field?
-- Alex R., Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
I wouldn't bet on it. The Pirates made it pretty clear in late September that Kang's comfort zone is at third base, so that's where he will compete for a spot. He's no longer a shortstop, and he has more recent experience there than second base. Kang is already going to have to shake off a lot of rust to return to form offensively, and I simply can't see the Pirates putting even more on his plate by having him work at a new position in Spring Training. Maybe they'll reconsider if Colin Moran comes out and leaves no room for competition at third.
Will the Pirates hire an assistant batting coach to replace the old one?
-- Keith Y., State College
Yes, it is my understanding that the Pirates will add an assistant hitting coach to their staff. They already hired Rick Eckstein to replace dismissed hitting coach Jeff Branson. Eckstein and the new hire will work together on a daily basis, so it makes sense that they want him involved as they go about filling the assistant hitting coach position.
What role will Pablo Reyes play next season? I like the way he played in September. We need more guys like him who play like they have something to prove.
-- Greg B., Tampa, Fla.
Greg, I agree that Reyes was a breath of fresh air in September. After the last game of the season, Clint Hurdle smiled and asked reporters, "How much fun did he have?" He played with energy, hit surprisingly well and gave us a chance to tell his story, which I'm not sure many fans knew about.
The addition of utility man Erik Gonzalez clouds Reyes' future a little bit, because a couple more additions -- say, a starting shortstop and another outfielder -- might make it tough for Reyes to crack the Opening Day roster. (At this point, he would probably make it as a super-utility player/extra outfielder.) Either way, his defensive versatility is valuable and should put him in position to make an impact at some point.
"We don't want to put a ceiling on Pablo," Huntington said last week. "His initial pathway to our Major League club is that defensive versatility. He has incredible value to a Major League club and manager because he can play so many positions adequately, and he's a fearless hitter."