The Pittsburgh Pirates still are looking for that elusive winning season after a historic late season fade turned an almost certain snapping of the streak into another extension of losing.
The Pirates and Neal Huntington made a few moves to improve the team.
The biggest was the signing of free agent Russell Martin from the Yankees to bolster the catching position.
This was supposed to be addressed with last off seasons signing of Rod Barajas,but Barajas was simply terrible and was allowed to leave after the season.
Martin's power picked up in his two years in New York,if he can post similar numbers along with his defensive prowess,the signing will prove to be a good one.
Michael McKenry returns as the backup.
McKenry is the perfect backup-good enough to play well as long as he is spotted properly...
The infield is filled with returning starters.
Garrett Jones will start at first base against righthanded pitching with Gaby Sanchez platooning against lefty hurlers.This could prove to be a productive platoon as Sanchez hit well after being acquired from Miami at the trade deadline.
Neil Walker and Clint Barmes return in the middle of the diamond.
Walker offers a solid bat at second and is good for 15 homers a year.
Barmes brings a tremendous glove and a weak bat to the lineup.
Barmes is such a liability at the plate at this stage of his career that his .229 might be the highwater mark of his Pirates time.
Pedro Alvarez brings the opposite as he brings a power bat and a less than average glove.
Alvarez smacked thirty homers,but hit just.244 on the season and looks to be an all or nothing hitter,which on the Pirates is at least something.
Josh Harrison can fill in at three positions and John McDonald was added from the Diamondbacks late in the spring to offer the same.
Why the team needs two light hitting infielders to backup is more than I can figure out,but I fail to see why both of these two are needed.
Gaby Sanchez could occasionally see some spot action at third as well.
Brandon Inge will see time after he recovers from an injury that placed him on the DL.
The outfield features the budding star that is Andrew McCutchen.
The centerfielder put up MVP like numbers before a mild slippage late in the season.
McCutchen will have to have a similar season in order for the Pirates to have a chance of contention.
Starling Marte will start his first full season in left.
Marte could be McCutchen light in a year or two,which would give the Pirates quite an outfield combo with the bat and glove.
Travis Snider will be given the rightfield job,although Jose Tabata will see lots of at bats against lefties.
Both have been somewhat disappointing since being one time hot prospects,so both have plenty to prove..
The rotation has questions to be nice and gaping holes if you prefer honesty.
A.J.Burnett had his best season in years with 16 wins,but he has always been erratic and there has to be questions if he can put together a similar season for a second season in a row.
Wandy Rodriguez slots in well as the number two starter as he adds a lefty presence to the top of the rotation.
Rodriguez put his typical numbers up after being traded for from the Astros and seems a safe bet to win 10-15 games.
James McDonald was the breakout pitcher of the first half and was terrible in the second,so one must wonder about which pitcher can be counted on in the third slot.
Former Giant Jonathan Sanchez made the team as a non-roster free agent after an awful 2012 that Sanchez spent with the Royals and Rockies.
Sanchez has always had good stuff,so putting it all together would not be shocking,but it would be surprising considering his control issues.
Jeff Locke beat out Kyle McPherson for the final spot,sending McPherson back to AAA,Jeff Karstens
and free agent signee Francisco Liriano both start the season on the disabled list,so Locke and/or Sanchez could have a short stint in the rotation.
Jason Grilli will be the closer after Joel Hanrahan was traded to Boston.
Grilli had an excellent 2012,but is untested as a closer.
Mark Melancon was part of the Hanrahan trade and will share the setup role with Jared Hughes.
Tony Watson returns as the top lefty in the pen,but strong armed rookie Justin Wilson could take that role from him.
Chris LeRoux and former Indian Jeanmar Gomez will be the long men and the final pitchers on the roster....
This team looks better in spots.
Russell Martin is a major upgrade at catcher,but other than Martin,the lineup is pretty much the same.
Travis Snider or Jose Tabata could be a huge factor if either can breakthrough.
The rotation has only Wandy Rodriguez and (maybe) A.J. Burnett can be counted on.
The bullpen will need Jason Grilli to be a strong closer in his first attempt in that role.
I'm just not sure this is a team to break the string.
It's very possible and it would not surprise me to see it happen,but my best guess tells me they are just a player or two short.
Projected record 77-85
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