The Major League Baseball offseason is a very lengthy time of year. Over the long winter months, teams are provided with an ideal opportunity to make moves that could put their organization ahead of the rest.
As teams at the top of the National League Central have made some key acquisitions this offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates have remained somewhat quiet up to this point. Though some may be upset at this fact, there are reasons for Pirates fans to remain optimistic by understanding the process and avoiding panic.
5.) Neal Huntington staying cautious
When Pedro Alvarez was drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008, expectations were high for the former Vanderbilt standout. He was a player who hit .349 with 49 home runs and 162 RBI in three seasons with the Commodores. He was regarded as a player who had many tools and, to many, was considered a “can’t miss” prospect. By 2010, Alvarez was in the big leagues. He hit .256 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs in 95 games following his promotion to the Pirates. Despite injury issues and some time in the minors in 2011, Alvarez would spend 2012-2015 back in the bigs. Though his power numbers were impressive, Alvarez never completely lived up to the hype that surrounded him out of college. His .236 average as a Pirate and his lack of defensive stability caused the organization to make the decision not to bring the 28-year old infielder back for the 2016 season. However, Pirates’ general manager Neal Huntington also took some of the blame for the inconsistency Alvarez had throughout his time with the club. Huntington recently told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “My mistake was bringing him to the big leagues before he was ready. That was my mistake. In hindsight, giving him additional time in the minors probably would have been very beneficial. Things might have been different.” The point of me talking about the Pedro situation isn’t to upset Pirate fans. My intentions are strictly to point out why Huntington may be a little more cautious when making a long-term commitment to a player. Huntington believed that Alvarez could be a franchise player and things just didn’t work out. The fact that Huntington took initiative and took some blame proves that he doesn’t want this type of mistake to happen again with another player in the future, even an established free agent signee.
4.) Acquiring high profile stars doesn’t always equal success
In my mind, the Pirates had the most underrated offseason in baseball last year. No one noticed at first, even carrying an abundance of questions into the regular season. Francisco Cervelli‘s ability to replace Russell Martin, Jung Ho Kang‘s ability to adapt to Major League Baseball, and Sean Rodriguez‘s ability to be a quality, versatile bench option were among those questions. All three of those were answered and all three players helped the club in various ways in 2015. Cervelli and Kang, despite the latter’s season-ending injury, had all-star caliber years and Rodriguez, though shaky at times at the plate, provided a solid defensive option off the bench. My point here is you never truly know what you have until you see players compete on the field. Yes, I agree that voids need to be filled. Huntington has not acquired top notch players this offseason, but acquiring the best player available does not always guarantee regular season or postseason success. Ask the San Diego Padres, who acquired high profile stars including Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, and Craig Kimbrel last offseason, and finished the year without a postseason appearance or a winning record. They had heavy expectations going into 2015, but just couldn’t put the best team together to find success.
3.) Ray Searage knows what he’s doing
Francisco Liriano, J.A. Happ, Edinson Volquez, and A.J. Burnett all have one thing in common: they are all examples of Ray Searage reclamation projects. One of the biggest stories of the Pirates’ offseason has been the acquisition of starting pitcher Jon Niese from the New York Mets in exchange for beloved second baseman Neil Walker. Niese, a former seventh round draft pick, has had an up and down career, posting a 61-61 record with a 3.91 ERA over eight major league seasons. Though many were upset in regards to the newest addition, Niese is going to a team that has turned careers around in the past few years. With the help of Jim Benedict, Pirates’ pitching coach Ray Searage has worked wonders for various pitchers, identifying weaknesses and determining how players can improve on the mound. Niese may not be the best option at the moment to be the Pirates’ number three starter, but if there is anyone who can help him turn things around and succeed, it is Searage.
2.) This roster is loaded with talent
Despite the departures of Walker, Alvarez, and Happ, the Pirates do still have a good ball club capable of competing in the tough NL Central. With Andrew McCutchen in center field, Gold Glove winner Starling Marte in left, and Gregory Polanco in right, the Pirates have one of the best outfields in the league. McCutchen is a legitimate MVP candidate every year and Marte has established himself as a threat both offensively and defensively. Even Polanco improved, making adjustments in his game that have helped him get better, especially offensively, over the past two seasons. Josh Harrison, Jordy Mercer, and a healthy Jung Ho Kang provide solid infield options and Cervelli has solidified himself as the undisputed starting backstop. Despite the questions surrounding the pitching staff, you can’t forget that the Pirates have a legitimate ace in Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation and a solid number two starter in Francisco Liriano. There are holes to be filled at the back end, but there shouldn’t be worries at the top of the rotation. There are plenty of voids to fill on the Pirates roster. I am not denying that. At this point in time, another starter is needed, more bullpen help wouldn’t hurt, and a new everyday first baseman is a priority. However, these needs should not diminish the talent that still remains on the team.
1.) IT’S DECEMBER
The last few seasons have been disappointing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I understand that. It’s okay for fans to feel upset at the fact that this team has been one of the best regular season teams over the last three years, but each season has ended in three consecutive early exits. However, there’s no reason to panic and say the season is over when Spring Training hasn’t even begun yet. Crazy things happen in the game of baseball. The 2002 Oakland Athletics and the 2004 Boston Red Sox have proven that anything can happen. There are voids to fill and a long way to go until first pitch on Opening Day, but fans shouldn’t lose hope. Enjoy the holiday season and enjoy the month of December (even though it’s not snowing) and don’t give up on the season before it even begins.
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