What are the ripple effects from the David Freese extension?

David Freese was inked to an extension yesterday. What will this mean for Freese and the team around him in the future?

 

Yesterday, the Pirates signed David Freese to a two-year extension with a club option for 2019. The immediate reaction among fans and experts was of mass approval of the deal for a multitude of reasons. First, it gives the Pirates depth both at third base and at first. Second, Freese becomes an insurance policy for next season, both for Jung Ho Kang, depending on how the allegations against him pan out, and for Josh Bell, in case his poor defense at first makes him unplayable there.

The financial terms of the deal seem very reasonable if Freese continues to be a productive player. Based on his play throughout his career, this shouldn’t be an issue unless age catches up with him or unless he suffers a serious injury. Freese also expressed his love for this team, and he’s a very well-liked player in the clubhouse. At first glance, this seems to be a very good deal all the way around.

The only issue becomes where do you play him? What is his role with the team moving forward into next year, and what does this extension mean for the players around him? Yes, this deal could have plenty of ripple effects.

A Bench Bat?

The most likely turn of events upcoming from this deal is the status quo, if both Kang and Bell start the year on the big league club in 2017. Freese will likely become a bench bat for next season, with Kang starting at third and Bell starting at first. Freese will get spot starts, but Bell is a switch hitter, so the Pirates don’t necessarily need to platoon him at first. At worst, the Pirates will have a phenomenal part time bat in Freese for next season.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]I don’t see the Pirates selling low on McCutchen[/perfectpullquote]

As a part of this, it’s all but likely that John Jaso is on his way out. The Pirates don’t need four guys that only play the corner infield spots, and another that can do that when needed in Sean Rodriguez. Jaso could be gone before the waiver deadline at the end of this month, but if he’s not, he’s almost assuredly going to be traded in the off-season.

Now this is the most likely scenario, but it’s not the only one. The $6.25 million the Pirates will be spending on David Freese next season will be the most the Pirates have spent on a bench bat since at least 2011 (the furthest Spotrac data goes back), adding intrigue to the matter. Could a Pirate be traded to make room for Freese as a starter?

Trade Routes

The Pirates aren’t trading Bell, so let’s nix that now. High-ceiling prospects are too valuable to a small market team to give up on just because you don’t have an immediate position for him. The Pirates will make one for Bell. But if he can’t work out at first, could the team move him back to his natural position in right field? This would require a trade of Andrew McCutchen in the off-season, which isn’t as crazy now as it might have seemed at the beginning of the year. Starling Marte would move to center, Gregory Polanco would move to left, and Bell would go to right. Freese would start at first and Kang would stay at third. The bench could also be strengthened depending on what the return would be for McCutchen.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]Freese will get spot starts, but Bell is a switch hitter, so the Pirates don’t necessarily need to platoon him at first[/perfectpullquote]

But I find this move unlikely. I don’t see the Pirates selling low on McCutchen, and Austin Meadows is still waiting in the wings as the next Pirates uber-prospect. Where would Meadows then play?

Another possibility would be to trade Kang. Then Freese could play third, and the rest of the positions would remain in tact. I’m not sure the return the Pirates would get for Kang, and the allegations against him and ongoing investigation certainly lower his value. I think the only way the Pirates trade Kang is if the allegations result in punishment for Kang, not if the allegations turn out to be false or if charges aren’t filed. And who would want Kang then? Thus, it almost seems like a Catch-22. Maybe Kang would get released if  he receives some sort of punishment, but for now, until his situation reaches its conclusion, we have to assume Kang is coming back next season and the Pirates aren’t going to give up on him. He’s had a decent year at the plate, so I don’t think his performance on the field warrants moving on from him.

Mercer the Odd Man Out?

One other idea would be to move Jordy Mercer and shift Kang to short. This would be relying on an offensive approach, as Kang and Freese make a more potent offense than Kang and Mercer. However, it’s also important to note that Kang’s defense has never been terrible at short, contrary to popular belief. But this move would also be unlikely, as a quality return for Mercer is far from a sure thing and it would weaken the bench.

In the end, Freese will probably return as a bench bat next season, and I’m sure he understood that before he signed the extension. He just seems happy to be apart of a winning organization, and however he can contribute is probably fine with him. Having Freese as an insurance policy for Kang and Bell and as a bench bat is a huge luxury for the Pirates, and one that will make them a better team than not having him at the beginning of next season.

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Featured Photo Credit – Scott U – Flickr Creative Commons