The best part of any off season.
The Pirates have a lot of needs this off season and plenty of targets to go after. Of course, they have a bevy of free agents themselves they need to think long and hard about before keeping them (I'm looking at you Frankie). Here's a short list of Top 10 Free Agents that fit the Pirates needs.
Also, this list takes into consideration that the Pirates are not able to outspend pretty much anyone when it comes to salaries.
#10: Emilio Bonifacio - 2B
On the not so off chance that Neil Walker does not stay in Pittsburgh (an option that will become increasingly more likely if #1 on this list is signed) then the Pirates will have to look for another option at second base. Sadly, I have no faith in Pedro Alvarez being able to reclaim his place at third base, meaning that Josh Harrison will have to stay there and not slide over to a possibly departing Neil's spot. Which means there is really no in house option, at least for another 2-3 years. Bonifiacio, who you might remember who hit .700 against the Pirates in their opening series against the Cubs last season, is a reliable player who has fits any lineup nicely. His numbers are not staggering - you can only expect a .250-.270 hitter during a good year and maybe 5-7 HRs. He would be a downgrade over Walker, a pretty significant one, but in terms of bang for your buck second basemen, Bonifacio is one of the best available.
#9: Justin Masterson - SP-RH
Oh Justin Masterson. I've saw Masterson show flashes of brilliance during his time in Cleveland. The guy eats innings. He's a 3/4 starter, not an ace by any stretch. If he's having a good season, he'll probably have around a 3-3:50 ERA. That being said, if he can stay healthy he can, like I said, eat innings like no other pitcher in the MLB. Pirates starting pitchers last year often had a problem of not going late into games, wearing down the bullpen which defiantly started to show later in the season. Masterson had a terrible season last year, both in Cleveland and especially in St. Louis. Perfect. Just the kind candidate Ray Searage specializes in - older pitchers who have lost their way. There's plenty of upside to Masterson...but also plenty of risk. That being said, there was even more risk with Edison Volquez last year and look how that turned out.
RAY SEARAGE MAGIC POWERS ACTIVATE!
#8: Josh Johnson - RP-RH
Two seasons ago, Josh Johnson was the best closer in baseball, leading the league in saves with 51 for the Baltimore Orioles. Clearly the Orioles saw a storm coming because that's exactly what happened with Johnson last season in Oakland. It was so bad in fact, that Josh was chased out of Oakland and eventually signed a minor league deal with Detroit - but never actually made it back to the majors after being dropped by the As. This is all good for the Pirates. When Josh Johnson is healthy, he's in the Top 10 relievers in baseball. When he's not, he's really really really really bad. (Think Ernesto Frieri but with much more upside). Due to his putrid last season, he'll come cheap for the Pirates....with the hope that Jedi Master Searage can work his Jedi powers on him and turn him into the guy who saved 50+ games for the Orioles two seasons ago.
#7: Jason Hammel - SP-RH
Ray Searage. Project. Lots of upside. Lots of risk. Seeing a pattern here? Hammel was one of the best pitchers in the league last year before his trade to the As about a month before the trade deadline. And that's when the wheels fell out. It's clear that Hammel prefers pitching in the NL and a switch back will be a very welcome reunion between Hammel and which ever team signs him. Hammel is still relatively young for a pitcher for what you can get him for. If he can keep that form he had at the beginning of last year for just 3/4 of a season, he'll be well worth the price of a contract.
#6: Brett Anderson - SP-LH
The biggest wild card in the free agent market this off season, Anderson is a fireball throwing southpaw who I'm sure couldn't be happier that he no longer has to pitch in the ERA black hole that is Coors Field. With so much upside I think Anderson could be the big steal of this free agency period. The guy has never pitched anywhere else in Colorado. I can guarantee that no matter where he goes his ERA will plummet compared to any of his seasons in Colorado because black hole.
#5: Tom Gorzelanny - LHP
I've always liked Gorzy. Now that he's a free agent, despite his struggle against lefties last year (which was an exception in his career, not a norm) I think he has plenty left in the tank for a bullpen that desperately needs to fill the void between the starter and closer. If key here is if he can stay healthy. If he can I feel like he can be a huge piece to any bullpen, which will hopefully be the Pirates.
#4: Michael Morse - 1B
Right now, first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates is an empty shell. A black hole where careers go to die and batting averages go to plummet. Ike Davis needs to go and Gabby Sanchez only deserves to stay around as a bench player at best. Right now, the starting first baseman for the Pirates would be the epic crapstorm of last season - former third baseman Pedro Alvarez. Projecting how he will do is almost impossible. Will we get the Pedro who took the NL home run crown two seasons ago, or the one last season who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. Or throw a ball to first base. I have no idea. Enter Michael Morse. Morse started last year on fire, hitting his 10 of his 16 home runs in the first 2 months of the season. Then he dropped off a cliff, which could have had something to do with injures he sustained during the season. Morse is a much better hitter than Pedro, average wise (is anyone worse?) and his power has right handed bat would complement Pedro's left handed power very nicely. I'm not exactly sure what his market price will be due to his terrible second half - but power is always a highly sought after piece for any team. And power is something Morse has defiantly shown he has.
#4: Michael Morse - 1B
Right now, first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates is an empty shell. A black hole where careers go to die and batting averages go to plummet. Ike Davis needs to go and Gabby Sanchez only deserves to stay around as a bench player at best. Right now, the starting first baseman for the Pirates would be the epic crapstorm of last season - former third baseman Pedro Alvarez. Projecting how he will do is almost impossible. Will we get the Pedro who took the NL home run crown two seasons ago, or the one last season who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. Or throw a ball to first base. I have no idea. Enter Michael Morse. Morse started last year on fire, hitting his 10 of his 16 home runs in the first 2 months of the season. Then he dropped off a cliff, which could have had something to do with injures he sustained during the season. Morse is a much better hitter than Pedro, average wise (is anyone worse?) and his power has right handed bat would complement Pedro's left handed power very nicely. I'm not exactly sure what his market price will be due to his terrible second half - but power is always a highly sought after piece for any team. And power is something Morse has defiantly shown he has.
#3: Like Gregerson -RHP
The one two punch of Gregerson/Doolittle in Oakland was a pretty formidable combo. Doolittle got all the saves, and therefore all the recognition. Set up guys never get too much time in the spotlight. Which is good for the Pirates because Gregerson has the stuff to be one of the best set up men in baseball - or one of the best closers, which ever one the Pirates need more. The best thing about Gregerson is his consistency. You can put him out there and you know exactly what you're going to get night in and night out, a top tier reliever with a low to mid 2 ERA. Much of this depends on the Pirates decision to retain current closer Mark Melancon, who has been pretty consistently great in his own regard since joining the Pirate. That being said, a the combo of the two of them would be pretty hard to stop. And a four punch combo of Holdzkrom, Watson, Gregerson and Melancon......that would be just terrifying.
#2: Brandon McCarthy
After being traded to the Yankees, McCarthy was simply one of the best pitchers in baseball last year. His strikeout/walk ratio was excellent, he gives up very few home runs (only 25 last year) and is a ground ball machine. The risk you take is, which Brandom McCarthy do you get. The one who was absolutely terrible for the Diamondbacks with an ERA over 5, or the one for the Yankees with and ERA under 2.5. The last couple players the Pirates pilfered form the Yankees have done very well, Russell Martin being the prime example. McCarthy will be a little more expensive than all the other pitchers on this list and stands to reason that the Pirates might not be able to afford him - but if they can he can be a great piece to a rather underwhelming starting rotation.
#1: Russell Martin
He's been the second most important player on the Pirates the past two seasons next to Andrew McCutchen. You could argue that he's even more important. He can hit. He has power. He's the best in the the majors at stopping the running game. He's a great veteran presence in the locker room and he handles a pitching staff better than any other catcher in baseball. He's the most important piece for the Pirates to go after this off season and they need to throw as much money at him as possible in the hopes that he stays. Because the next best catcher on the market is Geovany Soto...who may as well be Rod Barajas compared to Martin.
The one two punch of Gregerson/Doolittle in Oakland was a pretty formidable combo. Doolittle got all the saves, and therefore all the recognition. Set up guys never get too much time in the spotlight. Which is good for the Pirates because Gregerson has the stuff to be one of the best set up men in baseball - or one of the best closers, which ever one the Pirates need more. The best thing about Gregerson is his consistency. You can put him out there and you know exactly what you're going to get night in and night out, a top tier reliever with a low to mid 2 ERA. Much of this depends on the Pirates decision to retain current closer Mark Melancon, who has been pretty consistently great in his own regard since joining the Pirate. That being said, a the combo of the two of them would be pretty hard to stop. And a four punch combo of Holdzkrom, Watson, Gregerson and Melancon......that would be just terrifying.
#2: Brandon McCarthy
After being traded to the Yankees, McCarthy was simply one of the best pitchers in baseball last year. His strikeout/walk ratio was excellent, he gives up very few home runs (only 25 last year) and is a ground ball machine. The risk you take is, which Brandom McCarthy do you get. The one who was absolutely terrible for the Diamondbacks with an ERA over 5, or the one for the Yankees with and ERA under 2.5. The last couple players the Pirates pilfered form the Yankees have done very well, Russell Martin being the prime example. McCarthy will be a little more expensive than all the other pitchers on this list and stands to reason that the Pirates might not be able to afford him - but if they can he can be a great piece to a rather underwhelming starting rotation.
#1: Russell Martin
He's been the second most important player on the Pirates the past two seasons next to Andrew McCutchen. You could argue that he's even more important. He can hit. He has power. He's the best in the the majors at stopping the running game. He's a great veteran presence in the locker room and he handles a pitching staff better than any other catcher in baseball. He's the most important piece for the Pirates to go after this off season and they need to throw as much money at him as possible in the hopes that he stays. Because the next best catcher on the market is Geovany Soto...who may as well be Rod Barajas compared to Martin.
