These Pittsburgh Pirates Could Hit 20+ Home Runs in 2016

Oct 2, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Rick Sofield (41) greets center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) after McCutchen hit a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Rick Sofield (41) greets center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) after McCutchen hit a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
3 of 8

Michael Morse, 1B

Sep 25, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Michael Morse hits a RBI single against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Michael Morse hits a RBI single against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Morse! He could very well be the Pirates opening day starter at first base. With Pedro Alvarez gone, it seems inevitable in a very Pittsburgh Pirates kind of way that we’ll be seeing a lot of Morse. He’s been slumping of late but if one harkens back to the 2011 Washington Nationals, Morse once hit 31 home runs and batted .303. His competition for the first base job is decidedly uninteresting: Jason Rogers and John Jaso.  Waiting in the wings is also Josh Bell, a highly touted prospect that is a candidate to play first base for the Pirates beyond 2016 when Morse will most likely be gone.

Prediction:  Morse is the opening day first baseman for the Pirates and swats 20+ home tuns in 2016.

Schedule