News: The World Series is over and the Chicago Cubs are the MLB Champions. With that the off-season has officially begun. The Pittsburgh Pirates will make plenty of moves over the next couple months.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have already started making some roster moves. Today it was announced the Pittsburgh Pirates out-righted three players from their roster. The first player they out-righted was defensive specialist Pedro Florimon. Florimon has elected free agency. The second player is lefty reliever Zach Phillips. Phillips will head to the Triple-A roster. Lastly, the Bucs out-righted catching prospect Jacob Stallings. Stallings will also head to the Triple-A roster for now. Due to being out-righted Phillips and Stallings will go through waivers, but likely will not be claimed.
First Florimon
Now none of these players are overly significant, but still they are all notable. Each player made contribution to the Pittsburgh Pirates this past season. Florimon has spent multiple season with the Pirates. He was cut last year in the off-season and ended up back with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization anyhow. With Hanson and Frazier pushing for major league roster spots it is likely that Florimon could be back on a minor league deal. Florimon appeared in 18 games for the Bucs down the stretch. He batted a weak .208 with a .573 OPS. In his 20.2 innings at shortstop he did play well defensively grading a 40.2 UZR/150. Florimon has never been an offensive threat, but he a very good fielder and would be decent minor league depth.
Next Phillips
Zach Phillips was picked up late in the season in a minor trade that sent pitcher Kyle Lobtstein to Baltimore. Phillips pitched well for the Bucs and will likely battle for a spot in the bullpen this coming Spring. The left-handed pitcher appeared in eight games for the Bucs at the end of the season. He was very impressive posting a 2.70 earned run average along with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched. Phillips will be a nice depth piece for the bullpen if he stays with the organization for the 2017 season.
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Finally Stallings
Jacob Stallings is a little bit different of a situation when compared to the other two. Entering the season Stallings was still considered a prospect. Stallings, is most notable not because of his play, but really because he is new Pitt basketball coach Kevin Stallings’ son. Jacob Stallings did receive a cup of tea this year in the majors. He appeared in five games for the Bucs this season. Although he was DFA’d mid-season but remained in the organization. In his five games he he had 15 plate appearances and collected six hits for an average of .400.
Chances are Stallings will remain with the organization being he went unclaimed earlier this season. There is most likely not a lot of interest in a catcher who has a career .671 OPS in the minors. However, with all the injuries the Bucs sustained at catcher he could also be nice depth to have at Triple-A next season.
Next: Kang an Extension Canindate
All three players made contributions to the Pittsburgh Pirates this past season. Phillips was the most impressive of the three and likely has the best shot at making the club next season. The other two will definitely be in Triple-A if they are Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017. These were the first moves of many this off-season. Also there will be some major moves and some minors moves, regardless expect a lot of roster shuffling before free agency season starts up.
Also stats from Baseball Reference
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