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Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Shortstop Options For 2021
One question the Pittsburgh Pirates will need to answer this offseason is who will play shortstop for the team in 2021. Who are some potential options to play shortstop for the Bucs in 2021?
The Pittsburgh Pirates will have a lot of questions to answer this offseason. What will they do with their arbitration eligbile players? Which players on the trading block will be moved? Which, if any, free agents will be pursued?
Another question the Pittsburgh Pirates will need to answer pertains to the shortstop position. Who will be the team’s shortstop in 2021? Today, we will examine some potential shortstop options for the Pirates in 2021. We will start with the player who logged more games at shortstop than anyone else for the Pirates in 2020.
Erik Gonzalez
During the 2020 season, Erik Gonzalez played in 50 games at shortstop and logged 308.2 innings at the position. Both of these led the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates.
After starting the season hot at the plate, it appeared Gonzalez might be having a breakout season. Unfortunately, this would not prove to be the case. He struggled down the stretch and finished the abbreviated 60-game season with a .227/.255/.359 slash line and a wRC+ of 62.
In the end, it was a typical well below league average offensive season for Gonzalez. Despite his defensive struggles, he continued to be a plus defender at shortstop. Gonzalez finished the season with a +3 Outs Above Average.
While Gonzalez played more shortstop than any other player for the Pirates in 2020, with his offensive woes he is no way locked in to be the shortstop in 2021. In fact, it would not be a stunner if Gonzalez was non-tendered this offseason.
Kevin Newman
During the 2019 season Kevin Newman appeared to be emerging as the long-term answer at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. While he struggled defensively at the position, his .308/.353/.446 slash line and 110 wRC+ more than made up for it.
Unfortunately, Newman’s offense did not appear to be sustainable. This was due to his exit velocity and hard hit rate in 2019 both being in the bottom 5% of MLB. Well, this caught up to Newman in 2020 when his offense slumped to a .224/.281/.276 slash line and a wRC+ of 54.
Now, Newman is a better hitter than he showed in 2020. Is he as good as he hit for in 2019? Probably not. However, he is certainly better than he showed in 2020.
The issue for Newman at shortstop is his defense. Newmans has a lifetime -13 Defensive Runs Saved and -12 OAA. These numbers put him among the worst defensive shortstops in baseball. Odds are, Newman will only be the shortstop to begin 2021 if Adam Frazier is not traded, no other shortstop options are added and no one else steps. The smart money would be on Frazier getting traded and Newman opening up 2021 as Pittsburgh’s second baseman.
Cole Tucker
In the first-round of the 2014 MLB Draft the Pittsburgh Pirates selected shortstop Cole Tucker. While Tucker spent the majority of the 2020 season in the outfield, with his lone non-outfield innings coming at second base, a return to the infield seems likely for 2021. General manager Ben Cherington has even said as much.
Tucker might be the most defensively gifted shortstop in the entire Pirate organization. The problem with Tucker is his offense. He is just a lifetime .215/.260/.324 hitter with a wRC+ of 53. This includes a lifetime 85.8 MPH exite velocity, which is nearly 3 MPH below league average.
So, not only has Tucker struggled offensively, but there has not been much of a sign for optimism with his bat, either. His 5.5% walk rate is below league average, and his 25.8% strikeout rate is abvoe league average. So, those numbers are not promising, either.
Now, all of that said, Tucker’s results have come in just 275 MLB plate appearances. Outside of late April/early May 2019, when Tucker not MLB ready but was forced into duty due to injuries, he has never received regular playing time.
Could we see Tucker at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day? As a wise man once said, time will tell.
Other Options
As you have likely come to realize from reading the first three slides of this article, the internal shortstop options for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021 are not great. Well, at least until Oneil Cruz reaches the Major League level. However, there is no guarantee that Cruz reaches the Majors in 2021, nor is it a guarantee that he sticks at shortstop.
The Pittsburgh Pirates could look to the free agent market for shortstop help. A veteran stop gap such as Freddy Galvis or Jonathan Villar could make sense, especially if they are not confident in Gonzalez, Newman or Tucker at shortstop.
Honestly, it might behoove the Pirates to give Tucker an extended look to decide once and for all if he can be the shortstop of the future or not. And, again, what they do at shortstop could hinge on what happens with Frazier.
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It would be a surprise if Frazier is not traded this offseason. But if he is not, that could push Newman to shortstop. Unless, the Pirates believe he is best suited as a utility man. Regardless, what to do at shortstop is a question that Cherington, Derek Shelton, and the rest of the Pirat brain trust will have to answer this offseason.