Pittsburgh Pirates News: Team Loses Front Office Member

After spending two years in the front office with the Pittsburgh Pirates, David Eckstein is leaving the organization

This offseason has been an offseason of change for the front office of the Pittsburgh Pirates. While it’s not the shake up fans saw last season with the hiring of new general manager Ben Cherington, there have been changes made by Cherington.

Last month, Larry Broadway was removed as the farm director for the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the organization’s professional evaluation team leader. Broadway was then replaced by John Baker, who was hired away from the Chicago Cubs.

On Saturday, another change was made to the front office. This change, however, is not one that Cherington made. Instead, it was a decision made by the front office member who is leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates – David Eckstein.

Eckstein had spent the previous two seasons as a member of the Pirate front office working as a special assistant to baseball operations. According to Alex Stumpf of DK Pittsburgh Sports, Eckstein made the decision to leave the Pirates in order to spend more time with his family.

Eckstein played 10 MLB seasons. The former middle infielder played for the then Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres. With the Cardinals, Eckstein was a two-time National League All-Star. He was also the 2006 World Series MVP with the Cardinals.

David Eckstein is the brother of Pirate hitting coach Rick Eckstein. Moving forward, Cherington will look to replace the younger Eckstein in the Pirate front office.