Pittsburgh Pirates: Expectations For 2021 Starting Lineup

As the Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their offseason moves we will take an early look at what should be a pretty set in stone starting lineup. What will these players be looking to achieve in the rebuilding season?

EVen after the trade of Josh Bell, combined with the likely impending trade of Adam Frazier, the Pittsburgh Pirates will enter the 2021 season with a pretty predictable starting lineup. Unsurprisingly, this lineup will consist of mostly young, unproven players that will look to establish themselves as MLB regulars.

Let’s take a look at the predicted lineup and see what my expectations are for each player entering 2021. Assuming Frazier is traded before Opening Day, the Pirate starting lineup, agaisnt right-handed pitchers at least, should be similar to the following:

Kevin Newman
Ke’Bryan Hayes
Bryan Reynolds
Colin Moran
Gregory Polanco
Jacob Stallings
Cole Tucker
Anthony Alford/Jared Olivia
Pitcher

The leadoff spot is probably the most “up in the air spot” in the Pirate starting lineup entering 2021. In a short 2020 season the Pittsburgh Pirates used multiple players in the leadoff spot, with Erik Gonzalez drawing the majority of the starts (20 games). Even though Gonzalez found short stretches of success, his .241 batting average and two stolen bases over those 20 games, as well as his career numbers, should result in him playing a bench/utility role in 2021.

Instead of Gonzalez, the Pittsburgh Pirates will most likely try to re-discover the Newman of 2019 who hit .328 over 75 games from the leadoff spot. Adding to my confidence in this assumption is Newman’s contract status. Newman is under contract through 2024 (two more years than Gonzalez), making him an important player for general manager Ben Cherington and his staff to evaluate.

Since the Pittsburgh Pirates will need to figure out if Newman has any trade value, is worth signing, or is a DFA candidate, they will give him every opportunity to succeed in 2021. My goal for Newman is that he puts together a solid offensive year where he increases his ISO and hard contact rate. Whether this leads to him being traded to a contender or locking down a more consistent role with the Pirates is still unclear.

As the Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their offseason moves we will take an early look at what should be a pretty set in stone starting lineup. What will these players be looking to achieve in the rebuilding season?

Schedule