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Pittsburgh Pirates: Tony Wolters Getting An Extended Look
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed catcher Tony Wolters this offseason to serve as depth behind the plate, the club is giving him an extended look this Spring.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have little catching depth for the 2021 season, a trend that has existed in the organization for many years. Jacob Stallings will serve as the starter but the backup role is to be determined. Last season, the club signed Luke Maile to serve as the backup but an injury in Spring Training 2.0 led to JR Murphy getting the role.
At the start of the offseason, the Pirates claimed left-handed hitter Michael Perez off waivers, making him the favorite to be the backup in Pittsburgh in 2021. However, with Perez having an option, there’s a chance he starts the year in Indianapolis. The Pirates also signed Tony Wolters this offseason to a minor league deal, worth $1.4 million if he makes the big league club out of Spring.
Wolters has been getting an extended look this Spring, as he has big league experience over five seasons with the Colorado Rockies. Despite being just a .238/.323/.319 hitter in his career, Wolters is known for his defensive ability and leading a pitching staff. This is what Jacob Stallings is known for and what a lot of the players the Pirates have brought in at the position have been under Ben Cherington.
One reason Wolters might be getting an extended look is just from the expanded rosters, with a 26-man roster, the Pirates may look to have three catchers on their 40-man. This could allow them to be more aggressive hitting or running for a catcher over the course of the game. Additionally, coming off a 60 game season and ramping up to a 162, there’s going to be some work load management. More players are going to need days off, and brining Wolters into camp and potentially on the team will allow Jacob Stallings to remain fresh.
Related Story. Three Goals For Pirates Catchers in 2021. light
For the Pirates, getting this extended look at Wolters will help in understanding not only who the backup catcher should be in 2021, but also in terms of if the club can carry three catchers on the 26-man roster. Wolters is noted for his defense more than his hitting and can help mentor some of the younger clubs and allow Stallings to get more rest. Using this time in Spring can really help the Pirates understand the value that Wolters can bring in 2021 and if he should make the club.