Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day Roster Prediction

Utility men – Diego Castillo, Josh VanMeter, Michael Chavis

The players who make up the Pirate bench along with Michael Pérez will likely be a group of utility players. This means that someone such as outfielder Bligh Madris, who has more than earned the fourth outfielder job, could be on the outside looking in.

As of this writing the best bets for the final three spots on the Pirate bench would appear to be utility men Diego Castillo, Michael Chavis, and the newly acquired Josh VanMeter. Castillo can play third base, shortstop, and second base. Chavis can play first base, second base, third base, and the corner outfield spots. Meanwhile, VanMeter can play each infield spot except shortstop, as well as left and right field.

It is hard to envision the Pittsburgh Pirates leaving Castillo off the Opening Day roster. He was acquired in the Clay Holmes trade last summer and then added to the 40-man roster this offseason to ensure he would not become a free agent.

Castillo has followed all of this up with a monster spring. He has done all he can do, and then some, to earn an Opening Day roster spot. Leaving him off the roster would be nothing short of criminal.

With VanMeter out of minor league options it was obvious when the Pittsburgh Pirates traded for him on Thursday that he would be on the Opening Day roster. Derek Shelton then told reporters on Friday that VanMeter was brought in to be on the Opening Day roster.

This leaves one bench spot. The aforementioned Madris has done more than enough to earn that spot and should get the spot if the Pirates go with a true fourth outfielder. Assuming the go the utility route, we’ll give the nod to Michael Cahvis over Hoy Park.

Chavis gets the nod due to him being a right-handed hitter on a roster flooded with left-handed hitters and switch-hitters who hit better from the left side. He also this the ball harder and is a former first-round pick by Cherington. Chavis gets the nod over Park for the final bench spot.