Bleacher Report labels new veteran name as Pirates outfield fit

It is nearly February, and there has been no answer for the Pirates' big hole in the outfield. They have been linked to a couple of veteran options, but no move has been made to this point. With players flying off the board left and right, there are only a handful of options remaining that make sense for the team.

At the moment, the Pirates have Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz locked in the outfield for 2025. Cruz will hold down center and Reynolds played left field last year, but was one of the worst defenders in the league. He will occupy one of the corner spots that is not the primary position of whichever new addition claims a position.

With that in mind, a new prediction has opened up on the free agent market, which makes sense both in the field and at the plate.

In Bleacher Report's article covering one realistic option for each team to fill their biggest roster hole, they labeled veteran outfielder Mark Canha as someone for the Pirates to consider. There has not been any rumors connecting the two sides, which is something that could change soon, given that the fit is there.

Bleacher Report marks Mark Canha as a realistic fit for the Pirates to fill their outfield hole.

They wrote that the biggest hole on the roster was in the outfield, adding, "A veteran like Canha who can provide professional at-bats and a solid clubhouse presence would be a nice addition to finalize the starting lineup."

Last season with the Tigers and Giants, Canha put up a 102 wRC+ with an OPS of .690 and belted seven home runs. He drove in 42 runs to go along with an above-average strikeout rate of 20.8%. Some positives in his offensive game come from his plate discipline, where he produced a chase rate of just 23.6% and a whiff rate of 21.8%, both of which are solid. Additionally, Canha squared balls up at a 29.1% clip, which ranked in the 83rd percentile.

Next month he will be 36 years old, but the age has not stopped him from playing the field. He played 50 games at first base, 34 at designated hitter, 27 in left field, 16 in right field, and another at third base last season. He still brings versatility around the field, which could be very valuable to the Pirates in 2025.

Canha would not be very expensive either, so it is very possible that Bleacher Report's latest prediction comes to life. Adding a veteran slugger that hits left-handers effectively would be helpful for this outfield group, as Reynolds and Cruz are both significantly better against right-handers. Let's see if Cherington can get something done.