Pirates should invest in this rebound candidate at shortstop in 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates enter the offseason with a hole at shortstop after moving Oneil Cruz to center field. Their starter for the remainder of the 2024 season after the position change was Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who showed he was incapable of handling an everyday role due to his offensive struggles.

With the group the Pirates have now, it would be difficult to find a consistent group of middle infielders to manage on the roster. GM Ben Cherington must go find another shortstop this offseason, but the options are not ideal.

Jorge Polanco is an interesting candidate that comes to mind for a potential addition at shortstop. Although he has a club option remaining with the Seattle Mariners, there is a realistic chance that it gets declined, making him a free agent. In the event that Polanco hits the market, the Pirates should jump on him.

The Pirates should look at signing rebound candidate Jorge Polanco if the Mariners decline his option

Polanco had a down year in 2024, which was his first season away from the Minnesota Twins. Last season, Polanco hit .213 with 16 home runs and drove in 45 runs. He also posted an OPS of .651 and a wRC+ of 92. His strikeout percentage was a career high at 29.2%.

A knee injury was a factor in Polanco struggling in 2024. He underwent surgery this offseason, but is reportedly expected to be ready for Spring Training. The 2024 season was a very poor year for him, but the past is what the Pirates should be after. In 2021, Polanco had an fWAR of 4.0, which was built upon from his impressive 124 wRC+ and 33 home runs. His OPS was also at .826 and he drove in 98 runs.

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Polanco took a step back, but was still an above average player. He battled injuries, but hit 30 home runs with a wRC+ of 118 and an OPS of .770.

Overall, Polanco appears to be a solid candidate for the Pirates to improve their offensive production from the shortstop position. He still has an option for 2025, but it is not guaranteed that Seattle will keep him. If he hits the market, the Pirates should invest in this rebound candidate.

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