One realistic remaining free agent at each position for the Pirates to pursue

Third Base - Gio Urshela

Gio Urshela will be looking to rebound after missing a good chunk of 2023. The infielder only had 228 plate appearances, batting an uninspiring .299/.329/.374. Urshela got some hits but few XBH. His isolated slugging percentage was below .100 at .075. While Urshela only struck out 15.8% of the time, he also rarely drew a walk with a 4.5% BB%.

2023 wasn’t a great year for Urshela, but he had a strong stretch of seasons from 2019 through 2022, where he batted .290/.336/.463 with a .340 wOBA and 119 wRC+. Urshela had a worse K% throughout these four seasons at 19.3%, but he also walked slightly more frequently with a 6.3% walk rate. Plus, he hit for average to above-average pop as his ISO clocked in at .173.

He has always gotten mixed reviews for his defense at third base, with +10 career DRS but -18 OAA. Urshela has experience at all four infield positions. He saw 150.2 innings across the diamond at first base, where he graded out as an average defender, and he’s also logged innings here and there at both second base and shortstop.

Urshela will likely look to sign a rebound contract. I don’t see how he would be a fit on the Pirates, given that he wouldn’t overtake Hayes or Triolo at third base or Rowdy Tellez or Connor Joe at first base. But, like with Solano, a trade could open up the possibility of the Pirates pursuing another utility infielder.