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Pittsburgh Pirates: How to Utilize Connor Joe to Help Answer First Base Question
How Connor Joe can be utilized to help the Pirates answer their first base question
First base remains a question mark for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but utilizing Connor Joe properly could help the Pirates answer that question
While starting pitching remains the biggest need that the Pittsburgh Pirates need to address this offseason, first base is a major question mark as well. Right now, the Pirates do not have a player on the 40-man roster or in the upper minors capable of being an everyday first baseman at the Major League level.
However, there is a player on the 40-man roster who can help answer the first base question. To do that though, that player would need to be utilized properly by the Pirates in 2024. That player is Connor Joe.
Overall, Joe hit .247/.339/.421 with a 107 wRC+ and OPS+ in a career high 472 plate appearances last season. Joe drew walks at a 10.6% rate, struck out in 23.3% of his trips to the plate, and had the best power season of his career hitting a career high 11 home runs and 46 extra base hits, while also posting a .174 isolated slugging (ISO).
All in all, it was a strong overall season for Joe. In addition to being an above league average hitter, he posted a career best 1.9 fWAR. However, he really made hay against left-handed pitching. This is something the Pirates could look to capitalize on in 2024.
Again left-handed pitching last season, Joe hit .265/.365/.452 with an 11.4% walk rate, 20.7% strikeout rate, and a .187 ISO. He posted a 122 wRC+ against lefties, and these results came in 193 PAs.
Hitting left-handed pitching well is nothing new to Joe. In 435 career PAs against left-handed pitchers, Joe has hit for a .261/.355/.429 slash line with a 109 wRC+ and a .168 ISO. He owns a 21.5% line drive rate and a 33.1% hard-hit rate against lefties.
How Joe can help answer first base question
How can Joe help answer the first base question for the Pirates? By being utilized as a platoon player at first base. As an everyday player Joe is not going to give a team the production they're looking for offensively, but if paired with a platoon partner at first base Joe could be part of a strong first base situation.
If the Pirates look to go the platoon route with Joe as the rihgt-handed portion of it at first base, fixing the position becomes easier. It allows the Pirates to pursue a left-handed hitter who hits right-handed pitching well, and that is always going to be easier to find than an everyday player.
Additionally, looking to add a platoon partner for Joe would also be a cheaper route for the Pirates to go than adding an everyday player. This would give the Pirates more money to spend on starting pitching and is something they appear to be weighing based on comments/reporting from Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about a potential reunion with Carlos Santana.
So, who could fit as a platoon partner for Joe? Rowdy Tellez still comes to mind. The ex-Brewer and Blue Jay has ties to Ben Cherington from his time in Toronto, has tremendous career numbers at PNC Park, and likely would not be super expensive. You can read more about that potential fit here.
Veteran Brandon Belt would fit the mold as well as a potential platoon partner for Joe. Belt would also bring strong first base defense and be a great clubhouse leader. Dominic Smith and maybe even a reunion with Ji Man Choi could fit the bill as well.
Regardless of what the Pirates decide to do, they must address first base in some fashion this offseason. The easiest, msot cost efficient way to do this may be to find a platoon partner for Connor Joe.
lots of work still. The Pirates Still Have Plenty of Work to do This Offseason. dark. Next