Pittsburgh Pirates: How to Utilize Connor Joe to Help Answer First Base Question

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.