Pittsburgh Pirates: Minor League Free Agents Who Could Help With Depth

The Pittsburgh Pirates could sign these minor league free agents as depth additions to their system.

Jun 17, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher James Kaprielian (32) throws a
Jun 17, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher James Kaprielian (32) throws a | Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
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Yonathan Perlaza

This idea comes from Baseball America’s recent article. Yonathan Perlaza was a prospect in the Chicago Cubs’ system. The outfielder has gotten increasingly better at each level of the minor leagues. While he has played in some hitter friendly environments, Perlaza could be a steal on a minor league contract.

Last season for the Cubs’ Triple-A team, Perlaza batted .284/.389/.534 with a .365 wOBA, and 130 wRC+. Perlaza had a respectable 21.9% strikeout rate, but also walked at an outstanding 14% rate. While he isn’t known for his big raw power, Perlaza still went yard 23 times with a .249 ISO. This marks the second season in a row he’s hit 23 home runs with an ISO above .235.

Originally an infielder, Perlaza transitioned to the outfield in 2021 where he has played since. If he could play center field, the Cubs may have called him up this season. But Perlaza is a left field/DH only guy. It basically means he has to hit to be productive. At 5’9” and 165 pounds, Perlaza does not have much raw power. But to his credit, his OPS has gone up every year since 2021.

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