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Spring training battles to watch for the Pittsburgh Pirates
By Marty Leap
Final two spots in the starting rotation
Although the Pittsburgh Pirates have added Marco Gonzales and Martín Pérez this offseason, their starting rotation is still filled with question marks. Behind those two additions and Mitch Keller, the Pirate starting rotation is filled with question marks.
Roansy Contreras, Bailey Falter, Quinn Priester, and Luis Ortiz will compete for the final two spots in the starting rotation. A trio of veterans added via minor league deals, could compete for a rotation spot as well. However, it seems unlikely that any of Wily Peralta, Brent Honeywell, or Connor Sadzeck will crack the Opening Day roster.
How things shake out at the back of Pirate starting rotation could hinge on performance this spring. That said, Contreras and Falter are both out of minor league options, which should work in their favor in terms of cracking the Opening Day roster, even if one or both of them start the season in the Pirate bullpen.
There is a possibility the Pirates view Priester as a pitcher who has maxed out his staff, leaving him with little room to grow in the minors. If that is the case, Priester could earn a spot in the rotation as Pirate brass may believe it's time to see what they have in Priester. This is likely the opposite of Ortiz who flashed plus stuff in 2022, and the Pirates may want him to work toward recapturing that stuff at Triple-A to start the season.
Prediction: Roansy Contreras, Quinn Priester