Internal options in right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates have some internal options for the right field position after clearing out a few names from the 2023 team.
Right field was an already obvious area that needed to be upgraded, but the Pittsburgh Pirates went ahead and made that clear by getting rid of two players with some of the most playing time there.
Bryan De La Cruz (330.2 innings) and Connor Joe (315.1) were non-tendered by the Pirates on Friday, making them free agents. They had the first and third most innings in right field this past season.
Second on the list, Edward Olivares, was outrighted to Indianapolis during the season and is now a free agent.
Bryan Reynolds and Joshua Palacios are the next two on the list that remain on the 40-man roster.
So, while the ideal scenario would be to reach for a free agent to fill the hole open in right field, that may not be in the cards currently unless it’s through a trade.
Robert Murray mentioned that he doesn’t believe the Pirates are not going to be working with a lot of ‘financial flexibility’ this offseason (around the 22-minute mark), so if it isn’t a trade, then they might have to work with what they have internally.
Here’s a quick run-through of some of the internal guys they have right now who could step into the right field mix:
Nick Yorke
I haven’t been able to shake this since seeing Baseball America list him as the projected right fielder in 2025 the other week.
It makes sense and gives a home to one of their better-hitting prospects in the system.
I’m not 100% sold on him being an outfielder, but if they went into the offseason being forward with him that this might be the best way for him to make the roster, then I’m all for it.
He’s not going to have the traditional right field profile, but he’s shown signs of being at least an average-to-above-avearage hitter and does have some sneaky power.
This will allow Nick Gonzales to be the everyday second baseman, where he’s graded out above average defensively on some sites.
Billy Cook
He’ll fit into the roster to some extent, thanks to his speed/defense/power potential. You’ll have to accept some strikeouts, but the rest is enough to keep him around as a bench player.
That’d also work out with Yorke, as you could always use Cook as a late-game defensive replacement.
Joshua Palacios
I’d imagine he’ll get another look to make the roster, but he’s also out of options. He has 12 home runs in 114 games in two years with the Pirates. He’d strictly be a platoon player, as he posted a 35 wRC+ against lefties last year, although he was only slightly above average against righties (104).
A platoon with Cook (228 wRC+ vs LHP, 40 vs RHP) seems like a route that may happen.
Jack Suwinski
What a fall from grace from Suwinski, who went from a 2.6 fWAR season in 2023 to a -1.1 in 2024. The struggles extended to Triple-A, where he had an 89 wRC+ in 202 plate appearances.
He’s on the 40-man roster, so he’ll get a shot, but he seems like a player that needs an overhaul of his approach at the plate before being an option again.
Trey Cabbage
He has a 30/30 season on his Triple-A resume, but hasn’t had the success translate to the majors yet. There seems to be a possibility he could factor into the first base picture, but the outfield is his natural home.
Cabbage would be a long shot, although one with some loud tools.
The ideal option
This all depends on what Ben Cherington is working with on the money side. There are some intriguing free agents that wouldn’t qualify as bargain bin signings but actually put up a multiple win season.
That’d require opening up the checkbook, something that history doesn’t favor the team doing.
History would say that Jared Jones or even Pauls Skenes wouldn’t have been up when they were, but until it happens on this side of things, it’s probably best to go with what history has told us.
A trade would be the best way to make an impactful change to the roster, but it’s unclear how much prospect capital they are willing to move in a deal with another team.
Regardless, the Pirates moved on from the three players who spent the most time in right field, leaving over 900 innings to be filled. That likely makes it the position of biggest need this offseason.
So, whether it’s internally or not, the Pirates have some work to do to round out the outfield.
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This one's easy.
Suwinski and Yorke platoon with more at-bats for Yorke if Suwinski doesn't regain his '22-'23 platoon advantage.
Short of a complete dumpster-fire performance from those two, they'd have to get exceptionally lucky to find a better FA.
Be nice if Jack and Hank both have a good year.