Pittsburgh Pirates: NRIs pushing for roster spot this Spring

Some non-roster players are really pushing the envelope to make the roster for the Pirates.

As Spring Training continues, a few non-roster players are making a strong case to be considered for an Opening Day roster spot.

It’s not always as cut and dry as adding and dropping players off the 40-man roster. Injuries happen over such a long season, and you don’t want to do anything that risks depleting your depth.

You also want to reward players for their strong performances, so teams must walk a fine line as they build their rosters.

Here are a few players trying to make things difficult for the Pirates this Spring.

Billy McKinney

If any player is making a case to open the season with the Pirates that isn’t on the 40-man roster, it’s McKinney.

Acquired from the Yankees during the offseason, McKinney is a former first-round pick with some major experience but not much success.

After hitting a three-run home run Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, McKinney has continued his streak of reaching base safely in each of 12 games this Spring.

In total, he’s gone 8-22 with six runs scored and another six driven in. He has also drawn eight walks while striking out twice.

A left-handed hitting outfielder (with some experience at first base), it was initially complex to see a scenario where he made the Opening Day roster. Still, after Canaan Smith-Njigba was optioned to the minors, his odds may have increased ever so slightly.

It would still involve some sort of roster move, but the Pirates did already DFA CSN once this off-season. An injury could also open up a roster spot as well, or if the Pirates decide to remove a catcher off of the 40-man.

There are paths for him to make the roster, and a few doors may have even opened after Tuesday’s transactions.

Gilberto Celestino

Signed as a minor league free agent, Celestino has done basically what you would like to see from a player in Spring.

He leads all Pirates with 10 hits, and even chipped in a grand slam early on. That has been his only extra-base hit, but has also driven in seven runs and stolen two bases.

With him being a right-handed hitter that can play solid defense in center, there was though he could be a platoon option with Jack Suwinski.

The Pirates have also had Connor Joe and Edward Olivares play some center field, which would seemlingly dimish his odds of making the roster, but he should still be a good depth piece with Indianapolis to start the year.

Jake Lamb

He’s had a strong Spring so far as well, picking up eight hits in 24 at-bats, one of which was a home run. The eight hits have him in a tie with McKinney for fourth most in camp currently.

There’s some positional flexibilty, at least historically, although him being mainly a first baseman will likely keep him from making the roster.

Brent Honeywell Jr.

Pitching is where things get interesting, since we know that Dauri Moreta is going to miss an extended amount of time, there is going to be a freed up roster spot eventually.

So, it’s a fairly safe bet that an NRI pitcher (perhaps two) is going to make the Opening Day roster.

Honeywell Jr. does give the Pirates an option to add a multi-inning type of reliever in the mix. Unless they slide one of their starters without options (Bailey Falter, Roansy Contreras) to the bullpen, their options for guys who can give them multiple innings are limited.

He threw 52.1 innings across 40 innings last year between two teams, and is a former starter, so he can fill the long-relief/multi-inning role should he get added to the roster.

It’s been a solid Spring for Honeywell, who has eight strikeouts and only one walk in 5.2 innings pitched. He’s allowed three earned runs (4.76 ERA) but has had scoreless outings in four his six games this Spring.

Hunter Stratton

He’s a guy that I mentioned before Spring started as a guy who could land a roster spot, as he pitched briefly with the Pirates last year but was non-tendered and then brought back on a minor league deal.

Control has always been the main concern for Stratton, and he’s done well with it so far - walking just two in five innings pitched. He still hasn’t allowed a run and has struck out six so far.

The cutter is a really strong pitch, one that could be relied on to come into the game and miss bats with while throwing in a tough spot.

Chase Anderson

A later addition to the NRI group, Anderson has quietly had a strong Spring to this point. He’s pitched seven no-hit innings so far, including three in his first start against the Braves on Tuesday.

The Pirates have Falter and Contreras fighting with a rotation spot and also not have any options left. They also have Luis Ortiz and Quinn Priester already on the 40-man also competiting for a roster spot (I’ll have a more indepth look at the rotation battle later this week), so it’s hard to see Anderson making his way into the rotation, but could be a depth piece with Indianapolis.

Wily Peralta

He’s quietly also had a solid Spring, allowing one run and four strike outs in 4.2 innings. His splitter has been as advertised as his best pitch, getting a handful of whiffs already.

Maybe Anderson or Peralta could squeeze into the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever as there could be up to three spots available currently with Moreta out.