Pittsburgh Pirates: Predicting the Opening Day roster version 2.0

A take a second look at who could be on the Opening Day roster for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

We are a little over a week into Spring Training, and while it’s far too early to make any final assessments, we have gameplay to go off of now compared to our first list.

Now, seeing some games allowed me to move around a few things potentially, but it’s too early to start saying it’s time to DFA anyone to make room for someone not on the 40-man roster.

A few names are standing out, even more than some of the names on the 40-man roster, but at least for this week, they are safe.

The Locks

Nothing has changed with this group, as it’s the same ‘locks’ for me as last time. While a name is working his way up to potentially being a lock, I think one week is still a little early.

C/1B Yasmani Grandal

C/RF Henry Davis

SS Oneil Cruz

3B Ke’Bryan Hayes

1B Rowdy Tellez

OF Bryan Reynolds

OF Jack Suwinski

DH Andrew McCutchen

I mentioned in my original list that I wasn’t buying Davis as a toss-up when making the roster, and it was just prepping for a ‘worst-case scenario’ that he has a miserable Spring.

That hasn’t been the case, and at this point, I believe there is a greater chance they roll with three catchers on the Opening Day roster before they send Davis to Triple-A.

All the players are pretty straightforward and deserving of a roster spot. We haven’t seen McCutchen yet, but he’ll be there as long as he’s healthy.

Near Locks

2B/3B/1B Jared Triolo

1B/OF Connor Joe

OF Edward Olivares

If you want to say that Triolo is a lock at this point, I wouldn’t hold it against you, I’m just not sure I’m ready to say that after a week. He’s heading in the right direction, as he continues to pick up hit after hit, and is really standing out above his peers.

The only player that could theoretically bump him out of a roster spot would be Nick Gonzales, as he’s the only player on the 40-man roster (outside of Hayes, obviously) taking reps at third base.

If, by chance, Gonzales takes off and Triolo hits a wall, the former could land the same role that the latter is getting close to locking up. Even then, there’s still plenty of scenarios to where they both make the roster anyways.

For Joe, the added flexibility of playing center field puts him in the ‘near locks.’ He was likely going to make the team so he could platoon with Tellez, but if he continues to see time at center field and even second base, it can only cement his status.

I don’t see many scenarios where Olivares doesn’t make the roster, but there are a few, so he still sits here. I feel like it’s more of a matter of how they will use him instead of if he will make the team, so there is always the chance he moves up to the following list the following week.

Fighting for a Spot

Nick Gonzales vs Alika Williams vs Liover Peguero

The Pirates need a backup shortstop, and these three are the most likely to earn themselves a spot. They could also work their way into some playing time at second base, with Gonzales also getting time at third.

Gonzales has a leg up due to the added position to his resume. Williams is a better defender at shortstop, and Peguero perhaps has the highest upside out of the group.

Williams had a couple hard hit balls on Monday against the Rays, and Gonzales picked up a double. He’s still had some swing-and-miss issues that’s plagued him throughout his career.

Peguero hit a double over the weekend but hasn’t really done much to stand out.

Really just a ‘who is your favorite?’ at this point.

Josh Palacios vs Canaan Smith-Njigba

Palacios probably gets the edge here based on being able to play center field and performing better offensively. The injury, though, will set him back; CSN hadn’t done too much to take advantage of Palacios being out but then walked three times in one game over the weekend and hit a towering home run on Monday.

Jason Delay

The best path to Delay making the roster is Davis struggling behind the plate, but that will probably only lead to a trio of catchers making the Opening Day roster.

Dejan Kovacevic wrote that the Pirates are planning on sending Davis to Triple-A to start the year, which would open the door for Delay to make the team.

It’s hard to see a scenario where they were so excited about Davis’ bat that they moved him out of position last year, only to send him to Triple-A the following year because of the defense, but certainly something to monitor.

Ji-Hwan Bae

Having Joe get time at center field only hurts Bae’s chances, but they already seemed slim since there was very little chance he would overtake Peguero, Triolo, or Gonzales for a time at second base.

That leaves him one position, and it’s currently covered by one of their better players, who is also left-handed. He did have a pretty good day on Monday, with a RBI single, a stolen base and a run scored all in the same inning coming off the bench.

There will need to be more of those, however.

Non-Roster Invitee

The only player who seems to be pressing the envelope is Gilberto Celestino, who hit a grand slam late last week.

He’s a right-handed bat that can play center field, which could help the Pirates. I still feel like it’s early to make that kind of decision to DFA someone, but if we are still talking about Celestino like we are, in about a week or so this can become a legitimate conversation.

Current Picks

C Henry Davis

C Yasmani Grandal

INF Rowdy Tellez

INF Jared Triolo

INF Ke’Bryan Hayes

INF Oneil Cruz

INF Liover Peguero

OF Bryan Reynolds

OF Jack Suwinski

OF Edward Olivares

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba

1B/OF Connor Joe

DH Andrew McCutchen

The only change as of now is swapping CSN and Palacios. It doesn’t sound like the injury is serious, but until he’s on the field and playing, I can’t really give him a roster spot.

As I said previously, CSN hasn’t done too much to take advantage of this situation, but he did walk three times Saturday, a nice step in the right direction.

Gonzales seems like someone who could sneak in over Peguero, but as the ‘incumbent’ I still have the edge to the latter.