The Bucs have two starters penciled in. Here’s three options for the third.
With the non-tender deadline coming and going, the Pittsburgh Pirates have seemingly made it clear that they will be looking to add to their outfield, possibly in less than two weeks, with the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas approaching.
The Pirates non-tendered OF/1B Connor Joe and OF Bryan De La Cruz last week, and both moves were for the best, as they certainly could use and find upgrades from both of those guys.
Joe, a former Pirates first-round pick in 2014, was acquired from the Colorado Rockies two offseasons ago and showed the ability to put together quality MLB at-bats. Still, he was in the lineup too often (and at times too high in the lineup) for a guy who is more of a role player. In 2024, Joe was scorching hot to start the season, but his productivity faded, and his overall statistics were below what was expected.
The Pirates letting go of De La Cruz was a bit more unexpected, as he was Ben Cherington’s prized acquisition at the 2024 Trade Deadline. De La Cruz had always been a strikeout machine and a defensive liability, but the Pirates needed to pretend at least that they cared about contending last year. So they added a young player with raw power who could continue to grow, as he had three more years of control.
But De La Cruz’s two months with Pittsburgh couldn’t have gone much worse. Typically, this front office wouldn’t admit that they made a mistake and eat their losses, but they can’t afford to have patience with a player who has been predictably frustrating for most of his career. In 44 games with the Pirates, he just reached the Mendoza Line and had an abysmal .514 OPS and .294 slugging, as he showed none of the power he had previously shown in Miami, only hitting three home runs with the Bucs. De La Cruz was tied for the second-worst on-base percentage in the league in 2024 at a .271 clip.
It would be expected that the Pirates would be looking for right-handed hitters to replace Joe and De La Cruz as outfield options, but I am not as into the righty-lefty business as I am about finding quality hitters. Lefties should still be considered in trade and free agency as well.
Free Agent – Austin Hays
A lot has changed for Austin Hays, who in 2023 was an All-Star and was thought to be part of the Baltimore Orioles young core, but was on the outside looking in with their outfield overflooded with talent in 2024, and therefore was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the deadline. Hays dealt with many injuries last season and struggled to see the field on a loaded Phillies squad. In total, Hays played 85 games and was below his typical slugging, only hitting five home runs.
With the Phillies seemingly having no room for him and wanting to add more prominent names to their lineup, Hays was non-tendered and is looking for a place where he would have a great chance to be an everyday player. He wouldn’t have too much competition in Pittsburgh, and he would be joining a similar situation to when he was with Baltimore a few years ago, as the Pirates are a small market team with young talent trying to learn how to win. At age 29, Hays can be a younger veteran for this Pirates offense.
If you view 2024 as an outlier for Hays, he was otherwise consistently an above-average hitter who showed flashes of stardom when he played full seasons with the Orioles from 2021-2023. His strikeout rate hasn’t been ideal, but if he can go back to slugging at an above-average rate and hitting around .260, he would undoubtedly be a valuable addition. Considering his injury-riddled 2024 season, the Pirates could grab him for a lower price than his bat may be worth. It may be ideal to entice him with a two-year team-friendly deal instead of a one-year offer he may get from many teams.
Free Agent – Jesse Winker
The left-handed Winker knows PNC Park and the Pirates well, as he played most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds from 2017-2021 and was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. Winker is on the long list of Pirate killers, as he is a career .325 hitter with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 50 games against the Bucs.
Winker has a lengthy injury history that has held him back throughout his career. When he was on the field with the Reds, he was at times the best hitter they had; this included a 2021 season in which he was an All-Star and hit .305 with 24 home runs in 110 games. The Reds shipped him cross country to the Seattle Mariners that offseason, where his production sank. It was even worse in 2023 when he hit .199 and only one home run in 61 games with the Brewers.
Winker signed a one-year $2 million deal with the Nationals last offseason and had a resurgence – not to the degree of his days with the Reds – but certainly enough to where the Mets acquired him at the deadline to help their playoff push. In total, Winker hit .253 with 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .764 OPS in 145 games, the most games he has played in his career.
He would still be relatively affordable for the Pirates, and at age 31, he certainly has the possible ceiling of what he was with the Reds. While Winker’s injury history and average slug last season don’t provide confidence that the Pirates could rely on him as an everyday player, his ability to get on base would be extremely valuable to this Pirates offense in at least a platoon. His on-base percentage has been .350+ for most of his career, including last year, where he got on base at a .360 clip.
Trade Candidate – Chas McCormick
Chas McCormick certainly would have to be a platoon/fourth outfielder if he were to come to Pittsburgh after his disastrous season at the plate in 2024, and he can certainly be valuable in that role, as his athleticism has allowed for him to man centerfield as well as the corner outfield spots in his big league career.
His first three years with the Astros were solid, and he broke out in 2023, hitting .273 with 22 home runs and an .842 OPS in 115 games. However, in 94 games in 2024, he hit .211 and had a .577 OPS, a surprising turn for the absolute worst.
McCormick needs a change of scenery, and the Astros probably won’t have much room for him in their outfield this year. The West Chester County native could be a bit of a project for the Pirates organization, but he is under control until 2027, and they wouldn’t have to give up too much to get him. He would be an excellent addition if they can get him to hit somewhere close to what he did in his first three years in the league, combined with his versatility in the outfield.