It looks like the Pirates will be adding to their 2023 coaching staff. A source indicates that Mendy López will join the Pirates' staff, though a deal is not yet finalized.
López, 49, played for four major-league clubs over seven years as an infielder from 1998-2004, including spending the 2001 and 2002 seasons with the Pirates.
López was the Pirates' Latin American Field Coordinator from 2017-2019 and 2021. He managed in the Dominican Summer League for the Pirates from 2014-2016, and spent last year as the hitting coach for Class Low-A Bradenton.
It is believed he will join the staff as a defensive coach. Last offseason, the Pirates dismissed third base coach Joey Cora, who also worked with the infielders.
Bench coach Don Kelly took over infield coaching duties this past season.
It doesn't appear López would replace anyone on the staff. Ben Cherington said during his year-end availability that the team will evaluate where they could get better, but that they expected the major-league staff to return.
"if there are any changes to staff, I would expect them to be additive," Cherington said.
One way the Pirates can improve is infield defense. While they have Ke'Bryan Hayes, one of the best defenders in the game, at third base, the Pirates finished with -1 defensive runs saved as a team and made 121 errors, the most in baseball.
Oneil Cruz made the most errors on the team with 17. The Pirates' shortstop has the tools to be a big-league shortstop, but with the amount of infield competition in the system, he could be booted to the outfield if he does not improve.
López could be a potential positive influence for him and other young infielders on the roster like Rodolfo Castro and Diego Castillo.
