A year after experiencing a 14-win improvement and boasting their best season record-wise in five years, the Pirates have an opportunity to take another step forward in 2024.
Heightened expectations will certainly follow the club, especially after going 35-37 during the second half of a 76-86 campaign that featured an influx of young players debuting. But questions will have to be answered well before the March 28 opener in Miami.
Spring training gets underway next week in Bradenton, Fla., as pitchers and catchers report for their first official workouts on Feb. 14. The first full-squad workout will take place Feb. 19 and games begin Feb. 24.
We’ve already touched on 10 questions the Pirates will have to answer this year, but there are more to be addressed.
Here are a few that will garner some attention once things get underway:
CAN CONTRERAS RETURN TO FORM?
It’s no secret that Roansy Contreras struggled through just over 68 big-league innings last year.
That was evident with his demotion from the starting rotation to the bullpen in June, and then with his July demotion to Indianapolis after a two-game stretch of relief outings in which he allowed seven earned runs and surrendered three home runs. Those outings consisted of just 3 1/3 innings of work.
Contreras, who finished last year with a 6.59 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, looked like a bonafide top-of-the-rotation starter in 2022. As a 22-year-old, he sported a 3.79 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and an 8.1 K/9 rate. His BB/9 rate sat at 3.7.
Contreras experienced a consistent drop in velocity and struggled with command at times, putting him in a position heading into spring training where he’ll have to battle for a spot in the starting rotation.
One has to think Contreras is a likely frontrunner for one of those spots behind Mitch Keller, Martin Perez and Marco Gonzalez, especially since he’s out of minor-league options.
But will he be able to show enough improvement through the spring to garner faith heading into the regular season?
WILL THEY ADD ANOTHER STARTING PITCHER?
Fans have been clamoring for the addition of a top-of-the-rotation arm ever since Johan Oviedo underwent Tommy John surgery this offseason.
The aforementioned Keller, Perez and Gonzalez are all but locked in to the opening-day rotation, leaving two more spots up for grabs.
Contreras could take one with guys like Bailey Falter, Quinn Priester and Luis Ortiz left to battle for the No. 5 spot.
However, there is still time for another arm to join the fold.
Guys like Michael Lorenzen, Hyun-Jin Ryu and even Vince Velasquez, who sported a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in eight starts for the Pirates a year ago before undergoing UCL surgery in June, are all still available. Velasquez would be more of a risky option than the other two considering he wouldn't be ready to go by Opening Day.
With a few young, in-house options, I don’t think they will go this route and sign another free agent to join their other offseason signings in Perez and Gonzalez, but there are options that could be considered.
WILL SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS STEP UP?
The kids got their chance to show what they could do last year.
Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales and Endy Rodriguez were among the top prospects in the Pirates system, and each made their MLB debuts.
They were among 14 players, also including Jared Triolo, Priester and Carmen Mlodzinski, to do so for the club.
Rodriguez will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing UCL surgery, but the others could carve out significant roles.
Davis seemingly enters spring training with the upper hand for the starting spot behind the plate, while Gonzales and Triolo, a versatile infielder who appeared in 13 games at second base, should be in the mix for a starting spot at that position.
Gonzales slashed .209/.268.348 through 35 games, while Triolo was a bit more impressive in a larger sample size, compiling a slash line of .298/.388/.398 in 54 games.
Liover Peguero might have something to say about those two getting the everyday job at second, but anything can happen between now and late March.
Priester will have to prove quite a bit after experiencing some struggles upon his July promotion to the big leagues. He had a 7.74 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 10 appearances (eight starts) and sported a 4.9 BB/9 rate. Despite the shaky transition to the major leagues, his name will be in the hat for a starting rotation spot.
From the outside looking in, Mlodzinski appeared to make a nice impression in 35 appearances. While he did have a 4.5 BB/9 rate, he compiled a 2.25 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. In 36 innings, he struck out 34 batters.
All of these second-year guys have opportunities to make an impact on the big-league club beyond their time in Bradenton. Only time will tell whether they make the most of those chances or not.
WILL TOP PROSPECTS SHINE?
All eyes will be on Paul Skenes and the organization’s other top-100 prospects in Termarr Johnson, Jared Jones, Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler, as they are among the non-roster invites who will look to make an impression in Bradenton.
Skenes has all the hype and could -- and should -- make his major-league debut at some point this season. Johnson could be a long-term solution at second base, while Jones, Solometo and Chandler are clearly well thought of as pitchers who could inevitably contribute at the major-league level.
Will they make the most of their opportunity, or will their stays in major-league camp be short lived?
CAN TELLEZ, JOE MAKE A FORMIDABLE PLATOON AT FIRST BASE?
Rowdy Tellez and Connor Joe appear to be heading into spring training as the club’s top options at first base.
Tellez, two years removed from a 35 home-run season with the Brewers, signed a one-year deal worth $3.2 million in mid-December. He slashed .215/.291/.376 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs in 106 games last season.
Joe compiled a slash line of .247/.343/.400 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs in 133 games.
While Tellez spent a majority of his 2023 campaign (76 games) over at first base, Joe spent 57 games in right field, 53 at first and 32 in left.
Joe should still get some playing time in the outfield, but what kind of platoon could we see from these two?
From an offensive perspective, I think it’s relatively simple how this is going to go. Tellez will play mainly against right-handed pitchers and Joe will get time against lefties. I’m sure Triolo could be in the mix for a few starts here and there, too.
Last season, Tellez had nearly 300 plate appearances versus right-handed pitchers, batting .223/.294/.396. That line isn’t all that great, but it’s better than his .174/.269/.261 slash line in 52 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.
Joe had 193 plate appearances against lefties (.265/.368/.452) and 279 against righties (.235/.319/.401) a year ago.
These guys weren’t setting the world on fire with their bats, but perhaps this could work.
I know fans were clamoring for another first baseman to join the mix. Carlos Santana was seen as an option, but his signing with the Twins ended hopes of a reunion.
It’ll be interesting to see if anyone else enters the mix for playing time at first base, but I think Tellez and Joe will have a lot to prove in spring training and beyond.
