The Pittsburgh Pirates have a plethora of available talent at the first base position. It gives them the ability to mix and match their lineup for the differet opponents they will face throughout the year.
This is a good problem for the Pirates to have because each man can be relied on to play the position at a high level. As of right now the active roster has seven potential first baseman on it. They include Max Moroff, Jake Goebbert, Jason Rodgers, Sean Rodriguez, Josh Bell, David Freese, and John Jaso. Now obivously guys like Moroff, Bell, and Goebbert will be in the minors to start the season due to minor league options, but that still leaves four capable men to play the position in the major leagues.
The number one guy out of spring training right now is John Jaso. Jaso is currently hitting .294 this spring (5 for 17) with 2 RBI. He is not as much of a power threat as Alvarez was, but he can sneak the ball into the gap for extra bases, which will be a lethal weapon for the Pirates this season. Jaso signed a two-year deal with the Pirates so he will help be the transition into the Josh Bell era at first base.
Jaso is a good offensive player as with the Rays last season he hit .286 with five home runs and 22 RBI. He split time between designated hitter and outfielder for the Rays last season. Of his 53 hits last season, 22 of them were for extra bases. With the deep gaps that PNC Park has, this will be a key element of Jaso's game. If he can find that left centerfield notch in PNC, it will allow for the Pirates to score a lot of runs this season.
The acquisition of David Freeze offers another veteran option for the Pirates to use off the bench. Last season with the Low Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Freese hit .257 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Freese is a familiar face to the Pirates organization as he aged for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2009-2013.
Freeze gives the Pirates a veteran bat that they can use either as a platoon option with Jaso or as a clutch bat off the bench. I really like the Freeze signing and feel that in the long run it will help the Pirates tremendously.Freese was a world series MVP back in 2013 and has proven clutch in the past. He will be a valuable asset to the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Another familiar face to the Pirates organization is back as Sean Rodriguez will serve as the team's super utility player. Last season Rodriguez hit .246 with 4 home runs and 17 RBI. He started the 2015 NL Wild Card game for the Pirates at first base, but was eventually pulled for Alvarez.
Rodriguez offers a great skill set to this Pirates team.He has the ability to play all over the diamond. Last season he made apperancez at first base, third base, second base, short stop, right field, and left field. This makes Rodriguez a great guy to have on the bench for his ability to give a lot of players much needed days off. While Rodriguez will spend some time at first base, I think he will spend the majority of his time in that super utility role.
Michael Morse is another good question as to his role in 2016. The acquisition of Freeze made Horse's future very unclear. Last season Morse hit .231 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI. It was the worst season of his career and he is looking to get back to his 2014 form.
Morse has been working a lot in right field This spring, so he might be looking at more time out there this season. The plus with Morse is his power ability. A left handed power bat at PNC Park is always a plus with the short portch in left field. Of Morse can come off the bench and be a clutch hitter for the Bucs. He will fit right in and make an impact on this team. I am a big fan of Morse and think he will be a key player for the Pirates this season.
The wild card to make the major league club is off-season acquisition Jason Rodgers. Acquired from the Brewers in a trade that sent outfielder Keon Broxton to Milwaukee, Rodgers hit .296 with four home runs and 16 RBI. Granted this was in very limited action, but Rodgers definitely is a promising option for the Bucs.
Rodgers does have some minor league options left which makes him expendable for the Pirates. They can send him down to Triple A Indianapolis to start the season and then bring him up half way through. Rodgers is another one of those guys who can play multiple positions for the Pirates. He has played first base, third base, left field, and right field in his career. This also adds to Rodgers value for the Pirates.
Having so many options at the first base position is always a good thing. The more people you have the more chance of success there is. I think that the Pirates will start the season with a platoon of Jaso and Freese throwing Rodriguez in there every now and then. Morse will be used primarily as a bat off the bench and a back up corner outfielder. If Gregory Polanco struggles we could also end up seeing a Polanco/Morse platoon in right field.
First base will be a key position for the Pirates this year. Having someone who can produce at the position will go a long way to solidifying the Pirates lineup. The regular season is quickly approaching and excitement is building for another great season of Pirates baseball.
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