BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates have a good problem as they try to set their season-opening roster.
There are more quality relievers in their spring training came than available roster spots.
The Pirates plan to open the season with seven relievers. Four of those spots are set, with right-handers Jason Grilli and Mark Melancon and left-handers Tony Watson and Justin Wilson.
Grilli will be closer and the other three will set up for him.
That leaves four right-handers for three spots — Jeanmar Gomez, Vin Mazzaro, Bryan Morris and rookie Stolmy Pimentel.
One Pirates official said this week, while speaking on the condition of anonymity because of competitive reasons, that the club is “100 percent certain” any of the four would be claimed by another team off the waiver wire.
Morris has the best pure stuff of the quartet, especially after adding a sinker to his power arsenal this spring.
Mazzaro is the king of getting out of getting out of sticky situations by stranding inherited baserunners.
Gomez is valuable as a swingman who can effective start and relief.
Pimentel projects as an eventual potential middle-of-the-rotation starter.
Morris most be the most attractive trade candidate because many scouts believe has the highest upside and there has been speculation he could be dealt to the New York Yankees for catcher Austin Romine.
The Pirates are looking for a backup catcher after Chris Stewart underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery March 19 and probably will be out through the end of April.
The Pirates have gotten numerous trade inquiries on their relievers. They would also be agreeable to packaging one of them with outfielder Jose Tabata for a left-handed hitting first baseman or as general manager Neal Huntington puts it, “a piece that could add depth to the organization.”
The bullpen is obviously one area where the Pirates don’t have to worry about depth.
“We can attack you a bunch of different ways depending on how long our starter goes, and we don’t feel like we’re out of a game if our starter gets knocked out early by any means, with the depth and the length that we have available as well,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
NOTES, QUOTES
–1B Travis Ishikawa is quietly not only making a bid to be on the opening day roster, but to wind up as the left-handed hitting part of a first base platoon with right-handed hitting 1B Gaby Sanchez. Ishikawa went 6-for-16 (.375) with two home runs in his first seven exhibition games after being sidelined early in the Grapefruit League season by a strained calf. Meanwhile, rookie OF/1B Andrew Lambo was 3-for-34 (.088) with no extra-base hits and seems likely to be optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis. Ishikawa, 30, was signed as a minor-league free agent in the offseason after playing only seven major-league games last season, hitting a combined .105 for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. In 83 games at the Triple-A level with the Orioles’ Norfolk farm club and the Chicago White Sox’s Charlotte affiliate, Ishikawa hit .290 with nine home runs.
–C Tony Sanchez might start the season in the major leagues, depending on whether the Pirates can acquire a backup catcher before opening day. The Pirates are looking for a No. 2 catcher after C Chris Stewart underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery March 19 that probably will sideline him through the end of April. Ideally, the Pirates would keep Sanchez, a rookie, at Triple-A Indianapolis and have him be ready to take over the starting job next year because C Russell Martin is eligible for free agency at the end of this season. Sanchez made his major-league debut last season and hit .233 with two home runs in 22 games.
–LF Starling Marte was hit by pitches three times in his first 34 plate appearances during Grapefruit League play after being plunked 24 times last season. In 2013, Marte was out of the starting lineup from Aug. 18-Sept. 16 after sustaining a bruised right index finger when hit by a pitch. Manager Clint Hurdle’s biggest concern is that his leadoff hitter might sustain a serious injury. “There is an art to getting by hit pitches and Starling still needs to learn that,” Hurdle said. “I coached for one guy who was the best in Don Baylor. That was part of the deal. There were at-bats where if it got tight, he just took it and went down to first.” Baylor was hit by 267 pitches in his 19-year career.
–LHP Wandy Rodriguez is having a strong spring after suffering a season-ending strained left elbow on June 5 last season. Rodriguez has pitched seven innings in Grapefruit League play and allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. He has avoided arm problems and said he feels strong with the start of the regular season right around the corner. “Knock on wood, Wandy’s been healthy and he’s thrown the ball great,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “It’s been a good spring for him.”
–CF Andrew McCutchen seems poised to make a run at winning a second straight National League Most Valuable Player award. Through his first nine exhibition games appearances, the 27-year-old was hitting .560 (14-for-25) with two doubles and three home runs.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’ve never heard anyone say a surgery wasn’t successful.” –Manager Clint Hurdle, after the Pirates announced C Chris Stewart underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee March 19.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–C Chris Stewart (arthroscopic right knee surgery) had surgery March 19 after being injured in a game March 12. He is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.
–LHP Jeff Locke (tightness in right side) was scratched from his scheduled start against Toronto on March 5, then suffered a setback during a throwing session March 10. He has started throwing off the mound again but there is no timetable for when he will return. He probably will begin the season on the disabled list.
–RHP Kyle McPherson (Tommy John surgery in July 2013) was throwing off a mound in mid-March. He expected to be able to pitch in minor league rehab games by June.