The Pittsburgh Pirates miss out on a key slugger. Limited, uninspiring free agent infielders remain as spring training looms.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have spent the winter looking to add a player to the left side of the infield and third base and shortstop options on the free agent market are dwindling with spring training set to open in a little more than a week.
The Pirates were unable to sign third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who hit 49 home runs last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. On Sunday, Suarez agreed to a one-year, $15-million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
While his defense is poor, Suarez would have been a good fit in the middle of Pittsburgh's lineup after they finished last in the major leagues in runs scored and home runs last season.
The Pirates don’t necessarily need to add a third baseman because Jared Triolo has experience at that position and shortstop. Pittsburgh could also acquire a shortstop and keep Triolo at third base, where he is better defensively. The free agent options aren’t attractive.
Ramon Urias is probably the best fit as he can play third base, shortstop, and second base. The 31-year-old hit 11 home runs last season in 112 games with a .241/.292/.384 slash line with the Baltimore Orioles.
Luis Rengifo and Miguel Andujar both have experience at third base but not at shortstop. In 147 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels, the 28-year-old switch-hitting Rengifo hit .238/.287/.335 with nine homers and 10 steals.
Andujar, 30, would likely be stretched to play third base on a regular basis. However, the Pirates might be able to live with subpar defense if Andujar could reach the same level of production from last year, when he hit .318/.352/.470 with 10 home runs in 94 games with the Athletics and Reds.
Andujar, though, may not want to return to the Pirates, as they did not give the left-handed hitter much of a shot at being a regular when he was with them from 2022-23.
Jon Berti can play both third base and shortstop, but is 36 and coming off a season in which he played just 51 games for the Chicago Cubs and was released on Aug. 13. While he stole 11 bases, he batted .210//262/.230 with no homers.
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