Pirates Have Perfect Catcher to Pursue Amid Henry Davis Questions

There are many surprises entering next season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as it's clear what this team needs on both sides of the baseball. 

To say that bullpen help and offensive help are needs would be an understatement, as Pittsburgh has to figure some things out on both sides of the baseball. To do that, adding a catcher offensively should be at the top of the priority list.

Not that youngster Henry Davis can't eventually turn into the player the Pirates hoped for when they selected him first overall just a couple of years ago, but Davis hasn't exactly produced offensively, at least not at the level Pittsburgh has been hoping for. 

I still have a lot of hope in him and believe that he can become a really good player one day, though I understand that some fans have grown frustrated about how he's looked on both sides of the baseball.

I still don't think getting rid of him or not giving him at-bats would be wise, but that doesn't mean the Pirates can't take most of his at-bats away. If they plan to do so, there are a couple of guys that come to mind. 

One is Hunter Goodman, whom Bleacher Report recently named a potential trade candidate.

“Only seven players across baseball have hit more home runs the past two seasons than the 72 slugged by Hunter Goodman, and his 41 long balls this year were tied for third on the NL leaderboard with Braves slugger Matt Olson. 

“He actually posted significantly better numbers on the road (.882 OPS, 25 HR) than he did at home (.791 OPS, 16 HR), so this is not a case of Coors Field inflating the numbers of an otherwise average performer. He has also developed into a serviceable defender behind the plate, though his bat will always drive his value.

“After a fourth straight 100-loss season, nothing should be off the table as the Rockies explore ways to improve,” Bleacher Report wrote.

It feels like Goodman is coming off a season nobody is really talking about, mainly because he's played for a Colorado Rockies team that's been one of the worst in baseball for most of his career. Goodman debuted in 2023, and Colorado has been absolutely brutal since. 

However, he's coming off a year with 41 home runs and 88 RBIs. He also had 31 and drove in 91 the year prior. He'll be expensive, but if the Pirates are serious about winning, he's a guy you have to go after if he becomes available.