Pirates Predicted to Land Gold Glove INF This Offseason

As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for what should be a crucial offseason for the organization, there are a few holes that the front office has to address.

Pittsburgh was much more competitive last season, with the team finishing the year with a record of 82-80. This team has a lot of talent on the roster, but for the Pirates to finally break the long postseason drought, they will need a little more help.

The front office of the Pirates is going to have to spend a little money this offseason, bringing in some players to plug the holes on the roster. One of the bigger areas of need for Pittsburgh is fixing second base or third base this winter.

Second baseman Brandon Lowe is a free agent, but it remains to be seen if the Pirates will bring him back. Lowe wants to return, but it will come down to money between the two sides.

Even if the team does, going after someone who can be interchangeable in the infield could be helpful. Pittsburgh needs to bring in more talent, giving them a better chance to get into the playoffs next season.

One name that could make sense is veteran infielder J.P. Crawford, who has been with the Seattle Mariners. Crawford could come in to be the Pirates' third baseman or even play at second if Lowe were to walk.

Adding some fuel to the fire with Crawford, MLB analysts Steve Adams and Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors predicted that the Pirates would land Crawford this offseason. The contract projection for the Gold Glove Award winner came in at two years, $16 million, which should be within the range that Pittsburgh would be comfortable with.

While Crawford has never made an All-Star team, he does a lot of the little things well while on the field. Last season, Crawford hit .221 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .687.

Crawford did see a power surge this past season, and this could be massive for a team like Pittsburgh. Even with his numbers being down, his leadership was huge for the Mariners over the years, and this is something that Pittsburgh may want to add to the clubhouse.

Having players like this can make a huge difference for a young team, and Crawford may be a solid addition. Crawford could be a cheap addition for the Pirates to make, but his impact could help take the team to the next level.