The commerce scratched a pair itches. There was a want so as to add an enormous left-handed bat to the lineup. Lowe is coming off an All-Star marketing campaign wherein he hit 31 house runs. The Pirates have been on the lookout for extra depth within the outfield. Mangum is toolsy and offers some stability within the outfield. As for Montgomery, the attraction of including a lefty who can throw 100 mph is self-explanatory.
It was a step in the precise route in the direction of enhancing an offense that wanted an improve, however extra work must be performed.
“Our want could be so as to add yet one more place participant who’s obtained a little bit bit extra of a confirmed observe file on the Main League stage,” Cherington stated over Zoom on Saturday. “I feel we have got some flexibility as to the place that participant may slot in.”
Probably the most obvious holes within the lineup coming into the winter have been in left subject and at third base. The Pirates have some defensive flexibility with their infielders, so including a second baseman does quell the infield drawback a bit. Within the outfield, Mangum is a robust defender who may deal with PNC Park’s left-field notch, whereas Jhostynxon Garcia, the No. 85 general prospect in baseball (Pirates’ No. 6 prospect) in keeping with MLB Pipeline, can have a possibility this Spring Coaching to point out he’s prepared for the Main Leagues.
The important thing in terms of what positions the Pirates can goal lies with Lowe. If he can play his place, the Pirates may add a 3rd baseman, designated hitter and even another place to supply depth. Accidents have restricted Lowe’s capacity to remain on the sector up to now, however he’s getting ready this offseason to play second.
“The truth that he can play second, we consider, additionally retains choices open for us so as to add one other bat in one other spot,” Cherington stated. “It offers us a left-hand complement to what had been a reasonably right-hand-hitting infield group. All of these have been causes [we acquired him], actually every little thing we learn about Brandon as a teammate, as a competitor, his character. We additionally consider he will probably be a robust slot in our clubhouse. Excited so as to add him to the staff, to the lineup.”
The Pirates got here into the offseason realizing that they had a surplus of beginning pitchers that may very well be used as commerce bait. Up to now, Burrows and Johan Oviedo have been dealt, the latter for Garcia.
Proper now, Cherington says they’ve a variety of confidence in a bunch that also has some depth, which incorporates Carmen Mlodzinski getting ready for a starter’s workload once more. Cherington says they’re open to including a backend starter, however so far as buying and selling one other beginning pitcher, a deal must clear a excessive bar.
“You do not ever wanna say by no means,” Cherington stated. “Do not wish to reduce ourselves off to one thing that simply actually is smart for the Pirates brief time period and long run. But it surely must clear a bar for positive. At this level it appears unlikely we might try this until we noticed a participant coming again that was a right away match for the lineup and in addition with some confidence that we are able to add a starter again another way whether or not that was by commerce or free company. I feel that is attainable.”
The addition of Lowe does elevate questions on Nick Gonzales’ future with the staff. 2025 was a tumultuous 12 months for him, beginning with a fractured left ankle on Opening Day that hindered his capacity to actually discover his footing after an encouraging 2024 marketing campaign. Whereas the Pirates had many issues on offense final 12 months, having a former first-round choose regress on the dish was on the laundry checklist of points.
Including Lowe doesn’t imply the Pirates are giving up on Gonzales — Cherington referred to him as “an essential participant for us” — however it’s most likely going to be in a special position. We’ve seen him play on the left facet of the infield earlier than, and with third base presently open and shortstop up within the air till Pittsburgh’s No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin arrives, maybe that may very well be explored once more.
“The most important factor about Nick, we are able to return to his newbie days within the Draft, he is simply all the time met the problem in entrance of him,” Cherington stated. “So we acquired a participant who we consider in, who we count on to play some second base, in Brandon Lowe. This is a chance for Nick to proceed to push for a possibility on the Main League staff.
“We consider that is sort of what he is all the time performed, and might see him doing that in any variety of methods.”
