What is Jeff Locke's future with the Pirates?

     Jeff Locke is coming off twirling an absolute gem in Miami. He pitched a complete game allowing 3 hits but faced just one over the minimum. It's the best he's ever looked in any start on the major league mound. While he gets a lot of criticism, there are still many, including myself, that maintain that he is a quality 5th starter in the MLB. Put him up against many other 5 starters in the MLB, and he stacks up very well. It's unfortunate that people want him to do things a 2-3 rotation pitcher does. But I'm not here to defend Locke today. Instead, I want to talk about his unclear and foggy future with the Pirates organization.

     It has been reported that the Pirates intend to use Taillon, Glasnow, and Kuhl in the rotation when they get called up. If they all get called up this year, which may not happen, there is a definite rotation crunch. Pirates would have to remove rotation guys they currently have. Nicasio is the obvious one to go first as he was never intended for a long stint in the rotation. The second guy out would be a decision the Pirates need to make, and Locke would certainly be discussed. He would be easier to move out than Liriano or Niese.

     Locke probably wouldn't go to the bullpen though. It seems more likely the Pirates would trade him despite history showing they don't like to trade away quality rotation depth. However, chatter around the league has it that Locke has a decent amount of trade value. Pirates might use this rotation depth in a trade this time around because of the value Locke has. He is a cheap, controllable, backend rotation pitcher that many teams covet. 

     However, all this can only work if the young guys perform either this year or next year when they get called up. If they aren't effective out of the gate, then Locke gives the Pirates nice insurance. Pirates will have a good amount of flexibility in this rotation soon, and that is a very good thing. So, be grateful the Pirates have a better 5th starter than many teams have to give them that flexibility once the young guys get to Pittsburgh. 

     I don't know whether Locke will be dealt or not, obviously. All I know is that the rotation will be deep and filled with quality guys that can give the Pirates a chance to win nearly every time they take the hill. If an 8 or 9-man rotation was a possibility, the Pirates could certainly do that if they wanted to. That's how deep they are. It's quite a good problem for a major league team to have, especially when pitching gets you way further than hitting ever will. 

Pirates at Marlins series preview

     The Pirates lost 2 of 3 in Arlington over the weekend. After erupting for 9 runs on Friday, they scored a total of 4 runs over the next 2 games. Losing 2 of 3 is a small setback, but Texas is a good team, so it's not a huge deal. The Pirates are hoping for a better performance in Miami, as they play 4 in South Beach. They originally had planned for 2 of these games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but those games got moved to Miami due to Zika concerns. 

Monday: Justin Nicolino (2-2 4.37 ERA) vs Jeff Locke (3-3 5.08 ERA) 7:10 PM ET

     The Pirates are getting really used to these lefty vs lefty matchups apparently. Well, it happens again on Monday. Pirates faced Nicolino a season ago and were able to hit him well. Nicolino has been average at best this season as well. However, Jeff Locke has been worse. His numbers haven't looked great overall despite most of his starts actually being decent for a 5 starter. He's another pitcher that's better than his stats indicate. This pitching matchup is a toss up. 

Tuesday: Jose Fernandez (7-2 2.82 ERA) vs Gerrit Cole (5-3 2.53 ERA) 7:10 ET

     This pitching matchup is destined to be one of the best of the year on paper. Two of the best young arms in the NL meet one another in a mega matchup. Cole and Fernandez have lived up to their reputation this season as well. This should be a fun matchup to watch unfold. I don't expect too many runs in this one. 

Wednesday: Adam Conley (3-3 4.15 ERA) vs Jon Niese (5-2 4.42 ERA) 7:10 ET

     Look, another all-LHP matchup. What do you know? This series will be another good test for Gregory Polanco against the lefties of the Marlins. We shall see if Polanco can continue his good work vs lefties. There is also hopes that these lefties can help Cutch, Marte, Mercer, and Harrison (if he returns) have a good series and start to get and stay hot, as they all mash lefties. 

Thursday: Wei-Yin Chen (3-2 4.37 ERA) vs Juan Nicasio (4-4 4.79 ERA) 7:10 ET

     The Pirates bring Juan Nicasio to the hill in their last day in Miami. The key for Nicasio is and always will be consistency. He has been up and down all season long as his time in the Pirates' rotation winds down (Taillon will replace him by mid-June). While this Marlins lineup isn't a destroyer of worlds, they can still hit. There is one guy in the lineup to really watch out for, and that guy is Giancarlo Stanton. Though he has struggled a lot to start this season, he is a guy that is as capable as anyone else at absolutely wrecking a pitcher's day on any given day or night. But he's not the only threat in that lineup, so Nicasio will need to be on his game. 

     I envision a tough series for the Pirates. The Marlins have played better than most people thought they would. A split of this series wouldn't be bad, but winning 3 of 4 or more is definitely the goal. As long as the Pirates don't get swept or lose 3 of 4, I think they will be okay. 

Pirates at Rangers series preview

     The Pirates enjoyed home cooking over the last 11 days, going 8-2 on a 10-game home stand. They took 3 of 4 from Atlanta, 2 of 3 from Colorado, and swept Arizona. Pirates played really well, but now it's time to see if they are good at taking this act back out on the road. They begin this road trip in Texas as they face a Rangers team that has also been playing very well. So there's no rest for the weary here.

Friday: Cole Hamels (5-0 2.83 ERA) vs Jon Niese (4-2 4.75) 8:05 PM ET

     Two lefties will take the hill in this game as Cole Hamels, acquired last July in a big trade with Philadelphia, looks to continue his outstanding pitching. He opposes Jon Niese, who has pitched better than the numbers show. The big question going into this game is whether or not Polanco will continue to mash lefties at the rate he has. He's one of the best left-handed hitters hitting against left-handed pitching this season. He had a scorching homestand and hit off of just about everyone he faced. He will have a big test against one of the league's best lefties. 

Saturday: Yu Darvish (0-0 0.00 ERA) vs Juan Nicasio (4-3 4.46 ERA) 7:15 ET (Fox)

     The big news coming into this game is the return of Yu Darvish to the Rangers rotation. He will pitch on Saturday as he hits a major league mound for the first time in nearly two years. Nobody knows what to expect from him in his comeback. Will he look like the Darvish of old or will he be just average? We will find out on Saturday night. He opposes Juan Nicasio, who has been very inconsistent this whole season. The Rangers lineup has little holes in it, even with Odor being suspended. The one guy to watch out for is the hot-hitting stud Nomar Mazara. 

Sunday: Martin Perez (2-4 3.13 ERA) vs Francisco Liriano (4-3 4.30 ERA) 3:05 ET

     Just like Friday, this will be a battle of two left-handed pitchers. Martin Perez has pitched well despite his 2-4 record, and Liriano has pitched better than his ERA suggests. So don't be shocked if this one ends up being a pitcher's duel even if it doesn't look like it on paper. This will end up being another great test for Polanco.

     This series will be a great test for both teams as both are very evenly matched, and I expect a well-played, tight series the whole way. Hold onto your hats and buckle up because there's excitement to be had in this series. I'm going to enjoy this series through and through, that's for sure. 

Can Justin Masterson help the Pirates this season?

     If you forgot, like I almost did, the Pirates do indeed have Justin Masterson. He was signed toward the beginning of the season and headed straight to extended spring training to get himself in shape. Everyone passed on him this offseason, even the Pirates. However, the Pirates were able to pluck him away at a good price whether or not he works out. The Pirates made a low risk/high reward signing with him like they do with many pitchers they have or have had in the past. 

     Justin Masterson is a career 64-74 with a 4.31 ERA, which in turn is very average. However, he has really fallen off since being named an American League All-Star in 2013. Since then, he's had ERAs of 5.88 and 5.61 in 2014 and 2015 combined between the Indians, Cardinals, and Red Sox. He also hasn't collected 200 innings since 2012 and his best innings season since then was 2013 when he logged 193 innings. He hasn't been anywhere close to a workhorse the last 2 seasons, including only pitching 59.1 innings last season. So he hasn't been able to eat up innings, and it's clear that he has fallen on hard times. 

     Masterson has been stretched out to 4 innings so far in extended spring training, so he isn't even really close to hitting the mound for anyone competitively, let alone in the bigs. Despite all this, many do believe that Justin Masterson will be able to help the big league club in some way, shape, or form. I would tend do agree but he does have many obstacles to get there. 

     By the time he is ready for the MLB again, the Pirates pitching staff will be stacked after, at the least, Taillon comes up. The move would also put Nicasio to the pen which makes them deeper as well. The depth is only added to if Glasnow and Kuhl come up as well. So finding a spot for Masterson may be difficult, if the young guys perform like they are expected to.

     I think Masterson really comes into play if there is an injury or someone isn't performing well and needs to be replaced. I feel like the Pirates just signed him as an afterthought in the hopes that there was a sliver of hope that he could get his career back. The fact that he seems far away from competitive action and we haven't really heard about him scares me a bit. I just don't think he's in any major plans going forward for the Pirates. He's basically a fallback option if something were to go wrong. Who knows? We might see him at some point this year; we might not. Time will tell. 

Trevor Williams getting closer to return to the AAA rotation

     As reported by Tim Williams, Trevor Williams is starting his rehab assignment with the Bradenton Mauraders on his way back from injury. Williams is expected to join the AAA Indianapolis rotation after his rehab is complete.

     The Pirates acquired Trevor Williams from the Marlins this offseason for just about nothing. Some call it the way the Marlins thanked us for Jim Benedict. In any case, he has great stuff and many thought and may still think that he can help the big league club this season at some point. We will just have to see.

     The AAA rotation will get a boost with Williams as they are dealing with injuries, Boscan is in the MLB now, and Glasnow and/or Taillon, possibly even Kuhl, are set for the MLB within the next 3-4 weeks. That rotation will need another piece to help out down there on the farm. Williams will provide that piece. 

     This injury for him was a harsh setback considering he could've been right there in the discussion with Glasnow, Taillon, and Kuhl in terms of helping the big league club in June. However, I do fully expect him to come up to the Pirates this season to at least get a taste at some point. Trevor Williams gives the Pirates nice depth and insurance in case something happens to the pitching staff either in the big leagues or in AAA. 

Pirates extend Francisco Cervelli

     Much to the happiness of the fanbase, the Pirates announced an extension for catcher Francisco Cervelli. The reported details of the deal are 3 years/$31 million without any options or anything. Just a straight up deal. Pirates fans will be delighted with "That's Amore" and hopefully more scoreboard dating tips for years to come. 

     The Pirates faced some uncertainty at the catching position after this season. Stewart was extended, but he's not a starter at this point, but a very good backup. Elias Diaz has been plaqued by the injury bug and won't get it going agai until next year and even then who knows how he will perform. The next big catcher would be Reese McGuire, but he is moving slower through the lower parts of the minors than the Pirates had hoped. Getting Cervelli for a few more years was key. 

     They also were able to get Cervelli at below market value. He would've gotten more money had he elected free agency. However, Cervelli has always been a team guy, and that came out in this deal. In the offseason, he even said that he "doesn't want to be jumping around too much". Well, congrats Francisco, you won't be going anywhere for a few more years. 

     Cervelli has been great for the Pirates and is having a great season at the plate despite not being a power guy. His work behind the plate has helped out immensely and the pitching staff won't have to adjust to a 4th starting catcher in 6 years (Barajas, Martin, Cervelli over past 5 years). The pitching staff knows that Cervelli and Stewart will likely be the battery for awhile. The pitching staff knowing that has got to make them feel comfortable. 

     This deal is a slam dunk for the Pirates. They've really done a great job with in-season extensions in the past overall. There's little to suggest that this one will blow up in the Pirates' face. Cervelli is a steady player that you know what you'll get. That made this extension an easy decision. 

Alen Hanson set to join the Pirates today

     As it was reported yesterday, Alen Hanson is set to join the Pirates as Starling Marte is going on Paternity leave for the birth of his second child (if they can top the name Smerling I'll be impressed). Marte is expected to go on leave today as the Pirates go from facing baseball's best team in the Cubs to facing the worst the league has to offer with the Braves. It is also expected that at one point or another that Hanson will make his MLB debut in the time that he is around. The way they intend to use him is unknown to this point, however.

     Alen Hanson has flipped all over the diamond, learning many positions over his minor league career. He's known as a SS, but he has been working in the OF lately after talking some 3B reps before the Pirates acquired Aramis Ramirez last July. Alen Hanson's position flexibility has stemmed from the fact that his defense at the SS position has always been lackluster at best. The Pirates may feel that SS is too much of a leverage position in the majors for him. Nobody knows if he can cut it in the bigs at the SS position even though he's been working hard. Despite all this, his bat is undeniable as he has always been a great hitter. His ability to hit is what landed him as one of the top prospects in the league just a few seasons ago. Lately, he's been kind of fading away in the top prospect department, but he is still a very talented player capable of doing good things in the MLB. 

     I don't know if the Pirates would let him play OF in this mini stint he will have because of limited AAA work there and the fact that Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce are better OFs overall and the Pirates don't face uncertainty with them at this time. Another idea was Jhay in the OF and Hanson at 2B but I don't think that'll happen. I think the Pirates are okay with Harrison sticking at 2B where he has gotten quite comfortable. I don't think the Pirates will mess with that unless something drastic happens. 

     All in all, it's a mystery how Hanson will be used in this stint. A part of me wants to see him start at least once but another part of me thinks he won't. I'm excited about Alen Hanson, but I don't think he will make a big impact this time around the MLB. 

Will Chad Kuhl come before Taillon and Glasnow?

     All the talk is about Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow, and for good reason. However, the whole AAA rotation has been on fire, and that is even without Trevor Williams and Nick Kingham. One guy that is seldom talked about but is killing it in AAA is Chad Kuhl. 

     Chad Kuhl has worked his way under the radar through the Pirates system, but he's become difficult to ignore these days. His AAA ERA is slightly above 1, which is only statistical proof of how dominant he has been. He's looked even better than that from the naked eye. 

     But why would he possibly make it to the MLB before Taillon and/or Glasnow? Well, for one, he's actually pitched slightly better than those other two so far, if you can believe it. The other reason is pure circumstances. Going Super 2 with Kuhl may be less risky, just like we saw with Brandon Cumpton just a few years ago. Of course you never know, but it seems Super 2 for Kuhl wouldn't present as much of an issue as with Taillon and Glasnow. 

     If the Pirates want to fix the rotation immediately, it would seem that Chad Kuhl could be the guy they can call up to fill that need. Whether the rotation needs an immediate upgrade is another debate. Nicasio's been steady, Locke has been better his last 3 starts, and Niese just had a nice outing. Pirates might be able to afford waiting for JT and TG, but if a problem arises, Kuhl could help with very little risk. So don't be shocked if you see Kuhl up with the Pirates before the others. Don't be disappointed by it either because he's a really good pitcher that deserves recognition and a good chance.

The Pirates actually have a good pitching problem

     The Pirates pitching staff hasn't been lighting it up (unless if you're talking about the oppositions scoreboard) this season. The rotation has had its ups and downs and the bullpen has been overall dreadful. Some of the new-coming pitchers have experienced highs and lows, and Cole, Watson, and even Melancon haven't melded into form again just yet. Some guys have exceeded expectations thus far, such as Feliz and Nicasio. Put all this together and you got a pitching staff that is average or slightly below that mark so far this season. Despite all this, I believe the Pirates have a really good pitching problem on their hands. 

     Firstly, while some of these pitchers have been suspect at best, it's just a matter of time before they settle in and put up the numbers we expect from them. The biggest example of this is Jon Niese. His ERA isn't looking great right now, and many people are calling for his removal from the rotation right now. I think a little differently. 

     While his HR and walk numbers are higher than normal, his GB rate is about where it should be, which is a very good sign going forward. Also, the defense behind him has had problems at times. I know the guy needs to try to pick up his fielders, but he can't do it all the time. It becomes more difficult when the ball is being booted behind you almost all the time. I expect the defense behind him will improve and the homer numbers will go down towards his career average as well as his walks. I expect he will settle around the 3.75-4.05 ERA range, which is good in this front-loaded rotation (as soon as the youngsters arrive). 

     I also definitely expect Watson and Melancon to pitch better. We already are seeing signs of those two starting to get back into form. Same goes for Cole as well. I expect that these 3 won't have many troubles in a month or two and we will forget about their April struggles entirely. 

     Of course the main talked about topic is Taillon and Glasnow, for good reason because they are studs. They will, of course, be up in mid to late June when the Super 2 deadline is. Whether both will be up then is still a mystery. However, it is assumed that both will be placed immediately in the rotation. This means that two of the starters will have to go either to the pen or somewhere else. It's almost a certainty that Nicasio will wind up in the bullpen once one of them arrives. But how about the other? Many are saying Niese, but he's not leaving the rotation. His upcoming regressing to mean like I talked about earlier and his salary won't allow that. I think Locke is the candidate to leave the rotation (*Pirates fans throw a party in the streets*). Even though Locke is a quality 5 starter, a rotation with Cole, Liriano, Glasnow, and Taillon has no room for him. I don't see Locke as a bullpen option either. I think Locke is actually a very nice trade chip for the Pirates. Locke is an average 5 starter, which is actually rarer than you think it is in the MLB. Being a lefty also sweetens the pot. With cheap team control left for him, I could see the Pirates fetching at least a decent return for him if they want to trade him. If not, he certainly makes very good insurance and gives the Pirates a nice depth option if they needed it down the road. 

     It's all a trickle down affect for this team. Glasnow and Taillon arriving a producing will make this team better as a whole. It moves pieces around on this team that strengthens the rotation and the bullpen, which helps the team as a whole. However, this only works if one of these two guys actually performs, similarly to Cole in 2013. I think with these two outstanding pitchers, at least one of them will majorly help this year, if not both. The Pirates just need to get to late June in a decent playoff position and then we can watch them take off from July on. I'm excited about the future of this team, and the future is coming faster than we think! 

Taillon or Glasnow?

     Pirates fans are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of top pitching prospects Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon. Many believe that at least one, if not both, will be up after the Super 2 deadline which occurs around mid-June every year. There is a lot of debate going about which one will be up into the big leagues first. If you had asked me two years ago, I would've said Taillon. If you asked me last year, I would've said Glasnow. Between injuries and slower development than expected, it's hard to determine which of the guys will be in the big leagues first. I doubt they both arrive the same day as that would make little sense. However, it's not about which is first. It's about which is better. Today, I will analyze both pitchers and give my takes on them to determine which one I think is better. 

     Let's start with Jameson Taillon. Taillon was drafted second only to Bryce Harper in his draft class. He quickly became a guy Pirates fans became familiar with. Everyone became excited about and were impatiently awaiting his arrival to make a great 1-2 punch with Gerrit Cole. However, the future for Taillon became shrouded in mystery as he went on to miss nearly 2 years of baseball due to injuries. A guy that was on the cusp of the majors had it seemingly snatched away from him. In 2016, he's come back as dominate as ever before for AAA Indy on his road to major league glory. 

     Glasnow has had an easier road through the MiLB, but he didn't start out as someone you'd expect as a top prospect. The 5th round pick in 2011 was expected to be good but nowhere near as good as he has been. Nobody could have expected him to become top prospect material. He really has surprised us all. It took him a little while to get to the status he is at right now, but the hard work is paying off for him big time. 

     So, which one is better? For starters, Glasnow's ceiling is sky high. However, the floor for him is so very low. If he doesn't really polish up his off speed pitches, he's going to have a ton of trouble getting major leaguers out. As for Taillon, his ceiling isn't as high, but he is definitely more polished, even after missing two seasons. His floor is also not as low as Glasnow's. It's hard to imagine Jameson Taillon being any worse than a number 3 starter in the MLB. With Glasnow, I don't get that sentiment just yet. So, right now I'd have to go with Taillon over Glasnow but it's very close. An unpopular opinion, but it's one I feel is right. 

     But we don't really have to choose between the two and neither do the Pirates. It gives me joy that one day we will have a rotation with Cole, Taillon, and Glasnow all in it! Watch out, MLB! The Pirates rotation will be unstoppable soon!