The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to already make a move in free agency. Granted, it was only to bring back one of their own in Jung Ho Kang. The troubled infielder signed a one-year deal with the Pirates to be on the club for at least one more season.
Most believe that he will occupy a bench spot on the team and will play some 3rd base on days where Moran is not. However, what if the signing of Jung Ho Kang is larger than it seems?
The biggest area of weakness for the Pirates entering the offseason that needs addressed is shortstop. Incumbent Jordy Mercer departs after six-plus mediocre but steady seasons as the shortstop where he was neither bad nor good. Heir apparents Kevin Kramer and Kevin Newman are set to be the future of the club at the position (or at least until Cole Tucker blows away the competition and pushes one of them out). However, neither Kramer or Newman boosted anyone’s confidence about them in their audition in September and Tucker looks as though he will not be in the majors until the middle of 2020 at the earliest. This all leaves potentially a hole in 2019 at a position that was already weak as it is.
Enter Jung Ho Kang, the former Korean shortstop. While the Pirates seem intent on him playing third base ever since the gruesome injury that ended his 2015 season, plans do change as time goes on. Pirates general manger Huntington strongly suggested that there could be a move this offseason to add a veteran to assist the youngsters at the shortstop position. But, have they already done it with Jung Ho Kang?
My answer to this would be no, for a few reasons. Firstly, he has barely played baseball for two years, let alone shortstop, a position he hasn’t played regularly in nearly four years. Secondly, the Pirates haven’t seemed intent on moving him back to that position before, and it is kind of getting too late to do it now. Additionally, he has enough of an uphill climb to come back and be a productive player, or even to keep his head above water in the big show. Lumping that in with a position change would make things tougher. He is also an unknown at this point, so it seems unlikely that the Pirates would want to be put in a spot where they are relying on him heavily.
Could he push his way into a larger role if he plays well and shows off vintage Kang? Certainly. But it won’t be given to him. So, adding Kang was a move for them to improve the bench and help with platoon matchups, as well as hoping he bounces back a little bit at least. I can say with a high amount of confidence that he is not the veteran the Pirates have signed to be the shortstop mentor next year. That guy is still out there.
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