MLB Free Agency: Five right fielders Pirates should be targeting
By Matt Shetler
3. Nate Schierholtz – The Pirates were linked to the Cubs right fielder during the trade deadline last season and it makes sense for Huntington to re-visit those talks. He is coming off a solid 2013 season in which he hit 21 homers and would provide a nice platoon in right field with Tabata.
Aug 23, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Nate Schierholtz (19) is congratulated by third base coach
David Bell(right) after a three-run home run during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
With more than five years of big league service time, Schierholtz is arbitration eligible and under the Cubs’ control for one more season. Matt Swartz has projected a $3.8 million salary for 2014, a $1.55 million raise on Schierholtz’s 2013 base salary. That’s salary the Pirates should be able to take on if needed.
Many teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks are checking in on his availability and the Bucs should be one of those. What makes Schierholtz a nice option is that he would translate to a nice bench piece as well if it is deemed Polanco is ready this year.
4. Delmon Young – I’m not the biggest fan of Young’s, but he is a guy that could be worth rolling the dice on a cheap deal. Split between the Phillies and Tampa Rays last season, Young hit .260 with an OPS of .715. He’s the kind of player I would rather the Bucs shy away from, but given the market they could do much worse.
Young has expressed some interest in re-signing with the Rays, but he is a guy with a decent bat and a little bit of pop that might be worth a look.
5. Brennan Boesch– If the Pirates are looking to go real cheap as an alternative, a guy like Boesch makes some sense. He is only 29 and after being released by the New York Yankees last season after being injured, could be a candidate for a bounce-back season. Huntington likes his low risk-high reward guys and Boesch could be exactly that.
He’s a left-handed bat, which is nice and has a career .260 batting average to go along with a .733 OPS. Boesch has a little bit of power, hitting a combined 42 homers and driving in 175 runs in his first three MLB seasons, all in Detroit. Given the short porch in right field at PNC Park, there’s a chance those numbers could go up.