Pittsburgh Pirates Reportedly Open To Trade Jose Tabata Or Travis Snider
By Matt Gajtka
April 19, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Travis Snider (23) and right fielder Jose Tabata (right) celebrate after both players scored against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
There are less than two weeks to go before Opening Day, but it doesn’t seem like the Pittsburgh Pirates are content with their projected 25-man roster.
As reported Tuesday by Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Rob Biertempfel, the Pirates are actively shopping one of their right fielders and could be talked into trading the other.
#Pirates shopping RF Jose Tabata. Will be interesting to see if there are any takers with three years, $12.25M left on contract.
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) March 18, 2014
I've also heard Travis Snider could be available. #Pirates front office still likes Snider, but Polanco was very impressive this spring.
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) March 18, 2014
Travis Snider (.872 OPS) is currently outperforming Jose Tabata (.240 OPS) in Grapefruit League action, so it’s not shocking to hear the Pirates might want to swap the latter.
Beyond the spring results, the Bucs likely want to see what Snider can do now that he’s relatively healthy, whereas Tabata is more of a known commodity.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports that the Pirates are still looking for an MLB first baseman, making Tabata or Snider potential bait in an effort to augment the Gaby Sanchez/Andrew Lambo platoon that is likely to travel north at this point.
As Biertempfel tweeted, Snider and/or Tabata are probably just going to be seat-warmers in right field, since top prospect Gregory Polanco is on track to get a midseason call-up from Triple-A.
Related: Bucs catcher Chris Stewart likely to undergo knee surgery
With that in mind, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has some useful assets at his disposal as he seeks to improve the big-league roster.
Huntington has expressed public confidence in Sanchez’ ability to handle the majority of the playing time at first base if Lambo struggles, but the Bucco GM has to be concerned about the position with the season lurking.
Biertempfel also reported that, with rookie Stolmy Pimentel and veteran Bryan Morris looking strong out of the bullpen this spring, right-handed reliever Vin Mazzaro is available on the trade market.