GM Huntington felt winter meetings were productive
SAN DIEGO — The Pirates headed home from the Winter Meetings feeling good Thursday.
General manager Neal Huntington felt it was a productive four days at the Manchester Grand Hyatt as he made a pair of moves, reached agreement with free agent left-handed starter Francisco Liriano to return to the Pirates for three years and $39 million then acquiring left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo from the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade.
“We’re a better team that we got here,” Huntington said. “If the season started (tomorrow), I’d feel good about the club we’d being going the season with. You’re never completely satisfied and you’re always looking to strengthen your roster, but I do like what we have right now.”
Liriano will be one of the Pirates’ top three starting pitchers in an order to be determined along with right-handers A.J. Burnett and Gerrit Cole. Left-hander Jeff Locke and right-hander Vance Worley will have the inside track on the other rotation slots while righty Charlie Morton recovers from hip surgery.
The everyday lineup is set with catcher Francisco Cervelli being the lone newcomer after being acquired last month from the New York Yankees in a trade. The infield consists of first baseman Pedro Alvarez, second baseman Neil Walker, third baseman Josh Harrison and shortstop Jordy Mercer with an outfield of left fielder Starling Marte, center fielder Andrew McCutchen and right fielder Gregory Polanco.
Alvarez will be given a chance to show he can left-handed pitching and play every day. If he can’t, utility infielder Sean Rodriguez will likely play first against right-handers.
Though Cervelli has been a career backup, the Pirates believe he can catch two-thirds of the games with Chris Stewart handling the rest of the work behind the plate.
One area of need might be another right-handed bat as the bench look like it will lean the other way with first baseman/outfielder Andrew Lambo and outfielder Travis Snider both left-handed hitters and utility infielder Pedro Florimon a switch-hitter.
Mark Melancon will again be the top pitcher in the bullpen as the closer and will be set up by left-hander Tony Watson and right-hander John Holdzkom.
Bastardo and right-hander Jared Hughes will also work in the late innings. Right-handers while right-handers Stolmy Pimentel and Radhames Liz, the former Baltimore Orioles’ prospect who was signed as a free agent after playing in Taiwan, will be multiple-inning pitchers.