Pirates searching for a first baseman
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While starting pitching remains their main focus, the Pirates are also searching for a first baseman.
In fact, finding either an everyday first baseman or a platoon partner for right-handed hitting Michael Morse is one of the things the Pirates are hoping to accomplish during the Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, which began Monday at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention and continue through Thursday.
The Pirates talked to the Rangers about left-handed hitting Mitch Moreland. Texas is willing to part with Moreland because he will become eligible for free agency at the end of next season and they have Prince Fielder as their regular first baseman.
However, the two teams don’t match up particular well as trading partners. The Rangers, managed by former Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister, want right-hander Charlie Morton in return, but the Pirates’ rotation is already depleted following the retirement of A.J. Burnett and A.J. Happ leaving as a free agent for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Thus, the teams are seeking another partner for a potential three-team trade that would send a starter to the Pirates.
The Rangers are also interested in catching prospect Elias Diaz, who was spent the final month of the season with the Pirates. However, with catchers Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart eligible for free agency after next season, Diaz will likely be needed at the major league level in 2017.
A Pirates’ source said they would need more than Moreland to part with Diaz. They have interest in a number of Rangers’ relief pitchers, including left-hander Jake Diekman and right-handers Shawn Tolleson and Sam Dyson.
The free agent market is thin on first baseman.
Though the Pirates have interest veteran slugger Mike Napoli, the downside is that he is a right-handed hitter.
Justin Morneau is the most prominent left-handed hitting first baseman unsigned, but he continued to be dogged by concussion problems last season with the Colorado Rockies. Furthermore, the Pirates don’t seem to have much interest in bringing him back after he struggled during the final month of the regular season and postseason in 2013 season after being acquired from the Minnesota Twins in a trade.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels reportedly gauged the Pirates’ interest in a trade for veteran left-hander C.J. Wilson. Wilson is owed $20 million next season in the last year of his contract, but the Angels would be willing to pay a considerable chunk of that in order to free up money to pursue outfielder Jason Heyward in free agency.
The 35-year-old Wilson was 8-8 with 3.89 ERA in 21 starts last season before undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery. He is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training.