Part two of the Pirates most valuable player list will highlight players ranked fifth through second. This list includes all-stars, consistent play and an MVP award. Let the debate and countdown continue.
#5 Starling Marte– This is the second outfielder to appear in the countdown. Marte is the best two-way outfielder on the team and arguably in the league. Though he showed a couple of defensive lapses this season with not hitting the cutoff man in a timely manner, Marte’s arm is the most dangerous among the outfield and his speed does not mess up his route running as it does with Gregory Polanco. If Marte does not win a Gold Glove Award this season, as flawed as that award is, then there should not be an award. Marte appeared to have a high power number season this year, though it could have been even better if he was not slowed by injury. He admitted that his hit by pitches in his hands did bother him toward the middle to middle-end portions of the season. Still, his plate discipline at the plate improved and he has made himself into an everyday player that manager Clint Hurdle can trust to make an impact daily.
#4 Andrew McCutchen– Yes a potential National League MVP candidate places fourth on this list. No one slumped in April more than he did and he called himself out on that. Though he was ranked the top center fielder in a Fox Sports 1 tweet graphic, his hitting of the cutoff man notably was inconsistent throughout the season, and at times, this hurt the team. Additionally towards the end of the season, with Jung Ho Kang injured, he was pitched around and did not make the adjustment as consistently as he could have, With McCutchen as complete of a player as he is, you have to nitpick as much as possible. Defensively, McCutchen likely has the most accurate arm among the heralded “best outfield in baseball,” several teammates have attested to that. He earned another All-Star Game berth and consistently was feared by opposing pitching and he improved upon his ability to hit to all fields. Still in terms of impact, three were better this season.
#3 Gerrit Cole– What a great coming out season for him. If it was not clear already, now it is, Gerrit Cole is and will continue to be this team’s ace. Yes, he had the August lapse, and yes he still cannot figure out the Reds, but Gerrit Cole was the best pitcher on this team. Period. Cole can credit this success on not just relying on his fastball. His slider is devastating and a very underrated pitch. Ray Searage discussed how Cole became a changed man following injury following the 2014 off-season, and fans got a front row seat to see that. Gerrit Cole is a darn good baseball player. You can tell he knows that because of the way he carries himself, but now fans see why he is good. Cole is never short of confidence and visibly shows his emotions. All of this equation equals a talented player who will do everything he can to follow this up and perform even better in 2016.
#2 Francisco Cervelli– If you want to talk about passion, it starts with this man. This guy came in and earned the respect of every pitcher on this team. No one took more hits then this guy, but all he did was continue crouching behind the plate and more often than not get the last laugh. The thing about Cervelli that perhaps is most remarkable, is that he got better as the game got on and he frequently delivered from the seventh inning until the end of the game. No one has had it rougher than Cervelli when it came to freak injuries and despite frequent foul tips and close calls, he was not going to let anyone get the best of him. His personality made him a fan favorite, high energy made him a favorite among players and his work on and off the diamond made him respected among everyone. All of these factors place him second on the list.
