David Freese stuck the dagger in the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates when blasted a second inning home run in Game Five of the National League Divisional Series.
Now, he’s competing for a job with them.
With Jung Ho Kang now likely to start the season on the disabled list, Freese went from unemployed to a near lock to being the Pirates’ opening day starter at third base. When Kang returns, likely in mid-April, Freese is slated to be the right-handed platoon partner with John Jaso at first base.
The move gives the Pirates some flexibility and infield depth, but will soon create a logjam when Kang returns.
If Freese moves to first base, Michael Morse becomes expendable. This could be a positive thing for the Pirates if Morse gets off to a hot start and they want to deal him, but if not he doesn’t offer much off the bench outside of his bat.
Morse has taken reps in the outfield in Spring Training, so he could be used as the team’s fifth outfielder instead of a player like Matt Joyce.
The other Pirates player all of a sudden out of a job is Jason Rogers.
Pittsburgh gave up two top 50 prospects in Keon Broxton and Trey Supak when they acquired Rogers from the Milwaukee Brewers, so given the price they paid it appeared Rogers would have a Major League job secured. Rogers is a player without a natural position, bouncing across the diamond in his Major League career. He is not a plus defender either, so that is another strike against him.
Rogers does have options remaining, but even with the Indians he may find playing time hard to come by. Josh Bell is a lock at first base, and Max Moroff will likely start at third base with Alen Hanson at second base. Dan Gamache would likely take over at first base if Bell is promoted, and Adam Frazier is a candidate to go to third base if Hanson is called up and Moroff moves to his natural position at second. The 28-year-old Rogers would likely be relegated to designated hitter until an injury or promotion occurs.
Hard to make sense of giving up Broxton and Supak for him now.
Speaking of Hanson, his chance at making the 25-man roster for the first time took a hit with the Freese signing.
Since Kang is injured, Hanson was in contention to start at second base with Josh Harrison at third. Now that Freese is in the fold, Harrison shifts over to second and it would seem unlikely that the Pirates keep Hanson just as a bench player. He will get his chance, and some more time at Indianapolis to learn the position might benefit him.
Above all, the Freese signing may allow the Pirates to buy time with their two top offensive prospects in Triple-A.
Bell struggled defensively at first base last year, and Hanson still could use more experience at second base. Having Freese on the team allows the Pirates to take their time with both players, and they can promote the two when they feel Bell and Hanson are ready.
The competition at the corners gives players like Morse and Freese competition to get at-bats, which might bring out the best in both players. First base has been a sore spot for the Pirates for years, and this approach may break that trend.
And whenever it is time to bring up Bell and Hanson, Morse and Freese could bring back a nice return in a trade.
