Stories From Camp: Some Tough Cuts Coming Before Opening Day
With just six days left until the Pittsburgh Pirates open the 2021 season in Chicago, fans and players alike are getting excited. However, there are still moves that need to be made as the Pirates cut their roster down to the 26-man roster that will travel north for Opening Day. There have already been some surprising cuts to this point, with Cole Tucker and Edgar Santana being optioned, and some devastating injuries, with Steven Brault and Blake Cederlind both missing significant time. Both of these situations have a significant impact on how the roster will look and what moves the Pirates will make before the season begins.
This may mean some surprising moves are on the way as the team deals with Minor League Options, veterans not on the 40-man roster, or players who are flat outperforming in Major League camp. Ultimately, it will be the decision of Manager Derek Shelton and his coaching staff as to who they are going to bring with them to Chicago on Opening Day. Will David Bednar make the Major League roster? Is Todd Frazier going to be moved to the 40-man roster? Will Phillip Evans get a chance to build on last year's success? These questions and more will be answered in just six days. Today, we look at some players who might be cut by the Pirates before the team heads to Chicago and how it will impact the team moving forward.
IF Phillip Evans
In the world of hard cuts to make, this one might be the hardest for the Pirates to do. Phillip Evans burst onto the scene last season, playing in 11 games and hitting .359 with a home run and nine RBI. That momentum has continued into Spring Training 2021, as he has hit .393 with seven RBI in 28 at-bats this spring. However, Evans is most likely going to fall victim to the Minor League options situation. Evans still has a Minor League option remaining and because of this will probably be sent down before Opening Day. It is not a knock against Evan's performance so far, it is just the fact that the Pirates have some young talent they can't risk losing.
With Ben Cherington talking about taking 14 pitchers on Opening Day, that leaves just four bench spots when you take away the eight starting fielders. With one spot reserved for the back-up catcher and Todd Frazier likely getting a spot that leaves two spots left for four guys. With the Pirates signing Erik Gonzalez to a Major League deal this off-season he is likely to take the third spot, and that leaves a battle between Brian Goodwin, Dustin Fowler, and Evans for the final spot. Goodwin is older and can be let go, but Fowler has no options and is just 26-years-old. This means that Evans, who still has a Minor League option will most likely be the odd man out going down to the alternate training site. However, it likely won't last long, and we should see the exciting young utility man be called back up before the end of April to impact the Big League club.
RHP David Bednar
This move would probably be the hardest cut the Pittsburgh Pirates would have to make this Spring Training. David Bednar has been lights out this spring not allowing a run over eight games, 7.1 innings of work. He has struck out 14 batters in those 7.1 innings of work and has drawn comparisons to Matt Capps. However, despite the strong Spring Training, he could be another guy the Pirates send down at the start of the season. Bednar has been one of the hottest pitchers this spring, but guys like Chasen Shreve weren't signed to be able to just walk away. I hope management proves me wrong and keeps Bednar, but the prospects aren't looking good in his favor.
You also have to look at Bednar's Major League track record, which isn't nearly as good as it is in Spring Training. He has appeared in 17 career games with the San Diego Padres and has a career ERA of 6.75 in 17.1 innings of work. I'm a fan of Bednar and hope that he can make the Major League roster, but his track record in the Major Leagues might do him in. He still has five games to prove he belongs, but with Minor League options remaining under his belt, he might be another victim of tough cuts. Even if Bednar is cut before Opening Day on April 1st, he will definitely be a guy the Pirates call on when they need help in the bullpen this season.
OF Brian Goodwin
This off-season, the Pittsburgh Pirates were determined to add some veteran leadership to help the young guys. One of those guys the team added was outfielder Brian Goodwin, who signed a Minor League Free Agent deal on February 11th, 2021. Goodwin has five years of Major League experience and brings to the team some power that the Pirates desperately needed. However, the spring hasn't been too kind to Goodwin as he has hit just .226 with one home run and six RBI in 31 at-bats. However, four of those six RBI came on just one hit, a grand slam against the New York Yankees. However, the Pirates have a slew of young outfielders with no Minor League options left, and Goodwin may be the odd man out.
The problem with sending Goodwin to the Minor Leagues is if the Pirates do, Goodwin could walk away. With the Pirates in a rebuild, Goodwin could be a good trade chip if he performs well and the Pirates would lose out on that if he walks. He hasn't had the best spring, but in the past when given the chance, he has shown some power. In 2019, he appeared in 136 games for the Angels and ended up hitting .262 with 17 home runs and 47 RBI. The Pirates would love to get similar production from Goodwin off their bench in 2021. However, the question becomes can the Pirates carry five outfielders, or would that be waiting room on their bench. If it comes down to it, Goodwin might be the guy who becomes the odd man out on Opening Day.
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