Blocked Prospects: Steve Pearce
During 2007 Pirates prospect Steve Pearce hit a combined .333 with 31 home runs, 40 doubles, 113 RBI, and a .622 slugging percentage. The soon-to-be 25 year-old was named both Offensive Player of the Year by MiLB.com and the Topps Minor League Player of the Year. He ranks #43 on Kevin Goldstein's Top 100 Prospects list for 2008 and received a callup last September. Yet, as of Monday he was reportedly sweating it when the team announced several cuts.
Pearce had played first base since he was drafted, but with the Pirates looking to locking up Adam LaRoche long term the team rerouted him to the outfield. The Pirates flirted with the transition late last year, giving Pearce 10 games in right prior to his call-up. Once in Pittsburgh he started 17 games in right field and only two at first. He hit .294/.342/.397 over 68 plate appearances; his bat appears nearly Major League ready.
Jason Bay and Xavier Nady await, each simmering on the hot stove. It's a poorly guarded secret the Pirates would love to ditch Nady, but a recent chat with the Mets didn't go anywhere. Bay was also the subject of several trade talks during the offseason and would likely come closer to fetching the young pitching prospects GM Neal Huntington craves (his short list is unlikely to include Scott Schoeneweis).
This all puts Huntington in a fairly comfortable position. He can afford to send Pearce back to Indy to get a few more reps at the new position while he waits for the right deal. But with Pearce's bat looking to be big league ready, how long are Pirates fans willing to wait?
Aaron Shinsano writes for East Windup Chronicle and can be contacted at eastwindupchronicle@gmail.com
I love Pearce.
Pearce = Beast Master!
Posted by: bsox21 | March 12, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Pearce is a good hitting prospect but it wouldn't hurt him to get some more AAA ABs where he can also learn to play outfield more.
Posted by: gogopalehose | March 12, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Huntingdon will not trade Nady for less than his value. Unfortunately Pearce will be the victim in this situation as Bay will probably be traded before Nady. I think that Nady is more of a pinch hitter/4th OF/backup 1B than a starting RF.
Posted by: oxfrat1665 | March 12, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Nady is probably a better fit, but Bay would sure be welcomed by the Shea faithful. No doubt that Pearce is wasting away in the minors.
Posted by: rotomaniac | March 12, 2008 at 09:20 AM
the pirates have fans??
Posted by: junbun | March 12, 2008 at 06:35 PM
I disagree gogo.
Pearce is ready to play at the ML level, and holding him down on the farm looks to be a waste.
Pearce could put up Nady's numbers...at least...right now. He'll never be a great outfielder and a couple months in AAA isn't going to change that.
I can't believe Pittsburgh can't find a suitor for Nady.
Posted by: Devlsh | March 12, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Nady is not a pinch hitter/fourth outfielder. This guy was the pirates most consistent producer last year. He'll be moved but I do think there is a possiblity it's to third base to make room for pearce. He was a shortstop in college and the pirates have been taking a look at him there.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | March 12, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Last year's numbers are all that you can expect from Nady. He won't play 3B, that's stupid when a prospect held in higher regards than Pearce is waiting. And I'd bet you Pearce's power numbers would be better than Nady's this year if they were given the same number of ABs but Nady would probably have a higher average.
Posted by: oxfrat1665 | March 13, 2008 at 06:57 PM