The Pirates have been without Corey Dickerson since April 4 due to a shoulder strain, but the outfielder is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate this evening, per a team announcement.
It’s certainly welcome news for the Pirates, although the Pittsburgh outfield has been surprisingly productive even without Dickerson’s bat in the middle of the lineup. Melky Cabrera, signed to a minor league contract in the offseason, has given the Bucs a surprisingly strong .333/.370/.464 slash with three homers and nine doubles in 147 trips to the plate. In the other outfield corner, Gregory Polanco has turned in a similarly strong .278/.343/.522 slash and belted five long balls in 99 plate appearances since his own return from the injured list. Even rookie Bryan Reynolds has been brilliant since debuting earlier this season. In 89 plate appearances, the switch-hitter has a .321/.382/.568 slash with four homers and eight walks against 19 strikeouts.
If there’s been any weak spot in the outfield, it’s been in center, where Starling Marte has hit just .244/.275/.415 in 172 plate appearances. Marte is still hitting for power, playing solid defense and providing value on the basepaths, but he’s drawn only three walks all year. The decline in on-base skills hasn’t been accompanied by an uptick in strikeouts, but Marte’s apparent impatience at the dish, paired with some poor luck on balls in play, has weighed down his overall output.
It’s not clear how long Dickerson will need on his rehab assignment, but the strong production the Pirates have received in the corners suggests they won’t feel an urgency to rush him back. How he’ll fit into the lineup is a greater question. Dickerson, 30, slashed .300/.330/.474 in 533 plate appearances last season and will presumably be a prominent figure in the outfield once he’s at full strength. Cabrera seems likeliest for a reduced role, given that he’s playing on a minor league deal and his offense has slipped a bit over the past couple of weeks anyhow. Regardless of how the playing time shakes out, the Pirates will file it under the “good problem to have” category. Dickerson’s return will only deepen the outfield/bench mix for a Pirates club that, at 25-22, sits 3.5 games back in the NL Central and just one game back in the Wild Card race.
For Dickerson himself, a productive return will be of particular importance. He entered the season with five-plus years of Major League service time and is slated to become a free agent for the first time in his career this coming offseason.
Dickerson needs to play when he returns, if only to showcase him for a trade. Reynolds looks like the real deal and is going to permanently displace somebody sooner or later.
they could try to sell high in Melky right now. he’s on a minors deal, so they’ll probably bite.
They could, but even with his hit start I don’t know how great of a return they get for a 35 year old Melky. I also think that he would make an outstanding bench piece to keep around. A healthy and producing Dickerson nets a better trade return, but nobody is going to trade for Dickerson until they see him play and produce.
Melkys production has slipped? Granted he’s a bit over his head now but I see no signs of slipping. Dickerson….if Reynolds continues his all round production may force the hand of the Pirates at the deadline. Most likely Dickerson will go since he’s on his last yr.
Not to the point where he’s been bad or anything, but .289/.325/.366 over the past couple of weeks is a far cry from what he did up until that point. You’ll still take that all day from a Melky Cabrera minor league deal flier, of course.
So by that calculation if Bellinger goes from .400 to .380 over a couple of weeks he’s slipping? Technically yes….but the term doesn’t fit here with the normal ups and downs of a MLB season.
If you call Marte “still hitting with power” with 5 dingers in 164 at bats…..what
That’s roughly a 20 homer pace over a full season…it’s not elite power but it’s not bad either
The Pirates went 1-9 (24-13 otherwise) when Marte was on the DL. His value to this team is huge and clearly not showing up in the numbers.
Trade Dickerson unless Reynolds cools off. He looks real and Melky is a fine 4th OF.
Marte was out when the Pirates played the DBacks and the Dodgers.For some reason they cannot beat the DBacks(1-6),and the Dodgers are just a way better team(0-4 with today’s Hurdle debacle).
I agree that Marte has certain areas that are taken for granted,but he will never be near the superstar that his raw talent suggests.He is too laid back and not disciplined enough.I think that they will trade Dickerson since he is on his contract last year,but Reynolds seems like he can play center field.I would float Marte’s name also.
Melky is an excellent fourth outfielder.I would hope that he could come back next year.
Where have you gone Lonnie Chisenhall?!
Chisenhall was planning on staying off the DL this yr but they go ahead and rename it the IL. Lonnie can’t catch a break……no pun intended.
I believe that I read somewhere in the last couple of days that he has missed some time lately for personal reasons.
It seems to me that the Pirates have not pushed him and Dickerson because of the excellent production from the Melkman and Reynolds.
Perhaps they can petition to have four man outfields like in softball.