The Pirates have selected outfielder Jared Oliva’s contract, per Adam Berry of MLB.com. They placed fellow outfielder Jason Martin on the 10-day injured list with an upper back strain and moved reliever Yacksel Rios to the 45-day IL in corresponding moves.
Oliva, who will turn 25 in November, could now get his first chance in the majors. The Pirates chose Oliva in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, and he made his Double-A debut last season. Oliva impressed at that level with a .277/.352/.398 line, six home runs and 38 stole bases across 507 plate appearances. He now ranks among the Pirates’ top 25 prospects at FanGraphs (No. 9), MLB.com (10) and Baseball America (23), with FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen writing last February that Oliva’s “on-base ability and speed might enable him to be a center field regular.”
The bottom-feeding Pirates need as many reasons for hope as possible, so Oliva could provide some reason for optimism as a rough season draws to a conclusion. The club’s outfield ranks 29th in the league in WAR (minus-1.5) and dead last in wRC+ (50), which helps explain why the Pirates own the majors’ worst record at 15-38.
Will they start him? Let’s hope.
Very good instincts, very good speed . Let the kid play!
I’m very high on Travis Swaggerty, but I am very interested in Oliva. Has lots of speed, and gets on base enough to show it off. Hope it translates to the bigs.
Me too. Swaggerty is our most under-rated prospect. He hit 14HRs, 23SB’s and hit .260 last year in the minors. And plays a good CF. He was a top 10 pick, a really good college and cape player. He has to hit higher than .260 but those are borderline all-star; atleast everyday CF on a play-off team numbers. He has to hit atleast .280 but 15 HRs and 15SBs a year and good defensive in CF is exactly what A.Meadows is. I think picking Swaggwrty that year is why the Pirates thought Meadows was expendable. Basically the same player except Swaggerty a better defender.
has the makings of a good 4th OF
I don’t know why we don’t start him eveyday(until Swaggerty is ready) just to see what we have. And start C.Tucker at SS and K.Newman at 2B everyday. That way we have our 2B, SS, 3B all pretty-much settled for the next 2 years (I guess until N.Gonazelz is ready). I see O.Cruz taking over RF for G.Polonco with Cruz’s arm. Trade Adam Frazier this summer; he’s not apart of our future.
Roster should be:
1.K.Newman-2B (N.Gonzalez ready in ‘22)
2.B.Reynolds-LF
3.K.Hayes-3B
4.Josh Bell-1B
5.C.Moran/W.Craig DH
6.J.Oliva-CF (Swaggerty ready in ‘22)
7.G.Polonco-RF (Cruz ready in ‘22)
8.J.Stallings-C
9.Cole Tucker-SS
Bn-E.Gonzalez,P.Evans,W.Craig,A.Alford, L.Maile (when Evans, Alford and Maile are healthy next year.
SP-J.Tallion, C.Archer, M.Keller, J.Musgrove, T.Williams
RP-R.Rodriguez, N.Burdi, K.Crick, B.Cederlind, C.Stratton, C.Ponce, N.Turley, S.Howard, A.Davis,S.Brault, C.Kuhl.
Everyday. Stop w/ Eric Gonzalez project, just like A.Frazier. Their floors might be higher but their ceilings arn’t close to Cole Tucker and K.Newman. Sub Eric Gonzalez/Philip Evans in at 2B,SS, 3B when Tucker or Newman need a rest. Or maybe at DH once in awhile.
Anyone they can trade this offseason will be traded. Archer will not be resigned
I disagree. I think Archer comes back on a cheap deal.
Archer has a 10M/1yr team option left for ‘21..they will bring him back.
If not, start Kuhl then, or bring up Cody Bolton. He’s ready.
Sure he does!
Everybody but Hayes, Keller, and Cederlind can be had. Those three can too, but cost would be astronomical.
They will trade(or try) to trade Josh Bell, Adam Frazier, G.Polonco, C.Moran, J.Musgrove, Trevor Williams, C.Archer, S.Brault, C.Stratton. No way they trade C.Tucker, K.Newman or Reynolds. They have 5 more years left of control. None of them are free agents till after 2025.
Or K.Hayes, M.Keller, & B.Cederlind.
“No way they trade C.Tucker, K.Newman or Reynolds.”
Ryan? Debbie? Burt? I’m not sure which Reynolds you meant there, Bob.
Just kidding. I love that you use each player’s initial. It shows a commitment to accuracy and clarity that is rare these days.
What do u expect us to get in replacement? Lol. Cole Tucker at SS and K.Newman at 2B(until Nick Gonzalez is ready) are viable options. Not Super stars but Newman hit .308, w/ 12Hrs & 16SB’s in 500 AB last year. What do u expect when we platoon him everyday w/ Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier. Give him 500 AB’s next year again and see. And B.Reynolds hit .314 and 16HRs in 480 AB’s last year. Again, what do u expect the Pirates to get in replacement?? They are viable options. W/ J.Tallion coming back, a legit Ace, Archer as a number 2 and M.Keller as a number 3 isn’t bad. Again, what big free agent do u expect the Pirates to get in replacement? Lol. K.Hayes, Cole Tucker, K.Newman, is a good 3 infielders too. Way better defense than we had in years.
You can’t platoon players and move them all over the infield and expect consistency FROM them. And not give it TO them. Certain players are good at the utility thing. Most arnt. It’s a specific skill. Start K.Newman Everyday at 2B, (stop moving him all over). Same w/ Cole Tucker at SS. Same w/ B.Reynolds in LF. None of them are utility players, never have been. Baseball players need to play through slumps, it’s a long season, they should get atleast 500ABs a year when healthy. They need a routine to be consistent too. It’s how most of them are taught. You’ll never get anything out of your players/team doing this. You’ll ruin good players careers.
Bob-I see your comments above and generally agree with them,especially the one about not moving these guys all around the field and even in the lineup.I have my questions about this manager.
Is Taillon going to be as good and is he anywhere near dependable?
They won’t risk $10M on Archer coming back from a major injury.
Don’t forget about Brubaker.
I think that they have to get rid of Polanco and eat most of his salary. He is pitiful.
I have always been a Josh Bell fan but I think that if he has a good year they should trade him as his arm is the worst that I have ever seen in the ML and he is too up and down in his batting production.
I think that they have to shop Trevor Williams and possibly include him with Polanco in a trade.
They should have given Will Craig some at bats this year.
I think that Jason Martin will be dropped off the roster.
I like Alford.Give him a chance.And Evans too.
I think that they should resign Kela and use him,Burdi,and Rodriguez as closers.
The second half last year was pitiful.
This is easily the worst team that I have seen in following the Pirates since 1961.
Some talk of the Pirates allowing Polanco to walk and then move Josh Bell to RF since his conversion to 1B has obviously not worked.
Polanco is owed $14M next year so he is not going anywhere unless they can dump him in a trade.
The sad state of the Pirates allows him to be the rbi leader of this team with a 0.150 batting average.
Bell has by far the worst arm in baseball.At this point he is mainly a designated hitter.