Welcome to the Pirates mailbag, where Post-Gazette reporters Andrew Destin and Noah Hiles answer all of your questions about the ball club. If you have a question, find them on X at @AndrewDestin1 and @_NoahHiles or email them at adestin@post-gazette.com and nhiles@post-gazette.com. Andrew and Noah will answer your questions in full length each Thursday. Below are this week’s top questions:
AJ: The Pirates have extended a key piece each of the last three springs, so who would be the likely candidates this year? Any rumblings? It's not like they broke the bank in free agency. Seems like this might be the last chance to buy sort of low on Cruz. Any chance for Skenes?
Destin: I cannot say with confidence that an extension is imminent for any Pirates player. There are some logical candidates, like Oneil Cruz, but you have to wonder how much higher the Pirates are willing to allow their payroll to increase considering Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Mitch Keller are all locked up long term. As for Paul Skenes, I cannot say with confidence if anything is on the horizon.
Hiles: I haven’t heard much on that front. Cruz perhaps makes the most sense, but I think that would be a long shot. Skenes is obviously the top guy they should try to extend, but I’m not sure if it’s possible at this point.
Sam: Do you think Matt Gorski will be on the opening day roster? He certainly has much needed power for 1st base. He deserves a shot!
Destin: His odds are slim, but there is an avenue. Should he continue to mash like he has during the early parts of spring training, Gorski will only improve his chances. That being said, there are a number of guys seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, both in the outfield and at first base. And of course, there’s the reality that with Gorski not being on the 40-man roster, he faces an uphill battle in that somebody else would need to be designated for assignment.
Hiles: I don’t think so. While he has flashed some pop, most of his big hits have come against minor league arms in the late innings of games. I would like to see him get more at-bats against true big-league starters and relievers. If he continues to hit the ball well against those players, then I think there is a better argument.
John: Looking into your crystal ball, where do you see the future of Bae, Delay and Peguero with the Pirates?
Destin: If we’re ranking the futures of all these guys in terms of their Pirates tenures, I would say it goes Liover Peguero, Ji Hwan Bae and then Jason Delay, in that order. That’s not a knock on any one player but rather a reflection of the franchise’s depth chart. Even if one were to include Isiah Kiner-Falefa, there aren’t many true shortstops in the organization beyond Peguero. He hasn’t hit much in the big leagues, but his defense did take a tangible step forward in 2024. I wonder if he still remains in the Pirates’ long-term plans, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now. As for Bae, he provides an element that few others in the organization can, with his speed and ability to play either second base or any of the outfield spots. Delay, meanwhile, is in a difficult spot considering there are seemingly three catchers whom the franchise views more favorably in Joey Bart, Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez. Delay could very well be a backup catcher for a good while in the majors, but I don’t think that will be in Pittsburgh.
Hiles: I don’t see a very bright future for any of those names. Peguero has the best shot, simply because he is one of the few true shortstops in the organization. But I haven’t been encouraged with what I have seen from him at the plate this spring. Delay is a solid backup catcher, but there are just too many guys with a higher ceiling of potential ahead of him on the depth chart. Bae is a great athlete, but I’m skeptical on if his game will ever translate to the major league level. He shows flashes of talent, but there is still so much work to do both at the plate and in the field.
JP: Do you think the new hitting coach will focus on small ball this year? We know there's not much power in the lineup, so is generating offense in other ways a priority?
Destin: I would be pretty surprised if the Pirates adopted a franchisewide philosophy for hitting under Matt Hague’s tutelage. From what I can gather based on his interactions in the clubhouse with hitters, Hague is in the early stages making slight tweaks to guys’ swings. Maybe things will change in a more significant way once the regular season gets underway, but I frankly don’t envision that.
Hiles: I don’t think there will be a teamwide approach for any specific hitting style, but I could see them trying to manufacture runs a bit more than they have in the past. Just looking over the roster, there aren’t a ton of home run hitters. The roster does however have some speed, and this team runs the bases well. It would make sense to lean on small ball a bit more.
Johann: In the spirit of Daniel Vogelbach, if you could choose one former Pirate to be hired as a roaming instructor for the organization, who would it be?
Destin: This is a fun one, and the catcher aficionado in me can’t help but pick Jason Kendall. Sure, Kendall was better known for his offensive prowess than defensive capabilities, but those hitting skills were pretty darn impressive. Considering how many young or relatively young catchers the Pirates have on the scene these days in Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez and Joey Bart, I think it would go a long way if those guys could learn a thing or two from Kendall.
Hiles: Great question, Johann. I think I would go with Barry Bonds. He has experience as a hitting coach at the game’s highest level and he would come with immediate credibility. In a lesser role, where he can bounce around the minor league levels and just give direct instruction to a few players here and there, I could see him providing tremendous value. It would also be nice just to see Bonds around the Pirates organization more often.
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First Published: March 6, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
