It's been a tough season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose fans are understandably frustrated after yet another losing year. The promise of a 2025 World Series window seems a little unrealistic given what Bucs supporters have gone through the past few years.
While some players do resemble a major-league product, others don't belong on the big-league squad but are receiving playing time for now. Frankly, someone has to play in these otherwise meaningless games alongside those who (hopefully) will one day help this proud baseball city heal.
Pittsburgh Pirates who won't be on the MLB roster next season: Connor Joe
While Connor Joe started his career off well with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he has recently been a tough watch. His main appeal is that he can play multiple positions. Besides that, since he is getting forced to play out of position, the Bucs struggle when he's on the field.
While he has hit ten home runs, which is his career high, he has also played in the most games of his career, and since joining, his strikeouts are almost at a career-high, with his ability to walk falling to one of the lowest points in his career. In his prior two seasons with the Colorado Rockies, he appeared to be a decent hitter that the Pirates should acquire.
The Pirates currently have a spot for Connor Joe, but with a stacked outfield, he can't play there long term. Even now, they can't play him in the infield (specifically, at first base) because a Carlos Santana reunion could be in the cards after trading him earlier this season. Joe is overall a pretty solid player, but he should only receive consistent playing time on a rebuilding team, not a contender or a team trying to contend.
Pittsburgh Pirates who won't be on the MLB roster next season: Jason Delay
The Pirates have no need to keep Jason Delay. They need to instead pair Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez behind home plate, then have Rodriguez play first on his off-days while having Davis platoon as an outfielder.
There is no room for Delay on this team. Davis can't play well in the outfield and must often receive time at catcher to make up for his lack of defensive skills. At the same time, when a catcher is in the game to help score runs, Delay rarely helps the situation, leaving runners on base frequently.
Delay has the potential to be with the Pirates in the 2024 season, but it solely depends on whether or not the Bucs intend on using Davis fully in the outfield. If they decide to only use Davis in the outfield, Delay may keep his job. But if they want Davis to continue to play catcher too, Delay will have to look for another team because having three catchers on the squad would be a questionable array of resources.
Pittsburgh Pirates who won't be on the MLB roster next season: Alika Williams
Alika Williams holds many similarities to former Pirates like Kevin Newman, who was shipped off to the Cincinnati Reds. But when Oneil Cruz returns, Williams won't have a spot in the lineup.
Just like Kevin Newman, he can play really good defensive shortstop, but his hitting could use some work. In high-leverage situations to help the team win games, he is 2-for-17 with a batting average of .118 and two walks. This stat alone isn't too bad, but when you see his OPS+ is sitting at 49 (100 average), you realize a pitcher could probably hit better than him in clutch situations.
While he shows potential to be a good contact-hitter, he hasn't been decent in the majors and should probably develop more in the minors.
Pittsburgh Pirates who won't be on the MLB roster next season: Alfonso Rivas
The only reason Alfonso Rivas is on the Pirates' MLB roster is because they traded away Carlos Santana and needed a first baseman who could fill the role temporarily.
He has shown potential at Triple-A, but he is another Four-A player who can't succeed at the next level. In 164 MLB games, which is a full sample size, he has been average at best and below average at worst. In his performances with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, he hasn't hit well at all. Besides being called a "contact-hitter," he has done the exact opposite with an average of just .235, while having an 84 OPS+, meaning he is 16 percent worse than the average player while also not showing potential on the defensive side.
Rivas likely won't have a job after suggestions that the Pirates could target Carlos Santana this offseason in hopes of bringing back his veteran leadership to unite the team for a playoff run. Rivas could be a full-time starter, but only on a rebuilding team.
Pittsburgh Pirates who won't be on the MLB roster next season: Quinn Priester
Quinn Priester, like everyone else on this list, showed promise, and that's why he made it to the MLB level. But Priester was a surprise that the Pirates drafted with the 18th-overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft.
In his eight games, of which he started six with the Pirates in 2023, he has been one of their most inconsistent pitchers. In those 8 games, he has an ERA of 8.61 but somehow holds a record of 3-2. Frankly, Priester has a lot of room to improve.
Priester's fastball lacks high velocity, with an average of 93 MPH, and batters are hitting an incredible .412 off of it. The run value on it is -8, the worst in his arsenal. His slider is hardly better, with batters hitting .303 and it boasting a -6 run value. Clearly Priester needs to continue to develop his primary pitches, let alone everything else in his pitch selection.
His troubles in 2023 have mostly been due to his lack of control. Priester often walks batters, which leads to more base-runners, and he often leaves his fastball right out over the middle of the plate.
