On Thursday, super utility man Sean Rodriguez officially turned his strong 2016 season with the Pirates into a free-agent payday. Rodriguez agreed to a two-year deal worth $11.5 million with the Braves after playing seven positions and hitting 18 home runs this past season.
It will be difficult, if not outright impossible, for the Pirates to replace what Rodriguez gave them in 2016. Bench players who provide that much power and versatility are very tough to find. That's why Atlanta jumped out ahead of the market and offered Rodriguez more money than he's banked in his career to date ($8.6 million).
According to Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are likely to replace Rodriguez internally rather than venture out into free agency or the trade market. Paying big for bench players usually doesn't work out well, historically, so this is a smart move by the Pittsburgh.
Here are the club's options to fill the utility role going forward.
The Pirates acquired Chris Bostick in a rare September trade; they got him from the Nationals in a very minor swap on September 26. Bostick, 23, reached Triple-A for the first time in 2016 and struggled, hitting .203/.261/.297 in 64 games. He has experience playing the two middle infield positions as well as left field though, so after some more time in the minors, Bostick could be a utility option.
Manager Clint Hurdle previously singled Adam Frazier out as a candidate to replace Rodriguez, according to Nesbitt. The 24-year-old hit .301/.356/.411 with two home runs and four steals in 66 MLB games in 2016, his first taste of the show. Frazier also played second, third, and all three outfield positions, plus he has a ton of shortstop experience from his minor league days. I'd say Frazier is the odds-on favorite to take over Rodriguez's role in 2017.
It's possible the Pirates have already been grooming Alen Hanson to replace Rodriguez. The 24-year-old former top prospect spent almost his entire career as a middle infielder before the club had him try third base and the outfield in 2016. Hanson hit .266/.318/.389 with 36 steals in 110 Triple-A games this year, so while he's very unlikely to replace Rodriguez's pop, he would be able to impact games with his legs.
Josh Harrison started his career as Rodriguez, the guy who played against lefties and at all different positions. He played his way into the team's full-time second base job -- and into a four-year deal worth $27.3 million -- so they may be hesitant to move him around again, but it is an option. Harrison has played all over the field and gives the club some flexibility. The Pirates could replace Rodriguez with a second baseman and move Harrison around instead.
The 23-year-old Max Moroff very briefly made his MLB debut in 2016 -- he had two at-bats -- after hitting .230/.367/.349 with eight home runs in a full season at Triple-A. Moroff has been an infielder exclusively his entire career, but he's athletic and a good defender, meaning it would be worth giving him a look in the outfield at some point. A switch-hitter who will work the count is a good asset for any bench.
Jason Rogers, 28, spent most of the 2016 season in Triple-A after playing 86 games with the Brewers in 2015. He hit .263/.338/.371 with six homers in the minors this year while playing both corner infield spots and a tiny little bit of left field. Rogers doesn't offer as much versatility or the same defensive chops as Rodriguez, but he's hit lefties throughout his career and can play more than one position.
Even if the Pirates were willing to go out into free agency to replace Rodriguez, I'm not sure who they could target. Adam Rosales stands out for his versatility, though his career numbers against lefties aren't great. Chris Coghlan is flexible, but as a left-handed hitter, he won't be much help against southpaws.
In all likelihood Frazier will get the first crack at replacing Rodriguez next season with Hansen waiting in the wings. Moving Harrison around is a possibility too. Others like Moroff, Bostick, and Rogers are deep sleepers who could factor into the bench picture with strong showings in spring training.