From now until the end of spring training, I will take a look at each team’s top spring training battle.
That’s big for Fantasy Baseball owners as you never want to be on the wrong end of a battle come draft day as you are basically wasting a roster spot right off the bat. To get things started, let’s take a look at last year’s surprise in the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sep 19, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata (31) runs from first to third against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
With a solid young core in place, the Bucs don’t have a lot of holes to be filled except at first base and right field. With the Pirates still searching for a first baseman, let’s focus on the right field job as there should be a four-way battle for playing time with last season’s late acquisition Marlon Byrd now in Philadelphia.
However no matter who wins the Pirates starting job for Opening Day, they are merely keeping the seat warm until prized prospect Gregory Polanco gets the c all, which most likely will be in late June or early July, similar to how the Pirates handled Gerrit Cole last year.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the Pirates right field options in the first installment of my 2014 Fantasy Baseball Preview.
The Favorite: Jose Tabata
When he wasn’t injured last season, which seems to be an ongoing problem, Tabata had a solid 2013, posting a .771 OPS in 106 games. He did enough good things with the bat that should give him a long look to at least start the season as the Pirates everyday right fielder, or at the minimum as part as a platoon.
The downside to Tabata is that he doesn’t offer enough speed or power to be considered the long-term answer in right field or an option on your fantasy team.
However, if we are going by the assumption that we could see Polanco in June or July, the Bucs could do much worse than Tabata for a few months. Even when and if Polanco arrives, Tabata should remain a valuable part of the Pirates bench.
Could Emerge: Travis Snider
The Pirates tendered Snider a contract this offseason, which may have come as a surprise to some, but I didn’t mind the move as I think Snider deserves another look. Snider has disappointed since being acquired from Toronto during the 2012 season and we are still waiting for that power to show up, but he is a good defensive right fielder.
Snider posted a .614 OPS in 2013, and that was only slightly higher (.644) against right-handed pitching. A left-handed bat is going to play a big role in the right-field plans early in the year and Snider will get first crack. However, he will have to hold off two talented young players.
His power potential is intriguing but even if he opens up the season as part of a platoon, Snider offers very little fantasy value to begin the season.
Waiting For an Opportunity: Andrew Lambo
Aug 17, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Andrew Lambo (57) at the batting cage before playing the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
I see Lambo playing a role early in the Pirates season. The only question is whether he will get the opportunity to do so in right field or first base. Lambo has the power the Pirates seek as he hit 32 homers between Triple-A and Double-A last season and earned a call-up. Unfortunately, he got just 33 plate appearances at the big league level so we still don’t know about him.
Given the situation at first base, I would expect Lambo to get more of a look there, but don’t discount him in right field as he will be given an opportunity to earn that job in spring training as well.
Of all the players fighting for a job on the Pirates’ Opening Day roster, Lambo is the one fantasy owners should keep an eye on. He offers the most upside and his power should play well in PNC Park, especially with the short right-field porch. He posted a combined .922 OPS last season between Double-A and Triple-A and led all minor league players in homers.
He will strike out a ton, but Lambo could be a sleeper if he is given the opportunity. Monitor him during spring training as he could be a nice late-round pick for you that could offer up some production.
The Sleeper: Jaff Decker
Don’t discount the young Decker in this competition. He’s a highly thought-of young player who will be given an opportunity to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster. He can handle the bat, evident by his .824 OPS with the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A team last season.
It’s likely that he will have to have a big spring to supplant Tabata and Snider in right field, but he certainly will be given a chance to do so.
Even if he makes the team though, I don’t see him getting enough at bats initially to warrant fantasy consideration.
Prediction:
I think it is almost a forgone conclusion that Tabata and Snider will open the season as a right field platoon. I look for Lambo to make the team as a first baseman, since the Pirates could carry only four outfielders and handle Lambo in a similar fashion that they handled Garrett Jones in the past. That leaves Decker as the odd-man out, but I could see him still making the team as a left-handed bat off the bench.
If he has a good spring and Snider falters early on, I could eventually see Decker working his way into a platoon with Tabata before long.
However in terms of fantasy value, Lambo is the only one of the group who is worth keeping your eye on in spring training. If he seems like he will win a job, grab him late.
But at the end of the day this job will belong to Polanco, who is a five-tool stud in the making. It’s also encouraging that one National League GM tells Peter Gammons that the prospective Pittsburgh outfield of Polanco, Andrew McCutchen, and Starling Marte “will be the best outfield in the game.”
I have been holding onto Polanco for a couple years now in a couple of deep leagues I am in and I would recommend grabbing him and stashing him closer to June as he has the ability to come up and make a big impact right off the bat.