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MLB Power Rankings: Post Winter Meetings

By Joshua Sadlock

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton is introduced as a member of the New York Yankees during the 2017 Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort on Monday, December 11, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton is introduced as a member of the New York Yankees during the 2017 Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort on Monday, December 11, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole #45 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole #45 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

16. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are ahead of teams like Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Toronto for now because of their uncertain rebuilding motives. If, for example, the Orioles hold onto Manny Machado, they would leap over the Pirates in the Power Rankings. The Pirates do have assets to use if they too decide to go the way of the rebuild, but no real pressure to make deals this winter.

Gerrit Cole, Josh Harrison, Starling Marte and Francisco Cervelli are all under team control for at least two more seasons. Andrew McCutchen is the only looming free agent the Pirates should have some concern about this winter. The former NL MVP came back strong in 2017 and hit .279/.363/.486 with 28 home runs and 88 RBI. He was even better from June onward, hitting .308/.394/.528 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI in his final 104 games of the season.

The Pirates were dealt an awful hand when Marte tested positive for PEDs very early in the 2017 season. The year turned into an exercise in treading water, but some positives did emerge. Rookie first baseman Josh Bell impressed with 26 home runs and 90 RBI. Young starters Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams and Chad Kuhl all showed flashes of having what it takes to stick in the rotation for a contender.

Pittsburgh should be fielding calls on their biggest trade chips this winter, but will most likely hold onto all of them heading into next season. McCutchen has not even been mentioned in rumors yet this offseason. The front office jerked him around last winter, but a strong start to next season could prompt extension talks for the Steel City icon — who named his first-born son Steel.

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