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Fantasy Baseball: Pittsburgh Pirates 2020 fantasy preview

By Mike Marteny

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 14: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on from the top step of the dugout while preparing to walk to the on-deck circle against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Chase Field on May 14, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 14: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on from the top step of the dugout while preparing to walk to the on-deck circle against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Chase Field on May 14, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin Newman #27 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on September 27, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

2020 Pittsburgh Pirates projected starting lineup:

Kevin Newman, SS (.308, 12 HR, 64 RBI, 16 SB in 493 AB)
Bryan Reynolds, LF (.314, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 3 SB in 491 AB)
Adam Frazier, 2B (.278, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 5 SB in 554 AB)
Josh Bell, 1B (.277, 37 HR, 116 RBI, 0 SB in 527 AB)
Gregory Polanco, RF (.242, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 3 SB in 153 AB)
Colin Moran, 3B (.277, 13 HR, 80 RBI, 0 SB in 466 AB)
Jacob Stallings, C (.262, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB in 191 AB)
Jarrod Dyson, CF (.247, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 30 SB in 400 AB with ARI)

The Pirates are going to have to adjust to life without Starling Marte. He wasn’t that great last year, but Dyson isn’t going to fill that gap. That’s fine. The Buccos had five guys with a .277 average or better. They can definitely help your average, which can be key later in drafts.

Josh Bell might be a first-round pick. He hits for a good average and drives in a ton of runs because his teammates get on base. He’ll go in the top 20 everywhere this year and could sneak into the first round a few times.

We patiently waited for the power to come for Moran, but he still hit for a good average and drove in a lot of runs. I like him a little less in the six hole, but I don’t mind using him as my CI slot. Same with Frazier in a MI slot. None of his numbers wow you, but if he’s batting cleanup, we all know he can drive in runs.

Newman and Reynolds have decent power. Newman has decent speed. Both will score a lot of runs. Don’t overlook this in the draft. Don’t reach for them either, but I like both as middle round picks. Newman is good consolation if you draft late in the first and miss out on the big names at SS.

Dyson is the real wild card here. He can still swipe 30 bags at the bottom of the order again and I never in my life thought he would hit seven homers in a season. Don’t expect that again. Dyson is a late round pick for steals. He should hit enough to stay in the lineup ahead of Jose Osuna and Guillermo Heredia. At the very least, Dyson is still the better part of a CF platoon.

Prospects to watch:

The biggest question for the Pirates is going to be what to do with Colin Moran. Ke’Bryan Hayes, son of former major league player Charlie Hayes, seems ready. He’s a better defender than Moran and hit .265 at AAA last year. The Pirates will likely make him prove he can hit before they bring him up, but a hot start at AAA could force their hand. We could be looking at a platoon situation, which gives a little more caution to drafting Moran. Jose Osuna’s strong spring further convolutes things.

If Jared Oliva proves he can hit AAA pitching, he may be up sooner rather than later. Oliva has 69 steals over the last two minor league seasons. That kind of speed fits anywhere.

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