Rosternomics
Log in Sign up 𝕏

Pirates PIT

201598–64 (0.605)Made Playoffs
‹ Previous Next ›

GM: Neal Huntington

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2015, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$102M
Surplus $M
+34
Win %
0.605
TAB
+11.3
WAB
+18.2
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
43.5
Dead money %
40%
Depth Players
9.0
Dead WAR
-3.7

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2015 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RFrancisco Cervelli128
RChris Stewart52
RTony Sanchez2
RElias Díaz2

1B

LPedro Álvarez124
RSean Rodríguez102
RMichael Morse⇄45
LTravis Ishikawa⇄12
RCorey Hart8
RAramis Ramirez⇄2

2B

BNeil Walker146
RJosh Harrison37
BSteve Lombardozzi Jr.12
RSean Rodríguez7
BPedro Florimón3

3B

RJung Ho Kang77
RJosh Harrison72
RAramis Ramirez⇄54
RSean Rodríguez8
RBrent Morel2

SS

RJordy Mercer115
RJung Ho Kang60
BPedro Florimón17
RSean Rodríguez3

LF

RStarling Marte141
RSean Rodríguez16
LTravis Snider⇄12
RJosh Harrison10
LGregory Polanco8
LTravis Ishikawa⇄6
RGorkys Hernández4
LJaff Decker4
LAndrew Lambo3
RJose Tabata3
RKeon Broxton1

CF

RAndrew McCutchen152
RStarling Marte18
LGregory Polanco2
LJaff Decker2
RKeon Broxton1

RF

LGregory Polanco144
RSean Rodríguez14
RJosh Harrison12
LTravis Snider⇄6
RJose Tabata5
LAndrew Lambo5
RCorey Hart3
LJaff Decker3
RGorkys Hernández2
RKeon Broxton1

DH

LPedro Álvarez5
RAndrew McCutchen3
RCorey Hart1
RFrancisco Cervelli1
RJose Tabata1

Starters

RGerrit Cole5.1 WAR
LFrancisco Liriano3.5 WAR
RA.J. Burnett2.5 WAR
LJ.A. Happ⇄1.9 WAR
LJeff Locke1.1 WAR
RVance Worley0.5 WAR
RCharlie Morton0.4 WAR
RCasey Sadler-0.0 WAR

Bullpen

★ RMark Melancon51 sv
LTony Watson41 h
RJared Hughes22 h
RArquimedes Caminero15 h
RJoakim Soria⇄11 h
LAntonio Bastardo9 h
RRob Scahill1 h
RJoe Blanton⇄0 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 2014)

PlayerfWAR
Francisco Cervelli5.9
Jung Ho Kang3.7
A.J. Burnett2.5
J.A. Happ1.9
Joakim Soria0.8
Joe Blanton0.6

Key subtractions (gone from 2014)

Player2014 fWAR
Russell Martin6.1
Edinson Volquez0.3
Clint Barmes0.3
Ike Davis0.2
John Holdzkom0.2
Justin Wilson0.1

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Pirates. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 2015; everyone else is shown as a 2015 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Gerrit Cole 2015 +5.1 +102.3 0.5 +101.8 $0.1M 2.50× Free Agent · 2020–2028 · $36.0M AAV
Andrew McCutchen 2015 +6.0 +97.6 10.0 +87.6 $1.7M 2.05× –
Francisco Cervelli 2015 +5.9 +60.5 1.0 +59.6 $0.2M 1.28× –
Francisco Liriano 2015 +3.5 +54.1 11.7 +42.5 $3.4M 1.96× –
Starling Marte 2015 +3.3 +42.1 1.3 +40.7 $0.4M 1.60× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Jung Ho Kang 2015 +3.7 +36.9 2.5 +34.4 $0.7M 1.25× –
Gregory Polanco 2015 +2.2 +21.8 0.5 +21.3 $0.2M 1.22× –
A.J. Burnett 2015 +2.5 +29.4 8.5 +20.9 $3.4M 1.49× –
J.A. Happ↔ 2015 +1.9 +22.1 2.3 +19.8 $1.2M 1.49× –
Neil Walker 2015 +2.6 +22.1 8.0 +14.1 $3.1M 1.07× –
Mark Melancon 2015 +1.4 +15.0 5.4 +9.6 $3.8M 1.34× –
Jeff Locke 2015 +1.1 +8.8 0.5 +8.3 $0.5M 1.02× –
Joakim Soria↔ 2015 +0.8 +8.2 2.8 +5.4 $3.7M 1.34× –
Tony Watson 2015 +1.3 +6.9 1.8 +5.1 $1.4M 0.67× –
Chris Stewart 2015 +1.1 +4.7 1.2 +3.5 $1.1M 0.52× –
Josh Harrison 2015 +1.3 +6.1 3.0 +3.1 $2.3M 0.58× –
Joe Blanton↔ 2015 +0.6 +3.1 0.4 +2.7 $0.6M 0.67× –
Jordy Mercer 2015 +0.4 +2.1 0.5 +1.5 $1.3M 0.61× –
Bobby LaFromboise 2015 +0.1 +0.5 0.1 +0.4 $1.2M 0.67× –
Arquimedes Caminero 2015 +0.1 +0.7 0.5 +0.2 $4.1M 0.67× –
Brent Morel 2015 +0.1 +0.3 0.0 +0.2 $0.2M 0.58× –
Elias Díaz 2015 -0.0 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 – 0.52× –
Antonio Bastardo 2015 +0.5 +2.6 3.1 -0.5 $6.3M 0.67× –
Keon Broxton 2015 -0.1 -0.5 0.0 -0.5 – 0.83× –
Jared Hughes 2015 +0.1 +0.4 1.1 -0.7 $14.8M 0.67× –
Gorkys Hernández 2015 -0.1 -0.8 0.3 -1.1 – 0.83× –
Steve Lombardozzi Jr. 2015 -0.3 -1.1 0.0 -1.2 – 0.56× –
Travis Ishikawa↔ 2015 -0.1 -0.3 1.0 -1.2 – 0.56× –
Jaff Decker 2015 -0.1 -0.8 0.5 -1.3 – 0.83× –
Rob Scahill 2015 -0.3 -1.5 0.1 -1.6 – 0.67× –
Deolis Guerra 2015 -0.3 -1.8 0.2 -2.0 – 0.67× –
Pedro Florimón 2015 -0.3 -1.6 0.5 -2.2 – 0.61× –
Radhames Liz 2015 -0.3 -1.6 1.0 -2.6 – 0.67× –
Andrew Lambo 2015 -0.4 -2.8 0.5 -3.3 – 0.83× –
Pedro Álvarez 2015 +0.5 +2.1 5.8 -3.7 $12.2M 0.56× –
Sean Rodríguez 2015 -0.5 -2.2 1.9 -4.1 – 0.56× –
Corey Hart 2015 -0.5 -2.4 2.5 -4.9 – 0.56× –
Charlie Morton 2015 +0.4 +2.9 8.0 -5.1 $22.3M 1.02× –
Aramis Ramirez↔ 2015 +0.0 +0.0 5.7 -5.7 $839.0M 0.58× –
Jose Tabata 2015 -0.4 -2.3 4.0 -6.3 – 0.83× –
Casey Sadler 2015 -0.0 -0.0 0.0 -0.0 – 1.02× –
Chris Volstad 2015 +0.0 +0.1 0.0 +0.0 $1.1M 0.67× –
Tony Sanchez 2015 +0.1 +0.5 0.5 +0.0 $4.1M 0.52× –
Travis Snider↔ 2015 +0.1 +0.4 0.4 -0.0 $6.7M 0.83× –
Vance Worley 2015 +0.5 +2.5 2.5 +0.0 $5.3M 0.67× –
Michael Morse↔ 2015 +0.3 +1.4 – – – 0.56× –
Total—+43.8+538.3102.2+434.4—

Trades

Every graded 2015 deal involving the Pirates — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 9 total.

2015 · PIT / PHI
PIT · Neal Huntington +$7.2M
David Whitehead
PHI · Scott Proefrock −$7.2M
Charlie Morton
PIT came out ahead by $7.2M
2015 · PIT / DET
PIT · Neal Huntington +$5.6M
Joakim Soria
DET · Dave Dombrowski −$5.6M
JaCoby Jones
PIT came out ahead by $5.6M
2015 · MIL / PIT
MIL · Douglas Melvin +$28.8M
Keon Broxton, Trey Supak
PIT · Neal Huntington −$28.8M
Jason Rogers
MIL came out ahead by $28.8M
2015 · MIL / PIT
MIL · Douglas Melvin +$4.8M
Yhonathan Barrios
PIT · Neal Huntington −$4.8M
Aramis Ramírez
MIL came out ahead by $4.8M
2015 · PIT / MIA
PIT · Neal Huntington +$41.6M
Trevor Williams
MIA · Mike Berger −$41.6M
Richard Mitchell
PIT came out ahead by $41.6M
2015 · PIT / SEA
PIT · Neal Huntington +$17.6M
J. A. Happ
SEA · Jeff Kingston −$17.6M
Adrian Sampson
PIT came out ahead by $17.6M
2015 · PIT / BAL
PIT · Neal Huntington +$23.2M
Stephen Tarpley, Steven Brault
BAL · Dan Duquette −$23.2M
Travis Snider
PIT came out ahead by $23.2M
2015 · LAD / PIT
LAD · Andrew Friedman +$2.4M
José Tábata
PIT · Neal Huntington −$2.4M
Mike Morse
LAD came out ahead by $2.4M
2015 · PIT / NYM
PIT · Neal Huntington +$0.8M
Jonathon Niese
NYM · Sandy Alderson −$0.8M
Neil Walker
PIT came out ahead by $0.8M

Current & Historical Payroll

2015 payroll
$102.3M
2016 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2015, 2015–2021. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2015; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Guaranteed / signed (9)

PlayerAgeSvc2015201620172018201920202021
Francisco Liriano318.104$11.7MFREE AGENT
A.J. Burnett3815.038$8.5MFREE AGENT
Charlie Morton316.009$8.0MFREE AGENT
Aramis Ramirez3715.111$5.7MFREE AGENT
Joakim Soria318.000$2.8MFREE AGENT
Corey Hart339.038$2.5MFREE AGENT
J.A. Happ326.047$2.3MFREE AGENT
Joe Blanton349.016$367kFREE AGENT
Michael Morse3310.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (15)

PlayerAgeSvc2015201620172018201920202021
Andrew McCutchen285.123$10.0MFREE AGENT
Neil Walker294.166$8.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Pedro Álvarez284.085$5.8MARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Melancon304.098$5.4MARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Tabata263.081$4.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Antonio Bastardo295.054$3.1MFREE AGENT
Josh Harrison273.033$3.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sean Rodríguez305.133$1.9MFREE AGENT
Tony Watson303.101$1.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Stewart334.091$1.2MARB 3FREE AGENT
Francisco Cervelli294.146$988kARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Ishikawa314.006$950kARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Snider274.091$434kARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Volstad284.044$11kARB 3FREE AGENT
Casey Sadler244.035$6kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (22)

PlayerAgeSvc2015201620172018201920202021
Jung Ho Kang280.000$2.5MPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vance Worley272.139$2.5MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Starling Marte262.070$1.3MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jared Hughes292.162$1.1MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Radhames Liz310.135$1.0MPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jordy Mercer282.095$538kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gerrit Cole241.111$531kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Locke272.020$531kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gregory Polanco230.103$525kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Pedro Florimón281.139$521kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Sanchez270.155$518kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Arquimedes Caminero281.060$516kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Lambo261.079$516kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jaff Decker250.098$510kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gorkys Hernández270.111$277kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Deolis Guerra260.000$164kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bobby LaFromboise290.111$105kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Elias Díaz240.000$92kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rob Scahill281.147$92kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Keon Broxton250.000$36kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Lombardozzi Jr.262.058$31kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brent Morel282.151$14kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2015 acquisition stacked onto Pirates's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · © 2026 Rosternomics