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Pirates PIT

201775–87 (0.463)
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GM: Neal Huntington

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2017, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$98M
Surplus $M
-7
Win %
0.463
TAB
-3.6
WAB
-3.3
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
27.1
Dead money %
43%
Depth Players
7.0
Dead WAR
-5.1

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2017 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RFrancisco Cervelli78
RElias Díaz55
RChris Stewart48
RJacob Stallings5

1B

BJosh Bell147
LJohn Jaso29
RJosé Osuna23
RDavid Freese3
RPhil Gosselin⇄1
RSean Rodríguez⇄1

2B

RJosh Harrison83
LAdam Frazier42
BMax Moroff28
RGift Ngoepe20
RSean Rodríguez⇄9
RChristopher Bostick3

3B

RDavid Freese116
RJosh Harrison49
RSean Rodríguez⇄10
BMax Moroff6
RGift Ngoepe3
LAdam Frazier1

SS

RJordy Mercer144
BMax Moroff16
RGift Ngoepe6
RSean Rodríguez⇄4
BAlen Hanson⇄2
LAdam Frazier1

LF

RStarling Marte56
LAdam Frazier52
LGregory Polanco25
LJohn Jaso17
RJosé Osuna14
RJordan Luplow10
RJosh Harrison8
RSean Rodríguez⇄5
RChristopher Bostick3
LDanny Ortiz2

CF

RAndrew McCutchen139
RStarling Marte25
LGregory Polanco6
LAdam Frazier4
RSean Rodríguez⇄2
LDanny Ortiz1

RF

LGregory Polanco68
LJohn Jaso46
RJosé Osuna25
LAdam Frazier15
RJordan Luplow14
RAndrew McCutchen13
RSean Rodríguez⇄7
LDanny Ortiz6
RJosh Harrison1

DH

RDavid Freese3
LGregory Polanco2
RAndrew McCutchen2
BJosh Bell2
LAdam Frazier1

Starters

RGerrit Cole3.6 WAR
RJameson Taillon3.1 WAR
RTrevor Williams2.2 WAR
RChad Kuhl2.1 WAR
RIvan Nova1.6 WAR
LSteven Brault0.4 WAR
RTyler Glasnow-0.0 WAR

Bullpen

★ LFelipe Vazquez21 sv
RDaniel Hudson21 h
LWade LeBlanc4 h
RA.J. Schugel4 h
RDovydas Neverauskas2 h
RJohnny Barbato1 h
RJuan Nicasio⇄0 h
LTony Watson⇄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 2016)

PlayerfWAR
George Kontos0.4
Josh Lindblom0.2
Daniel Hudson0.2
Christopher Bostick0.2
Jack Leathersich0.1
Gift Ngoepe0.1

Key subtractions (gone from 2016)

Player2016 fWAR
Jung Ho Kang2.9
Matt Joyce1.8
Mark Melancon0.9
Francisco Liriano0.3
Jeff Locke0.2
Ryan Vogelsong0.0

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 2017; everyone else is shown as a 2017 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Gerrit Cole 2017 +3.6 +62.2 3.8 +58.4 $1.1M 2.19× Free Agent · 2020–2028 · $36.0M AAV
Jameson Taillon 2017 +3.1 +48.6 0.6 +48.0 $0.2M 1.96× Free Agent · 2023–2026 · $17.0M AAV
Andrew McCutchen 2017 +3.6 +52.1 14.0 +38.1 $3.9M 1.79× –
Felipe Vázquez 2017 +2.3 +35.5 0.6 +34.9 $0.2M 1.95× –
Trevor Williams 2017 +2.2 +26.5 0.5 +26.0 $0.2M 1.49× Free Agent · 2025–2026 · $7.0M AAV
Chad Kuhl 2017 +2.1 +24.6 0.6 +24.0 $0.3M 1.49× –
Josh Harrison 2017 +2.8 +23.7 7.8 +15.9 $2.8M 1.07× –
Iván Nova 2017 +1.6 +18.8 7.7 +11.1 $4.9M 1.49× –
Jordy Mercer 2017 +1.9 +13.9 4.3 +9.6 $2.2M 0.89× –
David Freese 2017 +1.8 +12.3 6.2 +6.1 $3.4M 0.85× –
Adam Frazier 2017 +0.7 +5.0 0.5 +4.4 $0.7M 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.8M AAV
Juan Nicasio↔ 2017 +1.3 +6.8 3.1 +3.7 $2.4M 0.67× –
George Kontos↔ 2017 +0.4 +3.9 0.4 +3.5 $1.1M 1.34× –
Josh Bell 2017 +0.9 +3.8 0.5 +3.3 $0.6M 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $7.0M AAV
Starling Marte 2017 +1.2 +7.7 5.3 +2.3 $4.6M 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Steven Brault 2017 +0.4 +2.2 0.1 +2.0 $0.3M 0.67× –
Josh Lindblom 2017 +0.2 +1.1 0.1 +1.0 $0.7M 0.67× –
A.J. Schugel 2017 +0.2 +1.1 0.3 +0.9 $1.3M 0.67× –
Max Moroff 2017 +0.3 +1.3 0.3 +0.9 $1.2M 0.56× –
Jack Leathersich↔ 2017 +0.1 +0.8 0.1 +0.7 $0.4M 0.67× –
Jacob Stallings 2017 +0.2 +0.8 0.1 +0.6 $0.6M 0.52× –
Wade LeBlanc 2017 +0.2 +1.1 0.8 +0.4 $3.5M 0.67× –
Gift Ngoepe 2017 +0.1 +0.3 0.1 +0.2 $1.6M 0.56× –
John Bormann 2017 -0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 – 0.65× –
Jhan Mariñez↔ 2017 +0.0 +0.1 0.3 -0.2 $17.1M 0.67× –
Dovydas Neverauskas 2017 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.6 – 0.67× –
Gregory Polanco 2017 +0.1 +0.9 1.6 -0.7 $12.1M 0.83× –
Dan Runzler 2017 -0.2 -0.9 0.1 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Tyler Glasnow 2017 -0.0 -0.4 0.5 -0.9 – 1.02× Extension · 2024–2027 · $27.3M AAV
Alen Hanson↔ 2017 -0.2 -1.0 0.2 -1.2 – 0.61× –
Johnny Barbato 2017 -0.2 -1.2 0.2 -1.4 – 0.67× –
Angel Sánchez 2017 -0.3 -1.4 0.1 -1.5 – 0.67× –
Danny Ortiz 2017 -0.2 -1.5 0.0 -1.5 – 0.83× –
Jordan Luplow 2017 -0.3 -1.8 0.1 -2.0 – 0.83× –
John Jaso 2017 +0.3 +1.9 4.0 -2.1 $14.2M 0.83× –
José Osuna 2017 -0.3 -2.0 0.5 -2.5 – 0.83× –
Phil Gosselin↔ 2017 -0.6 -2.5 0.4 -2.9 – 0.56× –
Tony Watson↔ 2017 +0.0 +0.1 3.7 -3.7 $352.1M 0.67× –
Chris Stewart 2017 -0.6 -2.4 1.4 -3.8 – 0.52× –
Daniel Hudson 2017 +0.2 +1.0 5.5 -4.5 $29.2M 0.67× –
Elias Díaz 2017 -1.1 -4.4 0.3 -4.6 – 0.52× –
Joaquín Benoit↔ 2017 -0.4 -4.0 1.2 -5.2 – 1.34× –
Sean Rodríguez↔ 2017 -0.2 -1.1 4.2 -5.3 – 0.58× –
Francisco Cervelli 2017 +0.4 +1.6 9.0 -7.4 $23.1M 0.52× –
Antonio Bastardo 2017 -0.5 -2.6 6.6 -9.2 – 0.67× –
Edgar Santana 2017 +0.0 +0.1 0.1 -0.0 $8.5M 0.67× –
Christopher Bostick 2017 +0.2 +0.7 – – – 0.56× –
Total—+27.2+332.797.9+233.8—

Trades

Every graded 2017 deal involving the Pirates — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 7 total.

2017 · ARI / PIT
ARI · Mike Hazen +$3.2M
Frank Duncan
PIT · Neal Huntington −$3.2M
Philip Gosselin
ARI came out ahead by $3.2M
2017 · PIT / PHI
PIT · Neal Huntington +$0.0M
Nick Burdi
PHI · Matt Klentak +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Even trade
2017 · ATL / PIT
ATL · John Hart +$10.4M
Connor Joe
PIT · Neal Huntington −$10.4M
Sean Rodríguez
ATL came out ahead by $10.4M
2017 · NYY / PIT
NYY · Brian Cashman +$1.6M
Matt Frawley
PIT · Neal Huntington −$1.6M
Johnny Barbato
NYY came out ahead by $1.6M
2017 · PIT / LAD
PIT · Neal Huntington +$63.2M
Angel German, Oneil Cruz
LAD · Andrew Friedman −$63.2M
Tony Watson
PIT came out ahead by $63.2M
2017 · PIT / MIN
PIT · Neal Huntington +$0.0M
Pat Light
MIN · Derek Falvey +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Even trade
2017 · PHI / PIT
PHI · Matt Klentak +$5.6M
Seth McGarry
PIT · Neal Huntington −$5.6M
Joaquín Benoit
PHI came out ahead by $5.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

2017 payroll
$97.9M
2018 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2017, 2017–2023. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2017; 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 (11)

PlayerAgeSvc2017201820192020202120222023
Andrew McCutchen307.123$14.0MFREE AGENT
Francisco Cervelli316.146$9.0MFREE AGENT
Iván Nova306.024$7.7MFREE AGENT
Antonio Bastardo318.000$6.6MFREE AGENT
David Freese347.028$6.2MFREE AGENT
Daniel Hudson306.117$5.5MFREE AGENT
Sean Rodríguez327.133$4.2MFREE AGENT
John Jaso337.032$4.0MFREE AGENT
Chris Stewart356.091$1.4MFREE AGENT
Joaquín Benoit3915.040$1.2MFREE AGENT
Angel Sánchez276.144$117kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (9)

PlayerAgeSvc2017201820192020202120222023
Josh Harrison295.033$7.8MFREE AGENT
Starling Marte284.070$5.3MARB 3FREE AGENT
Jordy Mercer304.095$4.3MARB 3FREE AGENT
Gerrit Cole263.111$3.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Watson325.101$3.7MFREE AGENT
Juan Nicasio305.084$3.1MFREE AGENT
Wade LeBlanc323.131$750kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
George Kontos323.171$404kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Phil Gosselin284.000$392kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (27)

PlayerAgeSvc2017201820192020202120222023
Gregory Polanco252.103$1.6MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Felipe Vázquez251.162$564kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jameson Taillon250.110$555kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chad Kuhl240.079$550kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Adam Frazier250.100$550kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Bell240.053$549kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Trevor Williams250.027$544kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Glasnow230.066$541kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
José Osuna240.000$488kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Max Moroff240.004$336kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jhan Mariñez281.095$302kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Elias Díaz260.167$272kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
A.J. Schugel281.004$266kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Johnny Barbato241.008$208kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alen Hanson240.038$189kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Lindblom300.000$143kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dovydas Neverauskas240.000$137kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Brault250.037$137kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Edgar Santana250.000$132kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jordan Luplow230.000$114kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jacob Stallings270.037$114kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gift Ngoepe270.072$99kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dan Runzler322.071$64kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jack Leathersich260.091$55kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Danny Ortiz27–$23k
John Bormann24–$3k
Christopher Bostick24–—

Graphs

How each 2017 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).
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