The Pittsburgh Pirates will be an interesting team to watch during the Major League Baseball offseason.
History repeated itself for Pittsburgh as they finished the regular season at 76-86 for the second season in a row. The Pirates were in the playoff hunt for most of this season, but a ten-game losing streak in August all but sunk their chances. As Pittsburgh looks ahead to next season, there are some improvements they need to make to their lineup.
One intriguing option that was suggested as a hypothetical option for the Pirates in free agency is former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, according to Sports Illustrated’s Evan Massey.
“If Pittsburgh wants to bring in a cheaper option with high upside, pursuing Goldschmidt could make a lot of sense,” Massey said. “At 37 years old, Goldschmidt’s career is starting to wind down. He still has another year or two of good baseball left in him. Should the price tag be right, the Pirates should strongly consider this option.”
“Pittsburgh simply needs to bring in more offensive firepower. If they can add more offense, they could have a chance to compete next season. Goldschmidt would be worth taking a flier on. No one should expect the veteran first baseman to get back to being a superstar. However, he can still be a solid bat that makes the lineup better as a whole.”
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Goldschmidt would be a great addition to Pittsburgh’s lineup. The veteran slashed .245/.301/.412 this season to go with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs. His offensive production would boost Pittsburgh’s lineup as they strive to make a playoff run next season.
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