The Pittsburgh Pirates have serious questions to answer about their infield defense heading into 2027. Getting rid of one of their best defensive players to save less than $2 million would be a particularly embarrassing way to address them.
In its recent offseason outlook, MLB Trade Rumors identified Jared Triolo as a potential non-tender candidate, despite the fact that he was a National League Gold Glove finalist at the utility position in 2026. His projected arbitration salary is just $1.8 million.
There's no indication that the Pirates have actually decided to move on from Triolo. But the fact that he's even being discussed as a potential casualty raises questions about how Pittsburgh plans to construct its roster — and perhaps more importantly, whether the Pirates understand how to maximize the value of the players they already have.