Entering the offseason the Pittsburgh Pirates’ biggest need was shortstop. Jordy Mercer, who has since signed with the Detroit Tigers, was set to hit free agency and was never going to be back as the team’s starting shortstop. And the in-house options of Kevin Newman and Pablo Reyes were underwhelming at best.
Earlier in the offseason the team added Erik Gonzalez via trade with the Cleveland Indians. However, Gonzalez projects more as a super utility player than an everyday shortstop. Mix in Neal Huntington’s comments that Jung Ho Kang is not an option at shortstop due to the leg injury he suffered in September of 2015, and the team is still searching for the answer at short.