Over the next six weeks, you’ll hear plenty about how the Pirates are playing meaningless baseball. But, save few for a few select cornerstone players, there’s 2020 playing time and career longevity at stake for most of this roster.
Take, for example, Adam Frazier.
After morphing into a Chase Utley clone following the 2018 All-Star Game — he slugged .533 during the second half of the season, compared to .355 before the break — Frazier earned a daily lineup spot. The Pirates let Josh Harrison walk in free agency, and installed Frazier as the club’s second baseman.