PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A series of topics with Pirates general manager Ben Cherington including Andrew McCutchen’s future. He also gave injury updates, why he called up Alika Williams and more.
Cutch
Cherington said during his show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network Sunday there are no overall concerns with McCutchen’s knee inflammation, as he landed on the 10-day injured list. The Pirates GM said it’s just the wear and tear of him playing a lifetime of baseball. On a one-year contract, there have been no talks to this point about next year. Cherington said that will happen after the season.
Why Alika
When McCutchen went on the injured list, why did the team go with utility infielder Alika Williams to take the roster spot of a designated hitter? Henry Davis is already on the 40-man roster. There are the newcomers as both Nick Yorke and Billy Cook have hit over .350 since joining the AAA Indians. What about giving another prospect an opportunity?
Cherington said they chose Williams at the time because Oneil Cruz had just banged up his ankle and they didn’t know the extent of the injury. As Cherington put it, they wanted shortstop protection because they are still playing for this season.
“There are position players in AAA that we may decide to give playing time in the major leagues at some point,” Cherington said during his radio show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network Sunday. “I think we would only do that if we see a meaningful enough role. In other words, enough playing time to justify that. I don’t think we want to bring someone up to not play a lot.”
“We are not going to call someone up to just give at bats to.”
Cherington did praise both of the recent trade pickups, saying Yorke is a natural fielder having played second base and all of the outfield spots in his time with Indy. He said he will be a big, strong guy and just a good baseball player.
Cook has been all over the field. A good defensive centerfielder, he’s also played left and right field along with first base.
Injury notes
· Cherington put it as ‘fingers crossed’ with left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki who has been dealing with left triceps inflammation since early April. He said recent feedback is positive, the arm is feeling better. He would need a few more opportunities in AAA before being recalled.
· Right-handed starter Jared Jones will pitch again this week in AAA. At least one more start. The stuff is there, up to 100mph, getting back into competitive mindset.
Next wave
Right-handed starter Bubba Chandler was recently the International League Pitcher of the Week and hasn’t given up a run in 13 AAA innings with 17 strikeouts and three walks. Righty Thomas Harrington struggled in his first start with Indy, but Saturday night threw seven shutout innings giving up two hits and striking out two. Cherington said they are different pitchers than Jared Jones, but similar to him last year in that they are in the same spot in terms of timeline with an opportunity to make the Pirates roster in Spring Training.
On me
Cherington said to put the blame on him for their 10-game losing streak, he has to be better for the team. He is impressed with how the team kept fighting and battling in those losses, almost all close games. While they still aspire to make the postseason, the focus is to being better in 2024 than they were in 2023.