PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - A look at Pirates players from last year and the potential for them to be a part of a hopeful Bucco resurgence in two or three years.
An intriguing man and baseball player, Colin Moran led the Bucs in homers and RBI in the 2020 season after the eventual switch to first base.
Is Colin Moran a part of the Pirates future?
CONTRACT—The third highest paid player on the team after signing a 2.8 million dollar contract for this season. He is arbitration eligible again next year and a free agent in 2024.
HISTORY--A first round pick of the Marlins in 2013 out of North Carolina, Moran was a part of the Gerrit Cole trade with the Astros. A consistently high-average hitter in the minors, Moran got his first shot with Houston late in 2017 after hitting .308 with 18 HR and 63 RBI in AAA.
OUTPUT—Not at all a self-talker and shy, it’s easy to forget that Moran had 80 RBI with the Pirates in 2019 with a .277 average and 30 doubles. He got off to a fast-start last year with five homers in the first eight games, leading MLB. Moran would rebound from a bad August to get back to a .247 average, .325 OBP with 10 HR and 23 RBI.
OUTLOOK—With the trade of Josh Bell, Moran will be the everyday first baseman and get a chance to show he’s better than his career .236 average against lefty starters. Moran has only had 22 career starts against a left-handed pitcher. He is an upgrade defensively at first, but needs to continue to show the improved power from last year.
NO—Colin Moran is another potential trade bait at the deadline this year with the possibility of Will Craig taking his spot until Mason Martin is potentially ready for the position in 2022.