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.
Every year for the last three, there was going to be someone better than Jacob Stallings as either the backup or starting catcher. However, Stallings continues to work hard and improve.
Is Stallings part of the Pirates future?
CONTRACT-Is arbitration eligible again next season and making 1.3 million this year. Stallings won't be able to be a free agent until 2025.
HISTORY-A 7th round pick of the Pirates out of North Carolina in 2012, Stallings made his Major League debut in 2016.
OUTPUT-Known more for his defense than what he can do with the bat, Stallings was respectable in 71 games in 2019 hitting .262 with 6 HR and a .325 OBP. The now 31-year-old Stallings had a .991 fielding percentage and threw out 40% of the runners trying to steal. 2020-Stallings was a Gold Glove finalist with a .990 fielding percentage, throwing out 33% of runners. He hit .248, but drove in 18 runs in 42 games.
OUTLOOK-Stallings is well respected by the pitching staff and should help some of the new faces break into the Pirates rotation. He's improved an aspect of his hitting every year, no reason that couldn't be the case again as the Bucs number one catcher.
SHORT-TERM YES, BUT NO-while counting Stallings out has been a mistake his entire career, at 31, the Pirates will look for someone younger. That could be Jason Delay who appears to be a 6-year younger version of Stallings. Endy Rodriguez is the highest rated Pirates catching prospect, 22nd overall. The switch-hitter came over from the Mets in the three-team Joe Musgrove trade, but even if it works out. He is likely three years away.
