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Will this be the year that ends the Pirates' record streak of losing seasons? Can they at least play competent baseball for a whole season without completely falling off a cliff? Well the answer to the 1st question has a lot to do with the second.
Catcher
Russell Martin hit .211 for the Yankees and then signed the richest free agent contract in Pirates history. But he did jack 21 bombs and it wasn't a product of Yankee Stadium. He earns high marks for his framing, and maybe he can help the Pirates pitchers be less incompetent at holding runners.
Michael "Fort" McKenry is the backup, he had a good run last year but was exposed with regular PT. Project his 240 AB, .233-12hr season down to about 150 AB and that's probably what you have. Maybe the AVG comes up a bit if he's spotted well.
At some point the Pirates will probably call up Tony Sanchez to see what he can do. Good glove, no bat.
Infield
Neil Walker at 2B, Pedro Alvarez at 3B, Clint Barmes at SS. Sadly the Pirates don't have anyone to push Barmes for time this year - Jordy Mercer isn't the real deal, neither is Chase D'Arnaud, and Josh Harrison is a horrible defensive SS. Harrison and Mercer will probably be the utility guys. Garrett Jones is a trade candidate, but if he sticks around he should platoon with Gaby Sanchez at 1B. GI Jones has power but his AVG comes and goes.
Quad-A guy Clint Robinson could earn a spot as a PH, but probably loses out to Jerry Sands if the Bucs want a guy like that.
Outfield
Andrew McCutchen is an all-star, and the best thing about the Pirates. He probably doesn't hit .327 again but he's a 25/25 candidate. Starling Marte should be the starter in LF and is the leading candidate to hit leadoff. He can hit 10+ bombs and steal 30, but his AVG won't help you. Right field will probably be a platoon of Travis Snider and Jerry Sands/Jose Tabata, with the loser of the righty battle going to AAA. Great return on that 9-year contract they gave Tabata. I have no idea if any of these guys will work out. Alex Presley, darling of a couple years ago, is also lurking in the wings. Snider has the best upside if you want to gamble on someone.
Rotation
AJ Burnett was legitimately good last year and his peripherals say it was real. He throws a lot of ground balls. James McDonald was dominant for a half season, and very few pitchers who put up a half season like that aren't at least usable. Francisco Liriano is a reclamation project; PNC could be a nice park for him, but he consistently underperforms his FIP/xFIP and I am not sure the Bucs are the team to fix that. Wandy Rodriguez is pretty WYSIWYG. Jeff Karstens is slated as the #5, but the Pirates have a TON of guys who could step into that role.
Reclamation project Jonathan Sanchez, already tested youngsters Kyle McPherson and Jeff Locke, grizzled veterans of suckiness Vin Mazzaro and Jeanmar Gomez, and recent acquisition Andy Oliver. I would bet on McPherson out of any of them, followed by Locke. Gerrit Cole could be up after the all-star break and give a Matt Harvey-esque debut.
Bullpen
Jason Grilli is either the best out-of-nowhere story ever, or a fluke who emerged under suspicious circumstances. I think it is mostly the former, but you never know. His K/9 is awesome and he has closer stuff if he doesn't turn back into a pumpkin. Mark Melancon was a great acquisition for the departed Joel Hanrahan, he is definitely Grilli's handcuff and could match what Hammer did last season. There are some moderate to high upside arms here in Jared Hughes, Justin Wilson, Victor Black and Bryan Morris, but damned if I could guess which one will break out.
Catcher
Russell Martin hit .211 for the Yankees and then signed the richest free agent contract in Pirates history. But he did jack 21 bombs and it wasn't a product of Yankee Stadium. He earns high marks for his framing, and maybe he can help the Pirates pitchers be less incompetent at holding runners.
Michael "Fort" McKenry is the backup, he had a good run last year but was exposed with regular PT. Project his 240 AB, .233-12hr season down to about 150 AB and that's probably what you have. Maybe the AVG comes up a bit if he's spotted well.
At some point the Pirates will probably call up Tony Sanchez to see what he can do. Good glove, no bat.
Infield
Neil Walker at 2B, Pedro Alvarez at 3B, Clint Barmes at SS. Sadly the Pirates don't have anyone to push Barmes for time this year - Jordy Mercer isn't the real deal, neither is Chase D'Arnaud, and Josh Harrison is a horrible defensive SS. Harrison and Mercer will probably be the utility guys. Garrett Jones is a trade candidate, but if he sticks around he should platoon with Gaby Sanchez at 1B. GI Jones has power but his AVG comes and goes.
Quad-A guy Clint Robinson could earn a spot as a PH, but probably loses out to Jerry Sands if the Bucs want a guy like that.
Outfield
Andrew McCutchen is an all-star, and the best thing about the Pirates. He probably doesn't hit .327 again but he's a 25/25 candidate. Starling Marte should be the starter in LF and is the leading candidate to hit leadoff. He can hit 10+ bombs and steal 30, but his AVG won't help you. Right field will probably be a platoon of Travis Snider and Jerry Sands/Jose Tabata, with the loser of the righty battle going to AAA. Great return on that 9-year contract they gave Tabata. I have no idea if any of these guys will work out. Alex Presley, darling of a couple years ago, is also lurking in the wings. Snider has the best upside if you want to gamble on someone.
Rotation
AJ Burnett was legitimately good last year and his peripherals say it was real. He throws a lot of ground balls. James McDonald was dominant for a half season, and very few pitchers who put up a half season like that aren't at least usable. Francisco Liriano is a reclamation project; PNC could be a nice park for him, but he consistently underperforms his FIP/xFIP and I am not sure the Bucs are the team to fix that. Wandy Rodriguez is pretty WYSIWYG. Jeff Karstens is slated as the #5, but the Pirates have a TON of guys who could step into that role.
Reclamation project Jonathan Sanchez, already tested youngsters Kyle McPherson and Jeff Locke, grizzled veterans of suckiness Vin Mazzaro and Jeanmar Gomez, and recent acquisition Andy Oliver. I would bet on McPherson out of any of them, followed by Locke. Gerrit Cole could be up after the all-star break and give a Matt Harvey-esque debut.
Bullpen
Jason Grilli is either the best out-of-nowhere story ever, or a fluke who emerged under suspicious circumstances. I think it is mostly the former, but you never know. His K/9 is awesome and he has closer stuff if he doesn't turn back into a pumpkin. Mark Melancon was a great acquisition for the departed Joel Hanrahan, he is definitely Grilli's handcuff and could match what Hammer did last season. There are some moderate to high upside arms here in Jared Hughes, Justin Wilson, Victor Black and Bryan Morris, but damned if I could guess which one will break out.
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