This is a different kind of offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates. One they have not experienced since the winter following the 1992 campaign, when they fell to the Atlanta Braves in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom of the ninth of Game Seven of the NLCS.
For the first time since 1992, the Pirates secured a playoff berth in 2013. They topped Cincinnati in the wild card game before losing to St. Louis in the NLDS. So far, it has been a quiet offseason in Pittsburgh that expects to pick up before spring training arrives.
The Pirates did acquire backup catcher Chris Stewart from the New York Yankees and signed free agent starting pitcher Edinson Volquez. The club also inked right-handed starting pitcher Charlie Morton to an extension and retained shortstop Clint Barmes.
Burnett will be 37 in January, but he has thrived with the Pirates, and bringing him back would give the team a formidable rotation. According to media reports, the Baltimore Orioles are interested in adding Burnett.
If Pittsburgh re-signs Burnett, perhaps they will use a starter like Liriano or Rodriguez to acquire a first baseman. Garrett Jones departed Pittsburgh for Miami, and the only first baseman on the roster is the right-handed hitting Gaby Sanchez, who mashes lefties but his .204 versus righties in 2013.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com believes that the Pirates are interested in acquiring Ike Davis from the New York Mets or Mitch Moreland from the Texas Rangers.
Pittsburgh has a strong farm system that includes appealing prospects like 22-year-old right-handed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, speedy outfielder Gregory Polanco and shortstop Alen Hanson, and 19-year-old right-hander Luis Heredia.
