Daniel Nava won't be competing for a spot on the Pirates' opening day roster after all.
Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates' director of sports medicine, told reporters Wednesday morning that Nava, a 35-year-old outfielder, will miss 10 to 12 weeks after undergoing back surgery, specifically a microdiscectomy.
Nava, who signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates last month, reported to spring training at Pirate City and participated in a handful of workouts before he was held out for what the team described as lower back discomfort.
The Pirates proceeded to acquire three outfielders — Bryce Brentz, Michael Saunders and Corey Dickerson — and may not be done adding.
With Nava out, the Pirates are still in search of a fourth outfielder, although that role could be filled by either Adam Frazier or Sean Rodriguez. They acquired Brentz from the Red Sox last Tuesday, and signed Saunders to a minor-league contract, although he was granted his release once Dickerson was acquired from the Rays.
With Dickerson set to start in left, Jordan Luplow is also a candidate to be the fourth outfielder. Austin Meadows, meanwhile, is expected to begin the season in Triple-A Indianapolis after he was limited to 81 games in 2017 because of injury.
Nava, a switch-hitter, showed impressive discipline at the plate with 38 strikeouts to 26 walks last season. However, he struggled against left-handed pitching. He’s batted just .211/.296/.293 against lefties in his major league career, compared to .281/.374/.404 against right-handers.
He had a breakout season for the Red Sox in 2013, batting .303 with 12 home runs and 66 RBI in a career-high 134 games, but his production has dipped significantly.
Nava has not played more than 60 major league games in one season since, and he’s bounced around between the Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Royals and Phillies.
He was viewed as the favorite to land that final roster spot, but Clint Hurdle will have a difficult decision to make. Frazier can play all three outfield spots — he was an above-average defender in the outfield last season — but Hurdle expressed a desire to have a true outfielder on the bench.
Brentz, 29, has only 34 games of major league experience, although he has a .287/.311/.379 slash line in 90 plate appearances. The right-hander hit 31 home runs at Triple-A last season with a slash line of .271/.334/.529, but he cannot play center field. The Pirates would likely prefer to not have Gregory Polanco serve as Starling Marte's backup.
Luplow also doesn't have any professional experience in center field and would be best served returning to Triple-A since he had only 87 plate appearances at that level before being recalled by the Pirates last season.
Another option for Hurdle is to have Frazier serve as the fourth outfielder and keep Max Moroff on the opening day roster. Moroff can play second, third and shortstop, which would allow Frazier to focus on the outfield.
Moroff, 24, batted .200/.302/.325 in 140 plate appearances for the Pirates last season.