ATLANTA — The Pirates' veterans greeted the new arrivals when they walked into the visitors’ clubhouse at SunTrust Park on Saturday afternoon.
Right-handed reliever Nick Burdi, acquired by the team at the Rule 5 Draft in December, introduced himself to Keone Kela. Starling Marte shouted utility man Pablo Reyes' name when the second bus arrived at the ballpark. Reliever Dovydas Neverauskas caught up with Ray Searage. Jose Osuna said hello to Jordy Mercer, and Jacob Stallings hugged Josh Harrison.
Those five players were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis with rosters expanded, and after the team traded two veterans less than 24 hours earlier: David Freese and Adeiny Hechavarria. The Pirates had always planned to add from Triple-A when the calendar turned to September. However, there is now a path for the young players to get on the field. With the team three games under .500 and 9 1/2 back in the wild-card race, Neal Huntington and Clint Hurdle told reporters the Pirates have set their sights on 2019 with 26 games still to be played.
“Unfortunately what we did in August, it pushed us into a situation where the focus on ’19 became more apparent," Huntington said. "Not certainly what we were expecting to do or hoping to do as we went into the trade deadline, but the club that I put together, we just simply weren’t good enough to continue that run. So, our thought is let’s give some at-bats to some younger players, let’s continue the growth and development of our current young players, let’s give David Freese a chance to go win a ring, and Hechavarria came together late last night with a chance to go win a ring and benefit them, and benefit us as well.”
Freese, who had a club option for next season, was dealt to the Dodgers for a 20-year-old minor-league infielder, while Hechavarria was sent to the Yankees for cash or a player to be named later shortly after midnight. The moves came after the Pirates went 10-17 in August, dropping them out of playoff contention, though they're not mathematically eliminated.
The moves opened two spots on the 40-man roster, so the Pirates could add Burdi, a 25-year-old who was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and Reyes, who was batting .289 with a .776 OPS in 110 games for Indianapolis. Reyes can play all three outfield positions and the two middle infield spots, serving as the de facto replacement for Sean Rodriguez. Burdi, meanwhile, was called up to accrue 30 days of big-league service time, so the Pirates would not have to return him to the Phillies. The right-harder needs 90 consecutive days of service time in order for him to remain with the organization.
Osuna can now back up Colin Moran and Josh Bell at third base and first base, respectively. Stallings was recalled to back up Francisco Cervelli after Elias Diaz suffered a right hamstring injury Friday night, and Neverauskas will give Hurdle an additional bullpen arm for the final month. Yet, they won't benefit the most from the departure of two veterans.
Huntington said the Pirates plan to have Kevin Newman and Adam Frazier receive the bulk of playing time in the middle infield with Mercer and Harrison now assuming bench roles. Infielder Kevin Kramer, a second-round pick in 2014, could also be recalled once Indianapolis' season ends, joining Reyes and Osuna as possible replacements for Freese next season.
"We want to be respectful to Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison, everything that they’ve done with and for this organization, and we don’t want to just abandon them," Huntington said. "From their perspective, they want to play every day. From a club that’s shifted focus to next year’s perspective, you play the young player every day. We’re going to have to be respectful because, one, it’s going to help us recruit free agents in the future and, two, just everything that they’ve given us. The young players will get the majority of the playing time."
Newman, recalled Aug. 16 when Mercer was placed on the disabled list, is starting for a second consecutive game Saturday night and has started in six of the 11 games in which he's appeared. The 25-year-old has three hits with nine strikeouts in 24 at-bats after batting .302 in 109 games at Triple-A this season. Frazier, meanwhile, has batted .344 with 12 doubles and 17 RBIs in 30 games since being recalled July 25.
But the Pirates also intend to take a long look at Reyes, a 24-year-old who will be a minor-league free agent this offseason. The 5-foot-8 right-handed hitter had 20 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBIs with Indy after he was among the final cuts at big-league camp this spring. He can play almost every position, like Rodriguez, and is an above-average defender.
An emergence from him and Newman would decrease the Pirates' likelihood to either retain or add a veteran infielder. Mercer is a free agent this winter and expressed a desire to return. Harrison, who started Friday and is playing through a hamstring injury, has a club option for $10.5 million in 2019 with a $1 million buyout.
Hurdle did not reveal a plan for Harrison's playing time this month; however, his perspective on this team shifted last Friday when the Pirates lost to the Brewers, 7-6, in 15 innings after he removed Joe Musgrove for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning. At the same time, Hurdle didn't want people to perceive that he or his players have given up, despite the youth movement.
"There’s nobody rolling over or throwing up a 'We’re done' sign," Hurdle said. "We’ve got things that we want to get done. I think we showed it last night, and I think we’ll show it again as we continue to play."