LAS VEGAS -- Erik Gonzalez played behind Francisco Lindor with the Indians, which was a very difficult spot.
Lindor is arguably one of the top 10 players in baseball. Having just turned 25 last month and with three years remaining of club contractual control, Lindor isn’t likely to be leaving Cleveland anytime soon. Thus, Gonzalez’s chances of ever becoming the Indians’ starting shortstop were remote.
Gonzalez’s quest for more playing time is less daunting with the Pirates, who acquired him in a five-player trade on Nov. 14 — which just happens to be Lindor’s birthday.
Presently, the only player standing between Gonzalez becoming the Pirates’ primary shortstop is rookie Kevin Newman. In 31 games last season in his first taste of the big leagues, Newman was overmatched as the 25-year-old hit .209/.247/.231 in 97 plate appearances.
The Pirates’ shortstop picture could change, of course. They engaged the Diamondbacks in talks about Gold Glove shortstop Nick Ahmed on Monday during the first day of the Winter Meetings at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
For now, though, Neal Huntington insists the Pirates have not given up on Newman and believe the hitting coach tandem of Rick Eckstein and assistant Jacob Cruz can help.
“We like Kevin Newman,” Huntington said. “He’s a former top-100 prospect and a first-round draft pick.”
That is true. However, Huntington seems more excited about what Gonzalez could provide.
“When we look at Erik Gonzalez, we were able to draw out an interesting offensive player to go with quality defensive skills,” Huntington said. “It’s tough for a player to play sporadically and be a productive major league hitter. We’re looking forward to Rick and Jacob getting to know Erik and exploit those areas that are difficult to improve when you’re playing on a part-time basis.”
Gonzalez, 27, spent his first full season in the major leagues in 2018 after 10 years in the minor leagues. He hit .265/.301/.375 with one home run in 81 games and 143 plate appearances while making 15 starts at second base, seven starts at third base, five at shortstop and three at first base.
However, Gonzalez did hit four homers in 115 plate appearances with the Indians in 2017. In 209 games and 891 plate appearances at the Triple-A level, he batted .267/.306/.406 with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
“We look at Erik as a blocked player who could become a good major league player if given the opportunity,” Huntington said. “We’ll keep our eyes, ears and mind open to the free-agent market. If something comes along better, we’ll entertain it, but between (Gonzalez and Newman) we like where we’re at with our shortstops.”
In other news from the Winter Meetings:
• Unless they pull off a deal for Ahmed or another shortstop, the Pirates figure to be quiet this week.
In addition to Gonzalez, the Pirates have added outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall in free agency. Chisenhall is expected to be the primary right fielder until Gregory Polanco recovers from left shoulder surgery. Polanco could be out anytime from mid-April to mid-June, though the Pirates will have a better idea of a timetable once he is cleared to throw in mid-January.
The Pirates would like to add a left-handed reliever, though all indications are they will wait for a crowded free-agent market to sift itself out.
“The reality is this is another Christmas day in the baseball world,” Huntington said. “If you expect there are going to be huge presents under the tree and there are not, you’re going to be disappointed, but sometimes Christmas comes later. We hope to continue to get better. That’s what we are looking at this week. Where can we take it from here? Where can we upgrade?”
• As had been reported, Huntington acknowledged he interviewed with the Giants for their president of baseball operations opening at the end of the past season. The job wound up going to Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi.
Huntington admitted it was interesting to talk with another team about an opening and organization philosophy. He also said his wife and three children were “on board” with a potential move to San Francisco from Pittsburgh.
However, Huntington was quick to point out he was happy to stay with the Pirates and the goal remains to build a team that will get the franchise to the World Series for the first time since 1979.
“It’s been 40 years,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”
• There has been a certain amount of speculation this offseason that the Pirates would consider trading right-hander Ivan Nova, catcher Francisco Cervelli and left fielder Corey Dickerson. All three are eligible for free agency at the end of next season.
However, the Pirates also plan to contend next season after finishing a surprising 82-79 in 2018 and acquiring right-handed starter Chris Archer and right-handed reliever Keone Kela in late-July trades.
Huntington would not rule out trading Nova, Cervelli or Dickerson. However, he also sounded like a GM who is not shopping those players to other clubs.
“They fit really well for us, so it’s going to have to be something that makes a lot of sense in order for us to trade them,” Huntington said.
• The entire coaching staff is at the meetings, including Eckstein and Cruz.
Hitting coach Jeff Branson and assistant hitting coach Jeff Livesey were fired Oct. 1 after the Pirates averaged 4.30 runs a game last season to rank 19th among the 30 major league teams.
“They bring different approaches, different attack plans,” Huntington said of the new hitting coach tandem. “They both bring traditional old-school baseball values with new-school thought, technology and connectivity with the modern player. Both are students of the modern hitting philosophy, and we’re looking forward to them working with our young players, and our veteran players as well.”
• Former Pirates left-hander Tom Gorzelanny is making the rounds here as he looks to revive his career.
The 36-year-old missed the past two seasons following shoulder surgery. Gorzelanny last pitched in the major leagues in 2016 with seven relief appearances for the Indians.
Gorzelanny broke into the major leagues with the Pirates in 2005 and spent five years with them. He also pitched for the Cubs, Nationals, Brewers and Tigers during his 12-year career.