Pirate fans have mostly supported adding a second-rate free agent to team with Garrett Jones in covering the right field/first base spots. Even Frank Coonelly got in on the fun, with Rick Ankiel’s name coming up specifically. It seems like a harmless idea, seeing as the Pirates do not have many inspiring options for those positions. However, contrary to popular belief, adding a marginal player through free agency would do anywhere from very little to nothing to help the team win.
Here is a list made up mostly of available, middling, corner-type free agents that the Pirates have some realistic shot at signing. I have included their 2010 CHONE projections, available at FanGraphs.
| 2010 CHONE Projections | |||||||
| Player | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | Defense | WAR |
| Rick Ankiel | 473 | 0.242 | 0.298 | 0.436 | 0.318 | -3 | 1.1 |
| Russell Branyan | 337 | 0.243 | 0.335 | 0.497 | 0.359 | 0 | 1.2 |
| Carlos Delgado | 482 | 0.247 | 0.322 | 0.449 | 0.337 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Jason Giambi | 410 | 0.218 | 0.354 | 0.416 | 0.344 | -4 | 0.7 |
| Vladimir Guerrero | 501 | 0.291 | 0.337 | 0.489 | 0.357 | DH | 1.6 |
| Adam LaRoche | 588 | 0.259 | 0.330 | 0.459 | 0.343 | -3 | 1.2 |
| Brandon Moss | 471 | 0.267 | 0.335 | 0.426 | 0.332 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Xavier Nady | 454 | 0.271 | 0.326 | 0.448 | 0.337 | -6 | 0.7 |
| John Raynor | 443 | 0.259 | 0.330 | 0.374 | 0.316 | 3 | 0.7 |
| Jim Thome | 487 | 0.233 | 0.351 | 0.442 | 0.351 | DH | 1.2 |
As you can see, I included Brandon Moss and John Raynor on the list. Anyone else having a hard time distinguishing their projected numbers from the others?
The Pirates already have an overflowing bench. I cannot see why we should add another player to the mix, particularly one that is projected to perform no better than Moss and only marginally better than Raynor. Both Moss and Raynor are 26 years old, cheap and possess some sort of upside. None of these options can say the same. But if the Pirates sign any of these players, Moss and/or Raynor will be out the door. It just does not make sense to me.
