Pirates manager Derek Shelton held a video conference call with reporters yesterday and talked about his lineup for the upcoming season.
Entering his second season at the helm, Shelton said the team’s last place 2020 season nonetheless helped build team cohesion, and he likes the mental approach his players are taking.
Shelton says some positions are pretty firm, but there are opportunities.
At shortstop, Shelton says the Bucs have three capable players in Erik Gonzalez, Kevin Newman, and Cole Tucker, and he likes their versatility.
Shelton also mentioned the return of Phillip Evans, a surprise at third base who hit .359 in eleven games before suffering a season-ending injury. He also acknowledged that some of those players he mentioned might be traded in the offseason.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are at odds over when to start the 2021 season. One American League owner tells USA Today that he doesn’t see any way that spring training can begin in February.
The anonymous owner also said whether they play a full or shortened season, they have to make sure everyone is safe and the owners want the season to be delayed until May so all players can be vaccinated. The players, however, are pushing to start on time and play a full 162-game schedule with full pay. MLB players made just 33-percent of their salary during the recent 60-game shortened season.
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