Left-hander Jeff Locke’s Pirates career could end Friday. Locke, the former All-Star who has spent parts of the past six seasons at the back end of the starting rotation, is one of eight arbitration-eligible players the club must decide whether to tender a contract to later this week.
The non-tender deadline is at 11:59 p.m. Friday. At that point, the Pirates will have made up their minds about a big chunk of their pitching staff. Of their eight arbitration-eligible players, shortstop Jordy Mercer is the lone position player, and he is sure to be tendered a contract.
The other seven are right-hander Gerrit Cole and a bunch of arms that ended the season in the bullpen — Locke, left-hander Tony Watson, right-hander Juan Nicasio, right-hander Jared Hughes, right-hander Drew Hutchison and left-hander Wade LeBlanc.