Joel Reuter from Bleacher Report rates the Pirates as the sixth best potential free-agent destination in all of Major League Baseball. He sees the increase in the payroll from last season and feels the Bucs should be National League Central contenders in the 2016 season and beyond. Will Pittsburgh exceed the 100 million a year payroll mark over the next few seasons?
Over at CBSSports.com, Jon Heyman reported on Monday that the Pirates are making right-handed reliever Mark Melancon available. It would seem that today’s general managers are not apprehensive about moving their closers.