Asset management is inevitably a major part of a general manager’s job in major league baseball. Guaranteed contracts plus a myriad of roster rules — most notably the availability of options and the need to get the consent of a five-year veteran for a minor league assignment — can conspire to keep a player in the majors when he doesn’t deserve to be there.
The impact of asset management on the Pirates, though, has been dramatic this year. I don’t think any fan needs to be reminded just how awful the team’s bench has been. The current bench features John Jaso, Jose Osuna, Gift Ngoepe, Alen Hanson and Chris Stewart.