Burning Fantasy Baseball Questions: Pittsburgh Pirates

January 14, 2011 @ 13:00:00

By Tim Heaney
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

KFFL answers some important fantasy baseball questions for each Major League Baseball team as spring training approaches. What must fantasy baseball players know about the Pittsburgh Pirates?

What does 2011 hold for the latest wave of young Bucs?

In a volatile third base class, Pedro Alvarez is C-4. His low contact and batting eye will keep his clip low. But you buy the power - and maybe as a bonus him re-igniting his .306-6-27 post-August fuse. Alvarez's 30-homer upside helps him stand out among middle-tier third basemen. Good luck seeing him fall into CI territory.

Hanrahan and Meek set to duel

Jose Tabata has bulked up a little, but the spring noise shouldn't prevent you from taking him as a speed mixed flier. A 30-steal season with a non-hurtful batting average is where you start. Double-digit homers would be a bonus, and more muscle increases that likelihood.

Neil Walker surprised a bit last year. He had BABIP help but made hard and enough contact, so it wasn't farfetched. The 26-year-old's competency with fly balls also keeps 20 homers possible for a full season. Here's a potential MI profit.

Where will Pirates saves go?

Barring Pittsburgh nabbing another arm, it's between Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek, who shared the role after the Octavio Dotel trade last year; the former received more saves work. Hanny, of ample K's, is one of few relievers worthy of mixed ownership when he isn't closing. Meek can whiff batters, too, while maintaining a GB-heavy arsenal. Both hurlers made control strides in 2010.

Whoever wins the job stands to be a solid value among the expanse mixed No. 3 group. Pittsburgh likely will take their time deciding. If you can't, Hanrahan is the better target; he fits the shutdown profile better and has done the job before.

Any buried treasure in this rotation?

After being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, James McDonald flashed some gold with a 3.52 ERA and 8.58 K/9 in 64 frames, including a torrid - albeit fortunate - September (2.31 ERA, 2.31 K/BB). Entrenched in a clear role, McDonald has deep mixed sleeper value.

Kevin Correia deserves NL-only attention: Rising dominance and grounder rates take some sting out of his control problems. Wait and see on waiver wire arms Charlie Morton, Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf and Scott Olsen.

AL East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays	AL Central Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins	AL West Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers
NL East Atlanta Braves Florida Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals	NL Central Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals	NL West Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants

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Tim Heaney

Since the Boston University alum joined KFFL in 2006, his work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly and Yahoo! Sports, among numerous publications.

Tim competes in Tout Wars and LABR and appears every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore, as well as frequently on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

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