A right-handed-hitting outfielder is the Pirates' greatest need, and free agent Rocco Baldelli seemed like the perfect player to fill that role, as he seemingly still has some upside in a career hampered by injuries and illness.
However, the Rhode Island native could not pass up a chance to play at home and wound up signing with Boston, even though the Pirates, according to a source close to the negotiations, offered more guaranteed money than the $500,000 Baldelli got from the Red Sox. Thus, the Pirates are likely to lower their sights on the free agent market.
"There are still a couple of guys out there who might not have had a great 2008 but are still major league-caliber players," general manager Neal Huntington said. "We're probably in the market now for a guy ready to have a bounce-back kind of season."
One of those free agents is Emil Brown, who hit .244 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs in 117 games for Oakland. Brown began his career with the Pirates in 1997 after being a Rule 5 draft pick from the Athletics.
Two other possibilities are Jonny Gomes and Craig Monroe. Gomes hit .182 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 77 games with Tampa Bay, while Monroe batted .202 with eight homers and 29 RBIs in 58 games with Minnesota.
The Pirates also could stay inside the organization and give Steve Pearce a chance. However, Pearce was a disappointment last season after being the organization's minor league player of the year in 2007. He hit just .248 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 37 major league games last year, and .251 with 12 homers in 103 games with Class AAA Indianapolis.
