Promising Pirates in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh Pirates 2007 Record 68-94 (6th in NL Central)
2008 Prediction: 6th in NL Central


In

• Chris Gomez (CLE) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/12/07
  
• Hector Carrasco (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/24/08
  
• Elemer Dessens (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
  
• Jaret Wright (BAL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/23/08
  
• Casey Fossum (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/24/08
• Doug Mientkiewicz (NYY) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08
  

Out

• Jose Castillo (FLA) - signed to a 1 year contract - 12/24/07
  
• Cesar Izturis (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $2.85 million contract - 11/30/07
  
• Salomon Torres (MIL) - traded for Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts - 12/7/07
  
• Matt Kata (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
  
• Dan Kolb (BOS) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/22/08
  
• Brad Eldred (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/11/08
  
• John Wasdin (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/19/07
  
• Humberto Cota (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/27/07
  
• Josh Phelps (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/10/08
• Tony Armas Jr. (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08
  

Remaining Free Agents

• Shawn Chacon
  

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Ronny Paulino
1B - Adam LaRoche
2B - Freddy Sanchez
3B - Jose Bautista
SS - Jack Wilson
LF - Jason Bay
CF - Nate McLouth
RF - Xavier Nady

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Ian Snell
Tom Gorzelanny
Zach Duke
Paul Maholm
Matt Morris

Projected Opening Day Closer
Matt Capps

Improvements: It's rather difficult to pinpoint a club's improvements when they really made no key additions to their roster, as is the case with the Bucks.
Lack of improvement: Pick one - the Pirates weren't able to improve in any area of their ball club, so they will have to do something before the trade deadline in order to have any chance of contention in 2008. One potential hole could be their closer position. Currently, right hander Matt Capps is slated to be the team's closer, after saving 18 games in 2007. The 6'3", 240-pounder took over as the closer last season after Solomon Torres continued to struggle at the end of games. If he opens the season as the team's closer, it will be his first full season in that position, a difficult task for the 24-year old big man.
Keys to success: The young pitching staff (aside from Morris) will have to show some major growth for the Pirates to have any shot in the NL central. They all have potential, but they're going to need to step up in '08 and become a real stud rotation. And Morris will be counted on to guide these young guns with his crafty veternanship and help them mature.