OnlyBucs

From John Drekker over at P2:



The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that they reinstated Jung Ho Kang from the restricted list and he has been optioned to Indianapolis.



Nothing really changes here with his timeline. The plan was to bring him back when/if he was ready. What does change is the fact that he is now back on the payroll at his previously agreed upon 2018 salary and he’s taking up a 40-man roster spot.



Kang is 1-for-15 in four games with Indianapolis after tearing up the Florida State League last week with Bradenton. He has been splitting his time since he was in Extended Spring Training between third base and shortstop. He has not made an error since returning to regular games.

Kang goes 2-5 today with his 1st xbh at AAA. Osuna with a big day. 3-5 HR and 4 RBI.

Kang is 3 for 4 tonight with 3 rbi. It seems he is getting his timing down.

6E6263383138303D3A253F080 wrote: Kang is 3 for 4 tonight with 3 rbi. It seems he is getting his timing down.
What a boost if his play still plays. Wow. Adding an .850 OPS power bat would be huge.

Would adding Kang count under Huntington's comment about adding to the team at the deadline?

4C4E545244210 wrote: Would adding Kang count under Huntington's comment about adding to the team at the deadline?


What else to add? Other than pitching I guess. All of the position players seem like guys we want to keep there even if they're not performing now.



Would people replace MIers? Corner IF? I'm curious.

I would have suggested bringing up Osuna (now I suggest playing him some) and looking long and hard at Sean Rod. You don't trade starting pitchers if you are remotely in a race, but if they collapse, then it would be time for the prospects to push out some of the older players.

For the time being if they do bring up Kang I send Meadows (I know I will catch all kinds of grief for you guys) and let him play every inning of every game til at least the deadline when deals are complete.



Now where do you play Kang? 3B? No! SS? No! 2B? No! Move him around as super utility? Yes! So if Meadows goes down to play all the time and Osuna is up that means SRod goes! Yes!

48696148636B0C0 wrote: For the time being if they do bring up Kang I send Meadows (I know I will catch all kinds of grief for you guys) and let him play every inning of every game til at least the deadline when deals are complete.



Now where do you play Kang?  3B? No! SS? No!  2B? No! Move him around as super utility?  Yes! So if Meadows goes down to play all the time and Osuna is up that means SRod goes!  Yes!
My take is a little different. If Kang is truly back and hitting, I look to trade JHay for something useful. I also wouldn't hesitate one second to put Kang at 3rd over Moran if the production is the same as before his suspension.

Kang-for-SRod seems the obvious move there.



I guess I was thinking more on the trade front for the people/editorials who want them to "make a move" as buyers. What position to upgrade? I know 1B has been a weak position but I'm not sure anyone should want to give up on him yet (might be different if we were front-runners). In my mind that would leave SP and RP but I was curious what people thought.