Selection Sunday remains five weeks away. But that doesn’t mean that talk of the “bubble” hasn’t started already, nor does it have to be limited to college basketball.

A week before Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers were required to report to spring training, here are four position players who enter it on a proverbial bubble of sorts:

Kevin Kramer

Kramer is on the bubble as a backup infielder, on the bubble in the competition as the starting second baseman and on the bubble as a super-utility type who plays all over the field.

Perhaps more than any player at Pirate City and LECOM Park in the coming weeks, Kramer’s 2020 role is up in the air and could end up in any number of ways. He certainly has a shot at the opening day roster, but he perhaps is slightly more likely to begin the 2020 season with Triple-A Indianapolis. Should he make the Pirates, he could be a starting middle infielder or a valuable Swiss Army Knife that backs up at five or more positions. And even if he is optioned to the minors to start the season, he could potentially get innings at second base, third base, left field, right field, first base, shortstop, and even center field.

Despite a putrid .387 OPS over 42 major-league at bats, as a former second-round pick Kramer still holds high hopes for his major-league future. A strong spring could afford him opportunity with the Pirates in 2020.

Kevin Kramer looks at his career through a different lens, but his growing family is part of what spurs him to train harder in the offseason. https://t.co/BBVSQ4Iv6F

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) February 4, 2020

(x) Will Craig

A former first-round pick, Craig has 43 home runs over his past two-minor-league seasons. But he’s not among the Pirates’ top 10 prospects because of ordinary defense, concerns about his ability to get on base and because he’s blocked at his given position by the player who’s arguably the face if the franchise right now in Josh Bell.

Craig, though made it an offseason priority to improve his athleticism to allow for playing elsewhere than first base. If in Bradenton he shows he’s cut down on his strikeouts and has better feet in the field, Craig could sneak onto the roster as a backup at the corner infield and outfield spots.

On the 40-man roster as with his draft pedigree, it’s a foregone conclusion that the Pirates intend to at least kick the proverbial tires on Craig at the major-league level. Whether he remains in the conversation regarding the franchise’s longterm plans is yet to be seen, but it’s fair to say 2020 is perhaps Craig’s last shot to prove he is.

Jason Martin

By now it’s forgotten that when Pirates first needed to summon a young outfielder from Triple-A last season that they chose Martin and not eventual National League batting title contender Bryan Reynolds. Martin singled and stole second mere minutes into his MLB debut.

– but after starting 5-for-12 with a double, a walk and two steals over his first 13 plate appearances, he had just two hits over his next 23 at bats and ended the season as an afterthought.

Martin’s ceiling in the majors perhaps isn’t anything more than as a fourth outfielder, but there’s nothing wrong with that. He has some speed and possesses adequate defense.

This spring provides perhaps Martin’s best opportunity to prove he’s an MLB regular. With Starling Marte traded, there’s an open starting spot and the chain reaction leaves room for an extra outfielder on the bench. What Martin shows the new coaching staff this spring will result in what role, if any, he holds for the Pirates.

Ben Cherington left his first Winter Meetings as #Pirates GM on Thursday without making trade. Although it's still likely that Starling Marte, Adam Frazier and Joe Musgrove might not be on the team come spring training https://t.co/SvgwHi52AI

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) December 13, 2019

Adam Frazier

Frazier isn’t on the bubble in terms of his roster spot; the five-year veteran became an everyday player last season and showed he’s capable (.278/.336/.417 slash line, 10 home runs). But is Frazier’s grip on the starting second baseman spot secure? Taking that to another level, is it assured he’s on the team come opening day?

“Yes” is the probable answer to both of those questions, though a spring trade isn’t out of the question. A trade could be facilitated by the likes of some combination of two from the group of Cole Tucker, Kevin Newman, Kramer bust down the proverbial door and show they’re deserving of being a middle-infield starter. JT Riddle and Erik Gonzalez also could shake out as starters at shortstop or second base if the Pirates want to maximize the value of Frazier in a trade.

A .300 hitter during three of his four minor-league seasons, Frazer has been consistent over the past three seasons with the Pirates (.276, .277, .278 batting averages). Taking another step in his development could, ironically, expedite his exit by making him more attractive to a contender.

Love baseball? Stay up-to-date with the latest Pittsburgh Pirates news.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---