By adding Ben Gamel, Pirates prioritize center field, versatility of infielders to play first base

When a rash of injuries left the Pittsburgh Pirates short-handed at first base, third base and in the outfield this weekend, they responded with a series of roster moves to address their shortcomings.

When push came to shove, the Pirates prioritized center field.

Rather than rely on infielders Wilmer Difo and Erik Gonzalez to play out of position, the Pirates claimed Ben Gamel off waivers from Cleveland — in part because he can play all three outfield positions but mostly because they need a true backup to Bryan Reynolds.

“One of the things with Gamel and acquiring him, is he can play center field,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We’ve been running Difo out there. There was a possibility we would’ve had to run Gonzo out there, so putting him in a position that’s not natural to him. And they did a nice job. We’ll continue at times to get them out there. But I think the protection behind Bryan was important for us.”

More important to the Pirates than keeping Todd Frazier. The Pirates designated Frazier for assignment Monday, just a day after placing first baseman Colin Moran (groin) on the 10-day injured list and moving third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (wrist) to the 60-day IL.

The 35-year-old Frazier, a two-time All-Star who can play first or third, batted .086 (3 for 35) with a double, four RBIs and three runs in 13 games for the Pirates. He went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and reached on an error in Sunday’s 6-5 win at the Chicago Cubs, but was 1 for 31 in his first 12 games and had twice as many strikeouts (six) as walks (three).

Frazier didn’t make the Opening Day roster out of spring training but signed a minor league contract and spent the first three weeks of the season at the alternate training site. He joined the taxi squad for a road trip and was promoted to the active roster April 22 at Detroit.

“It was a conversation of what we were going to do,” Shelton said. “We needed a roster spot, and that’s essentially what it came down to. It’s unfortunate because Todd was great here. He was great in spring training with our group. He was great when he came back up, was with us as a taxi member and then got activated. Unfortunately, when you acquire people, sometimes you have to make difficult decisions on your roster. Today, we had to make that decision.”

Shelton said the decision showed the importance of versatility, which favorted the other infielders. Phillip Evans can play first or third base, as well as the corner outfield positions. Difo started in center on Saturday and Sunday, when Reynolds was out with lower-body soreness, and has played third base and right field for the Pirates this season and second base and shortstop for the Washington Nationals last year. Gonzalez has played third base and shortstop this season but saw time in left field in 2019 and made cameos in center and at first base in spring training.

Shelton has no qualms with playing Gonzalez at first base. Shelton even drew a Gonzalez comparison to 2020 NL Rookie of the Year Jake Cronenworth, who started two games at first base for the Padres when they hosted the Pirates last week and “looked like he’d been there his whole career with a couple of the plays he made.”

“No. 1, he’s really good with his hands. I think that’s the first point,” Shelton said of Gonzalez. “He actually played there in spring training and we saw it. He’s fine. He’s worked out there. … Any guy that can play, especially on the other corner, has the ability to do that. Especially with Gonzo’s baseball smarts, I don’t feel like it’ll be an issue at all.”

Gamel, 28, is a six-year veteran who has played for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians, where he batted .071 (1 for 14) in 11 games this season. He has a slash line of .259/.330/.385 with 70 doubles, 23 home runs and 126 RBIs in 453 career games. Gamel, who homered twice at PNC Park last season, gives the Pirates another left-handed bat in the lineup.

“What I like about him is this guy’s a gamer,” Shelton said. “He gets after it, and I know a lot of people who know him in his time in the big leagues and go back to his days when he was drafted by the Yankees – and that’s the one thing that really stands out to me, is the way he plays. A lot of energy and looking forward to adding him into our mix.”