Yesterday it was reported by DK that his sources inside the Pirates organization believe they have not made their main offseason move yet, and it will happen this spring likely by trade. It is fair to question what the Pirates consider a main move.
Is the main move only bigger than the Cutch signing? Is it the equivalent to two McCutchens? Bigger than Horwitz in hitting ability? Better than signing Verdugo who is still a free agent? We discussed why Alex Verdugo would be a good fit for the Bucs in this article, A case for Alex Verdugo. If you haven't read it yet please check it out.
Waiting until spring to make the main offseason move has both pros and cons. One pro is that teams are allowed to put players on the 60-Day IL. This allows a player who would normally need to go through waivers to be taken off the 40-man roster in order to make room for a new acquisition not to be taken off the 40-man at all if someone is placed on the 60-Day IL instead.
In this article, we questioned who might not be on the 40-Man roster when spring training starts, What Position Players Might The Bucs Designate For Assignment Before Spring Training. The article states that Bae is likely to be DFA'd before Spring Training. Welp he is still here on the 40 man, and so is Valdez. The Bucs say they will make their main move during the Spring so another roster spot will need to open assuming that main move needs a 40 man roster spot. According to DK's reporting it likely will and outfield was mentioned.
The Bucs currently have 3 players on their injury report. That includes "The Main" move so far this offseason Spencer Horwitz. There is also RHP Dauri Moreta and RHP Johan Oviedo. Horwitz is expected to miss six to eight weeks, so after a rehab assignment I'd expect him to be back late April or early May. So as of now it seems he will not go to the 60 day IL. Johan Oviedo who needed UCL/Tommy John surgery last offseason looks like a human head on a horse's body and says he feels good. He is likely to be ready by opening day and participate in Spring Training. The third is Dauri Moreta. He needed UCL surgery in March last year so he is still going to need rehab by opening day. He is expected to be able to return this season, but we are not sure when at this point.
This makes Moreta a strong candidate to be put on the 60 day IL opening a spot for the hypothetical "main" move the Bucs will make this spring possibly saving Bae from being removed from the 40-Man roster.