For years, September call-ups for the Pirates essentially meant that the team would begin tryouts for the following season, but over the past four years, September has been meaningful for the organization, and as such, the roster expansion in September has been used to add valuable pieces that otherwise would have been unable to fit on the Pirates roster. Last year, eight players got the call to the majors from AAA Indianapolis, and I would expect a similar number this year. Typically, players are called up who are already on the 40-man roster, but in some cases a player is added to the 40-man roster in order to be called up to the majors in September. With that said, the most likely candidates to come from the 40-man roster are LHP Bobby LaFromboise, RHP Rob Scahill, C Tony Sanchez, 1B/RF Corey Hart and OF Jaff Decker.
LaFromboise was claimed by the Pirates from the San Diego Padres last August and was a September call-up last September. He was used sparingly as a lefty specialist and totaled 3.2 innings, allowing 1 run, 3 hits, no walks and 4 strikeouts. LaFromboise did not make the opening day roster this season, and although he was called up twice, once in May and again at the end of July, he made only one appearance, pitching an inning, allowing 1 hit, no runs, no walks and a strikeout. The only other time the 29-year old was in the major leagues was briefly in 2013 for the Seattle Mariners, were he pitched 10.2 innings with a 5.91 ERA. LaFromboise has pitched consistently well in the minor leagues and has been one of his best seasons. On the year he has pitched 53 innings, has a 2.72 ERA, with a WHIP of 1.09 to go along with 50 strikeouts. He would look to be a very solid option against lefties in a similar role that Antonio Bastardo has played this year and could challenge to take over that spot for next season.
Rob Scahill is currently on a rehab assignment in AAA Indianapolis and has been quite successful in his brief time there. In 8.2 innings, Scahill has pitched to a 2.08 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Before being sidelined by injury, Scahill had pitched to a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings for the Major League ball club. He will be a good relief depth option in the middle innings for the Pirates once he comes off of the DL in September.
Tony Sanchez has taken a bit of a roller coaster ride for the organization since being drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft out of Boston College. His development was stunted by injuries and under performance, and now he is a 27-year old stuck in a time share with new Pirates-catcher-of-the future Elias Diaz. Diaz and Sanchez have posted similar offensive numbers this season, but Diaz is considered to be the superior defender and is 3.5 years younger as well. Diaz would be a better option for the Pirates to call-up to be the third catcher, but he does not provide enough value to be worth starting his service clock at the moment. Sanchez has been a decent hitting catcher during his time in the bigs, but has lacked the defensive fortitude to be a solid backup catcher for a contender. With that said, he can provide the Pirates with some catching depth and capable pinch hitting during the month of September.
Corey Hart is a player that is a sad case of aging in baseball. Once a star in Milwaukee, he has fallen on tough times as he has entered into his age-33 season, with injuries playing a major role in his downfall. He struggled mightily in his time with the Pirates early in the season and has tried a couple times to make it back to the team, but has hit a few roadblocks. Currently on a minor league rehab assignment with AAA Indianapolis, he has continued to struggle at the plate and this makes it unclear whether or not he will be granted the opportunity to return to the Majors this season or even if this may force him into retirement. Even if he is able to make it back to the Major League club this season, he will find next to no playing time with first base and right field locked down for the foreseeable future.
Finally, Jaff Decker is someone who will most likely be called up when the rosters expand. Decker is still young at only 25 years old and although he has struggled in his brief exposure in the MLB, he has been largely successful in AAA, although his numbers have dropped off since last being sent down. He is a lefty bat that can play well as a legitimate backup outfielder, something the Pirates have lacked for the majority of the season.
Of the position players not on the 40-man roster, the two most exciting players to watch for to come up are Travis Snider and Keon Broxton. Snider is a familiar face to Pirates fans and had his best season last year for the Pirates, playing to a 1.6 fWAR as a part-time player. He underperformed this year in Baltimore, but has been on fire for the Indianapolis Indians since his return to the organization, with an OPS over 1.000. Snider should be able to take over the role as the Pirates' fourth outfielder, something that I believe should happen now in order for him to be on the Pirates playoff roster in place of Sean Rodriguez, but that is looking to be unlikely at this time. Nonetheless, Snider should be a valuable bench piece in the stretch run in September.
Keon Broxton is someone who is not on too many peoples' radars at this time, but a player that I would like to see the Pirates add in September. He is a 25 year old righty outfielder that, between Altoona and Indianapolis this year has a .794 OPS to go along with 38 stolen bases and good defense in Center Field. While other players like Elias Diaz and Alen Hanson look to have a solid chance of starting in Pittsburgh in the future, Keon Broxton is blocked by the Pirates' dream trio. Broxton would have the opportunity to be showcased as a MLB-ready player right now to potential suitors who may have more space to add him to their rosters, while also helping the Pirates right now as a valuable backup outfielder and pinch hitter/runner.
On the pitching side, Radhamez Liz and Tyler Glasnow are the two players who have the potential to help the Pirates in their playoff push. Liz has been absolutely dominant since transitioning to a starter, with a 1.44 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 61.1 innings. He could be a great pitching depth option as well as a dominant reliever if he can carry his performance over to the bullpen.
Finally, the most intriguing, albeit unlikely wild card option of all is Tyler Glasnow. Glasgow has dominated at every level of the minor leagues and is now putting up a sub-1 ERA in AAA. The one catch to this is his notoriously fluctuating command. He has the tendency to come unraveled and walk a slew of batters, but when he has everything under control (pun intended), he is flat out unhittable with a mid to upper-90's fastball and a wipe out breaking ball. If the Pirates roll the dice and bring him up, he could step into the rotation and have flashes of brilliance and flashes of Charlie Morton meltdowns. The Pirates could also easily slot him into the bullpen as a situational shutdown reliever of sorts. Either way, he could be the wild card that could help the Pirates beat out the Cardinals. Realistically, I do not see the Pirates bringing up Tyler Glasnow and do not think that they should, as the potential value he could bring is most likely not worth the service time and limited exposure he would get in the Majors, as well as the possible "rushing him to the majors" that could set back his development. However, if called up before September 1st and thus eligible to make the postseason roster, that is a move that I would have to consider making if I were Neal Huntington.
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