Jason Rogers 'absolutely is an option' for Pirates at first base
The Pittsburgh Pirates might not be done in their search for a first baseman, but Jason Rogers might be a significant portion of the picture regardless of what the remainder of the offseason brings.
The Pirates acquired the 27-year-old Rogers from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in exchange for outfielder Keon Broxton and pitching prospect Trey Supak.
Rogers predominantly played first base for the Brewers in addition to third base and left field and could be in the mix at first base next year for the Pirates, who recently parted ways with Pedro Alvarez.
"He is a guy that fits for us as an option at first base. He's played third, almost a season's worth of games in the minor leagues at third," general manager Neal Huntington said, via MLB.com. "He's played some outfield, and he's a right-handed bat that hits both right- and left-handed pitching well. He could fit in any number of roles and is just a very good fit on the club."
In 152 at-bats with the Brewers last season, the 6-foot-1, 255-pound Rogers hit .296/.367/.441 with four home runs and 16 RBI. In five minor-league seasons, he displayed a good balance between power and average, hitting .290/.372/.466 with 69 home runs and 331 RBI.
Rogers joins Michael Morse and Jake Goebbert as Pittsburgh's potential first basemen for next season.
However, the Pirates may not be finished in their quest for a first baseman, which Huntington alluded to on Thursday.
"If nothing else happens this offseason, he absolutely is an option for us at first base," Huntington said. "If we do something else, his versatility and bat allow him to play elsewhere."
