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St. Louis Cardinals: 5 Tempting Non-Tendered Free Agents
By Chris Gigley
Pedro Alvarez
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Another surprise for the St. Louis Cardinals and everyone else in baseball was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ release of first baseman Pedro Alvarez. But really, I think this is more about his history with the organization than anything else. Alvarez was a 1st-round pick of the Pirates (and the 2nd overall pick) back in 2008, making his big league debut with the club in 2010. Three years later, he led the Majors with 36 bombs (and 186 Ks, BTW), made the All-Star Team and helped the Pirates rise from the ashes. In the meantime, fans started showing up at PNC Park wearing fake Alvarez Amish beards in his honor.
Now, no more. Alvarez didn’t really fit with the team’s defense- and metrics-focused approach to the game. It was all or nothing with Alvarez (his career average is .236) and his hands are made of stone. Unable to hack the hot corner (27 errors in 2012 and again in 2013), the Bucs last year moved him to first base, where he made 23 more miscues.
I’m praying the St. Louis Cardinals don’t make a run at him. Pedro Alvarez will be next season’s version of 2015’s Kendrys Morales, going to the American League where he doesn’t have to worry about his D.
Next: Ike Davis, 1B