Latest Pirates Buzz: Cole, Worley, Harrison, Polanco, Marte

Gerrit Cole was officially placed on the 15 Day DL today due to shoulder fatigue. The team for now believes the injury is short-term. Cole is eligible to come off the DL on June 19.

“We feel really comfortable that after the end of that 15 days, hopefully he’s going to be ready to go,” GM Neal Huntington said today on the Neal Huntington Show.

Jeff Locke starting today and Brandon Cumpton a regular in the rotation, has the Pirates starting rotation getting very thin in the organization.

“Leads Vance Worley as our next option,” Huntington said. Worley, 26, is 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Indianapolis. Huntington hopes it doesn’t come to that but said those in the starting rotation have to give the team a legitimate chance to win as Pirates starters have struggled to pitch deep into games.

“Bottom line guys in rotation have to give us legitimate chance to win,” Huntington said.

More from Neal Huntington today:

On Josh Harrison: “He’s earned everything he’s ever gotten,” Huntington said. “Testament to him. We had a scout step forward who said this guy can hit,” Huntington said from the time the Pirates acquired him from Chicago a few years back. “Josh has continued to work and grind. The guy just goes out there to compete. Teammates love Josh.”

Much discussion is what happens with Harrison when Gregory Polanco gets called up, which Huntington said is “down the road” and sure doesn’t sound imminent. “Wasn’t in our plans,” Huntington said of reports that Polanco would be called up this weekend.

Some chatter in Pirates circles is the Pirates will not call Polanco up before June 15th.

The Pirates are looking at Harrison as a super-sub for when Polanco gets here.

“Fantastic situation,” Huntington said because of Harrison’s versatility.

“Josh can play a day at second, day at short, give Pedro a day, Polanco a day,” Huntington said. “{Maybe} Andrew gets a day off and Marte can move to center. That’s where his versatility is a beautiful thing. Play a bunch of different positions and array in the lineup. He’s earned the ability to be in the lineup {everyday}. He’s been a spark plug for us,” Huntington said.

On Starling Marte: Huntington said the team is not at the point where they feel it’s time for Starling Marte (is in the lineup today) to be sent to the minors in attempt to get him back on track, but sending Marte to the minors is something Huntington admitted could be a consideration down the road.