MLB: Pirates actively covet a young shortstop to build their team around

After passing on Deven Marrero in 2012 draft, the 2013 draft is a terrible one for shortstops:

A top priority for GM Neal Huntington and the Pirates staff remains finding a young shortstop to build their team around for years to come. The difficult part is finding one.

The Pirates have a high regard for Boston Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias but the Pirates were unable to nab Iglesias in the Joel Hanrahan trade and the price remains high. “The Pirates really wanted Iglesias in the Joel Hanrahan deal, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes. “Their scouts felt he would eventually hit. Well, his offense, at least for now, has come along. “The Pirates really wanted a young shortstop they could build around and Iglesias was the guy they earmarked,” said one baseball executive. “The jury was out by some teams’ evaluations on him, but there was no denying his defense and no denying that he had a chance with the bat as he matured. Maybe that time has come.”

If the Pirates are to find a young shortstop who can join the current core in the next year or two, their scouts are likely going to have to find a sleeper prospect via trade.

In the 2012 draft the Pirates gave strong consideration to drafting Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero with the No. 8 overall selection but Pirates gambled and selected pitcher Mark Appel and we know how that story ended up.

Marrero would have been a safe pick for the Pirates and should reach the Majors in 2014.

The Pirates will struggle to find a legitimate shortstop prospect in the 2013 draft. Draft insider Keith Law calls the 2013 draft “a terrible class for shortstops.”

The draft class does not feature any highly regarded college shortstops who could make a quick jump to the Majors. The shortstop draft class centers around high school shortstops headlined by J.P. Crawford of Lakewood High School in California who is regarded by scouting services as a top-15, top-20 prospect.