Pirates Rotation already pre-determined?

The Pirates have entered spring training with three locks in the rotation, Gerrit Cole, Ivan Nova and Jameson Taillon, while Chad Kuhl has the inside track for the No. 4 rotation spot.

Where does Tyler Glasnow fall into the picture?

Glasnow will be in the Pirates organization to start the regular season as the team has pulled out of trade talks for Jose Quintana but there’s doubts he’ll be in Pittsburgh when April comes around.

Pirate reporter Chris Mack of 937 The Fan wrote yesterday there was no ease dropping of names from Clint Hurdle when discussing the 5th starter.

That is likely be design.

“There’s no free pass,” Hurdle said of Glasnow via 937 The Fan. “He’s gotta go out and compete and show some improvement in some areas here. We’ve got other guys who are in competition as well. He’s well aware of it, but I think some lessons from last year are really going to benefit him going into this year.”

The growing sense around the Pirates [hide] is the coaching staff has pressure on them, presumably by management, to start Drew Hutchison in the rotation as the No. 5 starter.

There are strong indications Glasnow will need a lights out spring training to derail what some feel is a pre-determined plan already to make Hutchison the No. 5.

It should be Glasnow time this spring but the odds might be stacked against him getting a fair shot.[/hide]