Cherington on '24 rotation, Skenes, McCutchen and more

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The Winter Meetings have come and gone with some traction on the Pirates’ front, though the big blockbuster moves were carried out elsewhere during the week.

There’s a lot of speculation about what Pittsburgh may or may not do this offseason to address the 2024 roster. The likelihood is that the addressing of each need will play out slowly over the course of the offseason rather than in one fell swoop. So far, among other minor transactions, we’ve seen Ali Sánchez picked up from the D-backs and Marco Gonzales acquired from the Braves, who quickly dealt him after their trade with the Mariners. There are still obviously a handful of areas the Pirates would like to shore up.

Instead of throwing out more conjecture, let’s hear directly from general manager Ben Cherington, who held court at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this week. And a big thanks to Jason Beck, our Tigers reporter, for handling Pirates coverage at the Winter Meetings while I was away, including his reporting on Cherington’s comments.

On Johan Oviedo needing Tommy John surgery, which left the Pirates’ 2024 rotation very thin

“We didn't see any concerning changes in the pitch data. The quality of the pitches, the velocity … Again, standard dips, ups and downs, over the course of a season, but in terms of the trendline, didn't see concerns. … Unfortunately, a few days after the season, he did report, 'I am feeling something.' Because of the way the season had gone, we weren't that concerned about it initially. Unfortunately, we learned more and there was something there."

On the possibility of No. 1 prospect Paul Skenes reaching the Majors soon, given pitcher injuries

"We're not ruling anything out. I just think it's really important [to note] he's barely touched professional baseball. It's his first professional offseason. We just have a lot more to learn, and he has a lot more to learn, before we get to that decision."

On contract conversations with Andrew McCutchen

“We have a desire for him to play for the Pirates next year. I believe he shares that desire. So there is a very good spirit to the conversations. Again, still don’t have anything to announce, but we’re hopeful.”

On McCutchen, who DHed in 98 of his 112 games last season, playing the field more if he does return

“If we continue to go down the path with it, our expectation is we want to give it a shot, and he wants the same thing. We’d go into Spring Training with an open mind to doing that and prepare for it. It’s not a prerequisite, I would say, or it’s not like a full-stop criteria or anything like that, but it’s our desire because it would help the team, and he would probably prefer that.”

On options at first base

"We know Connor Joe can play there and do a good job. [Jared] Triolo got some time there at the end of the year. Obviously, [we] really like Triolo and believe he can be an important part of the team going forward, but we would like to add to the position. That market's fairly formed out. We're engaged in it, and we'll see what's there. Would obviously like to add someone to that position for 2024. Also interested in longer-term options. It's an area of the organization we don't have a clear [option] longer term, at least clearly right now.”

On whether the Pirates have an Opening Day catcher after adding a fourth catcher to the roster

“No, we don't. We do not, and we were open and clear with all the guys at the end of the season about that -- Endy [Rodríguez] included and Henry [Davis] and Jason [Delay]. Obviously we added Ali Sánchez to that mix recently, and we anticipate a really strong, competitive field.”