Originally Posted by
Mr KLC
The remaining 63 games this season, and how to replace Frazier’s .324 batting average and solid glove. After a day off Monday, the Pirates open a three-game series Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
There are no shortage of candidates, however.
• The Pirates could insert the 21-year-old Marcano at second base and get some answers immediately. He played in eight games there this season with no errors, after committing 11 in 113 games over four minor-league seasons.
• Wilmer Difo, who immediately replaced Frazier on Sunday when he was pulled in the eighth inning, has played 162 games at second base with only five errors in seven seasons. He also is valuable to the Pirates in the outfield.
• Could the Pirates reach back into Double-A Altoona for Rodolfo Castro, 22, who hit three home runs in his major-league debut stint earlier this month?
• Or, veteran infielder Erik Gonzalez could be considered as soon as next week. Gonzalez is “slightly ahead” of schedule in his projected four-to-six-week recovery from a right oblique strain, according to Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. Gonzalez was put on the injured list July 2, but he was taking ground balls and playing catch out to 90 feet last week.