About the "Next Man Up" Charts

About the “Next Man Up” Charts

The “Next Man Up” charts are modified depth charts that capture the Pirates’ current big league lineup, starting rotation, and closer and project those players’ replacements from within the organization. Each chart lists the incumbent, the next available (full-time) starter, and the “next man up” if the first two players are traded or cut. This allows fans to better understand the strengths (e.g., starting pitching) and weaknesses (shortstop) of the Pirates at an organizational level. The charts focus on starters and ignore part-time players, utility players, and the bullpen. They do not try to project the set-up man and closer; as Joel Hanrahan and Jason Grilli show, these specialists can come from anywhere. The charts also provide the following information after the jump:

* Acquired – How and when the Pirates acquired a player.

5DR – Rule 5 Draft

DR – Draft

FA – Free Agent

Int FA– International Signing

MiFA – Minor League Free Agent

TR – Trade

## – “Baseball year” acquired – for example, all signings made after the last day of the 2012 regular season are “13” or the 2013 baseball season.

* ST – Service time at the start of the current season. Except for players with “Super-2” status, players with less than 3 years of service time are not eligible for arbitration. Players with more than 3 years of service time are eligible for arbitration. Players with more than 6 years of service time may become free agents. Service time is shown as Y.DDD. The last three digits are the days of service time up to 172 days; 172 days = 1 year of major league service.

* OL – The number of options a player has remaining (where known).

* 40/R5 shows which players are currently on the 40-man roster. If not on the 40-man roster, the year identifies when the player is eligible for the Rule 5 draft. A player is eligible for the Rule 5 draft (held at the December winter meetings) unless they are added to the 40-man roster.

* The yearly “Season” columns reflect the player’s age at the start of the current Major League season and contract status for Major Leaguers. For prospects, the columns reflect the current (or projected) Minor League level at which they will play. The projected year a prospect makes the majors is the best, scientific guess possible given what we know right now.

Player projected to start the year in AAA and get called up mid-season; not eligible for arbitration

Player is in a pre-arbitration year; contract is Major League minimum unless otherwise noted

Player is arbitration eligible; salary = contract or arbitration results

Player is under contract

Either the Pirates or the player may exercise an option; details provided below the chart.

Positional Player Depth Chart
Pitcher Depth Chart

All courtesy of Trogluddite