The Pirates won’t have anyone older than 27 years old in the starting rotation when the 2010 season begins. 26-year old Zach Duke will likely be the Pirates’ #1 starter when the season begins. He started 32 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 11-16 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. In five years with the Pirates, Duke has pitched in 131 games (130 starts) in which he is 37-55 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Duke has never really lived up to the promise he showed as a rookie.

27-year old lefty Paul Maholm couldn’t follow up his solid 2008 season for the Pirates last year. Maholm started 31 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 8-9 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has also pitched 5 years for the Pirates just like Duke in which he has started 127 games. In those 127 games, Maholm is 38-44 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Maholm is mis-cast at the top of the Pirates’ rotation as he would likely be a #4 or #5 starter on a good team.

27-year old righty Ross Ohlendorf really had a outstanding year in 2009 and the Pirates hope he can repeat it. Ohlendorf started 29 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 11-10 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Ohlendorf only allowed 165 hits in 176 2/3 innings last season which is a very good sign for the future.

26-year old righty Charlie Morton will likely be the frontrunner for the #4 spot in the rotation for the Pirates in 2010. Morton started 18 games for the Pirates last year in which he was 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Pirates really hope that Morton steps up this year.

27-year old righty Daniel McCutchen appears to be penciled in as the #5 starter for the Pirates heading into 2010. McCutchen is the Pirates’ #21 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. McCutchen started 6 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He also started 24 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.

27-year old righty Kevin Hart will likely get some starts for the Pirates this season. He started 10 games for the Pirates last season after coming over from the Cubs in a trade and he was 1-8 with a 6.92 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. Hart gave up 74 hits in only 53 1/3 innings as a Pirate last season while walking 26 batters and that just won’t get the job done. Overall, Hart pitched in 18 games (14 starts) for the Cubs & Pirates in which he was 4-9 with a 5.44 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP.

24-year old righty rookie Brad Lincoln could also make a push for the starting job at some point in 2010 for the Pirates. He started 25 games in AA+AAA ball last season in which he was 7-7 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Lincoln is the Pirates’ #4 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America.

21-year old righty Tim Alderson was brought over last season from the Giants in the Freddy Sanchez trade last July. Alderson started 25 games in A+AA ball last season in which he was 10-3 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Alderson is the Pirates’ #7 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2010: C-

28-year old lefty swinging Garrett Jones will be the starting RF for the Pirates in 2010 unless he’s starting at 1B. Jones played in 82 games for the Pirates last season and he was 92 of 314 (.293 avg, .938 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 21 homers, 44 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Jones didn’t make any errors in 39 games in RF last season while showing above average range. Jones also had 4 assists from RF showing a cannon out there. The Pirates hope that Jones can keep up the good work in 2010.

31-year old lefty swinging Ryan Church will be the #4 outfielder for the Pirates in 2010 unless Jones plays 1B. If Jones plays 1B in 2010 than Church would likely be the starter in RF for the Pirates. Church played in 111 games for the Mets & Braves last season in which he was 98 of 359 (.273 avg, .722 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 4 homers, 40 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Church is a better hitter than he showed last season as he has a lot more power than he produced. Church made 2 errors in 86 games in RF last season for the Pirates while showing average range. Church also had 6 assists from RF last season as he showed a very strong throwing arm.

26-year old lefty swinging Brandon Moss was a huge disappointment for the Pirates last season and he will need a huge spring not to start the 2010 season in AAA. Moss played in 133 games for the Pirates last season and he was 91 of 385 (.236 avg, .668 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 7 homers and 41 RBIs. Moss only made 1 error in 79 games in RF last season while showing outstanding range. Moss also has a strong throwing arm as he had 8 assists out of RF last season. It will be interesting to see if Moss gets his act together in 2010.

27-year old switch hitting Delwyn Young will be one of the Pirates’ top utility men in 2010 playing both in the infield and outfield. Young played in 124 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 94 of 354 (.266 avg, .707 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 7 homers, 43 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Young only made 1 error in 26 games in RF last season while showing good range there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: B

23-year old righty swinging Andrew McCutchen is a player who showed a good glimpse of his potential in his rookie season in 2009. He played in 108 games for the Pirates last season and he was 124 of 433 (.286 avg, .836 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 12 homers, 54 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. McCutchen has the potential to be a 30/30 man down the road for the Pirates but in 2010 he could be a 20/30 man. McCutchen made 2 errors in 108 games in CF last season while showing outstanding range. He also had an amazing 10 assists from CF as a rookie last season showing a howitzer for a arm.

26-year old righty swinging John Raynor will have an excellent chance to make the Pirates in 2010 due to the fact that he was a Rule 5 Selection from the Marlins. Raynor played in 138 games in AA+AAA ball in which he was 115 of 447 (.257 avg, .687 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. Raynor has a .299 career batting average with a .836 OPS in 419 career minor league games in which he has swiped 142 bases.

22-year old righty swinging Gorkys Hernandez is getting closer to the show for the Pirates. He played in 138 games in AA+AAA ball last season and he was 157 of 556 (.282 avg, .688 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 3 homers, 50 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: A

Left field belongs to 24-year old righty swinging Lastings Milledge. Milledge played in 58 games for the Pirates last season after coming over from the Nationals in the Nyjer Morgan trade. Milledge was 64 of 220 (.291 avg, .729 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 20 RBIs and 6 stolen bases for the Pirates. Milledge has a huge upside and this is likely the year he gets to it if he remains focused and motivated. Milledge didn’t make any errors in 56 games in LF last season while showing good range. Milledge also has a strong arm as he had 6 assists out of LF last year. The sky is the limit for Milledge.

31-year old lefty swinging Ryan Church will likely be the Pirates’ #4 outfielder in 2010. He didn’t play any games in LF last season but he has a lot of experience there so he will likely get some P.T. there.

26-year old lefty swinging Brandon Moss is a natural RF but he can play LF too if needed. Moss made 1 error in 21 games in LF last season while showing outstanding range. Moss also had 1 assist out of LF last season as he has a very strong throwing arm.

26-year old lefty swinging Brandon Jones was once one of the Braves’ top prospects but he’s running out of time to reach his potential. Jones played in 5 games for the Braves last season and he was 4 of 13 (.308 avg, .778 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Jones also played in 107 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 108 of 384 (.281 avg, .779 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 7 homers, 57 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Jones didn’t make any errors while showing poor range in LF in 4 games there in 2009.

27-year old switch hitting Delwyn Young is also available for P.T. in LF in 2010. He played in 4 games in LF last season in which he made 1 error while showing outstanding range. Young did have 1 assist in LF last season which shows he has a semi-decent throwing arm.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR LF IN 2010: C+

26-year old righty swinging Andy LaRoche played in 150 games for the Pirates last season and he was 135 for 524 (.258 avg, .731 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 12 homers, 64 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. LaRoche came on strong at the end of last season offensively and the Pirates hope that it is a sign of things to come. LaRoche made 14 errors in 146 games at 3B for the Pirates last season and he showed outstanding range.

33-year old lefty swinging Ramon Vazquez will likely make the team and back up LaRoche in 2010. He played in 14 games at 3B last season and he only made 1 error while showing good range.

24-year old switch hitting Neil Walker has been one of the better prospects in the Pirates’ system for some time now, but it’s time for him to put up or shut up. Walker played in 17 games for the Pirates last season and he was 7 for 36 (.194 avg, .497 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 1 stolen base. He also played in 103 games in Rookie+AAA ball last season and he was 99 for 386 (.256 avg, .773 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Walker made 1 error in 9 games at 3B last season for the Pirates and he showed above average range.

23-year old lefty swinging Pablo Alvarez is the Pirates’ top prospect and he’s coming quick. Alvarez played in 126 games in A+AA ball last season and he was 134 for 465 (.288 avg, .914 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 27 homers and RBIs. Look for the Pirates to call up Alvarez when rosters expand on September 1st if not before.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: C