Calling all ghosts and goblins of Halloween's past. It's scary season with the end of October upon us and deals with being dispensed like millions of bucks in MLB cost-free company. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 8 even more video games than the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023 and discover themselves in the Globe Series. If a team obtains hot at the appropriate time, anything can take place in October. Playing competitive baseball down the stretch, like the Pirates did this year removing the Cubs and Reds, possibly implies good ideas for following year's club. In spite of a myriad of optimism and in the spirit of Halloween, let's consider three things that must scare Bucco fans looking ahead to the Cruz Not Being one hundred percent in 2024I genuinely assumed Oneil Cruz would play once more this period after being harmed on Easter while gliding into home location. The gruesome ankle injury maintained the 6-foot-7 shortstop out for the season after just nine video games. The initial timeline forecasted a late-August return for the 25-year-old that later was pushed to September and ran its training course right into the offseason. While Cruz was seen striking online BP during the last week of play, his movement and video game readiness stayed concerned. It's fair to ask, due to his elevation, position, and sort of injury, if Cruz will certainly be back to 100 percent at the infield's most critical protective placement. I'm not hypothesizing and saying it will certainly be a major issue, yet some problem must be really felt till Cruz works his means back into live-game action, learns how to glide and we get a chance to see him swipe bags and round the bases once more. It's just a minor concern, however something to monitor during the wintertime and Contreras Diamondbacks Shop, Luis Ortiz and Quinn Priester Include Significant Question MarksI don't also want to begin with the scare-o-meter that must be set with these three beginning bottles. Possibly at a 7.5. Roansy Contreras, Luis Ortiz and Quinn Priester were looked at as potential long-term options in the Pirates rotation for several years to find. Now? The first two are most definitely leaving much to be wanted, and Priester didn't provide much of a great first perception. The numbers talk for - 19 G, 11 GS, 68.1 IP, 3-7 document, 32 BB, 55 SO, 6.59 ERA, 1.57 WHIPOrtiz - 18 G, 15 GS, 86.2 IP, 5-5 record, 48 BB, 59 SO, 4.78 AGE, 1.70 WHIPPriester - 10 G, 8 GS, 50 IP, 3-3 document, 27 BB, 36 SO, 7.74 ERA, 1.70 WHIPPlaying the probabilities, among the three ought to end up being a rather suitable pitcher and jump back. Which one? Choose. Contreras shed several mph on his fastball, Ortiz strolled 11 fewer hitters than he started out, and Priester ballooned in an inning or 2 in each begin where an uneven number was regular. The Pirates require these three right-handers to find their form. If all have the ability to do so, the skies's the restriction for the Bucs' Cherington Dressed Up as Neal HuntingtonThis would certainly be a scary sight. Let me clarify. Ben Cherington need to take a big swing like Neal Huntington did in 2018 in touchdown Chris Archer. He must be aggressive this offseason and make a large step. However. he needs to make the appropriate one. The Archer bargain established the Pirates back a couple of years, not even if of how bad he performed, however the ability the Bucs surrendered. Yes, Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and Shane Boz have actually had little to respectable success in the Majors while fighting injuries; you honestly never recognize. Cherington shouldn't be scared to add and deal a prospect or more for an useful very first baseman or front-of-the-line beginning bottle. I 'd be much more likely to quit pieces for an arm you understand Derek Shelton can release after or in between Mitch Keller and Paul Skenes. The Pirates must not be scared of past results requiring future failings and pass their ideal Halloween candy trade chips) they don't see fitting on the current roster to supplement areas of requirement.