Keith Law’s latest MLB mock draft (subscription-only) has the Pirates going with Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero at No. 8, probably much to Bucs fans’ chagrin.
Although there is a strong industry consensus that Marrero is the Bucs’ pick, I think they’re still seriously exploring other options. I’ve also heard them on Chris Stratton, and I imagine they’d be open to any top-end player (such as [Albert] Almora) who falls out of the top seven picks. [Lucas] Giolito is also a possibility here.
At least it sounds like the situation is pretty fluid. This mock has Almora, a toolsy high school outfielder with good makeup, falling to the Marlins at No. 9; I’d like to think that if Almora fell to the Bucs, they’d take him rather than Marrero, but Law is closer to this stuff than I am. Pirates fans don’t want the Bucs to choose Marrero, who hasn’t been an outstanding hitter in college.
For more on the MLB Draft, head over to Minor League Ball. For more on the Pirates, there’s Bucs Dugout.