One month to spring training

The first day of workouts for Pirates pitchers and catchers is one month away, so today we take stock of where they are and what else will happen before that time. To start with, we take a crack at the 25-man opening day roster.

STARTERS

LHP Francisco Liriano

RHP Gerrit Cole

RHP Charlie Morton

LHP Wandy Rodriguez

RHP Edinson Volquez

Notes: This is assuming Rodriguez’s left forearm is up to the task and holds up throughout spring training. … Jeff Locke did not spend enough time in the minors last season, when he was optioned in a paper move in late August, to burn an option, so he will start the season in Class AAA Indianapolis.

BULLPEN

RHP Jason Grilli

RHP Mark Melancon

LHP Tony Watson

LHP Justin Wilson

RHP Stolmy Pimentel

RHP Vin Mazzaro

RHP Jeanmar Gomez

Notes: The Pirates have four pitchers who are out of options fighting for three bullpen spots. In addition to Pimentel, Mazzaro and Gomez, Bryan Morris does not have any minor league options remaining. I could see the Pirates including one of their righties without options in a trade, though probably not Pimentel.

STARTERS

C Russell Martin

1B Gaby Sanchez

2B Neil Walker

SS Jordy Mercer

3B Pedro Alvarez

LF Starling Marte

CF Andrew McCutchen

RF Jose Tabata

Notes: Pick a guy and run with it for the right-field starter. It could be Tabata, Travis Snider, Jaff Decker or Andrew Lambo.

BENCH

C Chris Stewart

SS Clint Barmes

RF Travis Snider

UTIL Josh Harrison

OF/1B Andrew Lambo

Notes: The final couple of spots could change between now and opening day if a non-roster invitee convinces the front office that he is worth a spot. We saw with Brandon Inge that the Pirates will give them a chance if they think they see potential.

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Six arbitration cases remain: Neil Walker, Gaby Sanchez, Mark Melancon, Pedro Alvarez, Vin Mazzaro and Travis Snider. The players and teams will exchange salary figures Friday. Currently, the Pirates have $53.75 million committed to their 2014 roster, not including those six arbitration cases. Of that, $5.5 million comes from the Astros.

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The Pirates have invited 13 non-roster players to spring training.

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BATTLES

First base

Currently, Sanchez is the only true first baseman on the roster. Lambo has played there recently and would provide a left-handed platoon partner, but it is unlikely the Pirates rely on him to get significant playing time given his inexperience at the major league level.

Possible solutions: A trade. Ike Davis, Mitch Moreland or Adam Lind would all fit.

Right field

Tabata, Snider and Lambo will fight it out for right field. Tabata and Snider are out of options, meaning they will get the first crack at it. Lambo and Decker each have minor league options remaining.

Possible solutions: GM Neal Huntington indicated at the winter meetings that the Pirates would likely stay in house for right field. Gregory Polanco may make his debut at some point during the summer.

Bullpen

Gomez and Pimentel are attractive as long reliever options. Clint Hurdle has alluded in the past to liking two long men in the bullpen, meaning there may only be one spot left for Mazzaro and Morris.

Possible solutions: This is a position of strength for the Pirates, who also have Duke Welker and Jared Hughes available, so there is a trade to be found with a team in need of major league-ready bullpen help.

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Baseball America ranked the Pirates’ farm system as the best in baseball.