When MLB commissioner Bud Selig said that he was not pleased with how uneven the league was and he wanted a "fresh start," nobody knew what he meant. Some thought that he had gone senile, others believed he was stepping down. However, Selig's plans all became clear on February 3, 2011, when he, along with the principal owners of all 30 MLB teams, announced that there would be a release of all players in the league to the free agent market and there would be a fantasy-draft styled selection of the free agents. The Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of the draft lottery system which gave them five lotto balls and the third overall pick. After starting pitchers Roy Halladay and Justin Verlander were chosen by the Dodgers and the Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington elected to choose center fielder Matt Kemp. After that, the Pirates drafted a pair of superstars and a team that is overall evenly talented.
Pittsburgh Pirates Depth Chart - 2011
- Catcher
- JP Arencibia (80)
- Jorge Posada (74)
- First Base
- Casey Kotchman (80)
- Second Base
- Kelly Johnson (80)
- Jamey Carroll (75)
- Third Base
- Chipper Jones (81)
- Brandon Wood (70)
- Shortstop
- Jason Bartlett (78)
- Orlando Cabrera (75)
- Left Field
- Corey Hart (87)
- Bobby Abreu (80)
- Center Field
- Matt Kemp (97)
- Right Field
- Johnny Damon (84)
- Starting Pitcher
- C.J. Wilson (89)
- Daniel Hudson (86)
- Gavin Floyd (84)
- Alfredo Aceves (83)
- Tom Gorzelanny (77)
- Relief Pitcher
- Joe Smith (81)
- Jose Contreras (81)
- Jake Peavy (80)
- Boone Logan (80)
- Jon Niese (79)
- Joe Nathan (79)
- Closer
- Darren Oliver (82)
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