Pittsburgh Pirates: How Expendable Is Starling Marte?

According to Baseball America, Starling Marte is the Pirates No. 2 position prospect and No. 4 prospect overall.

Marte is a five-tool player and is almost ready to compete at the major league level. He is in line for a September call-up in 2012, and could arrive earlier if he impresses early on at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Last season, Marte hit .332 with 12 home runs, 50 RBI and 24 stolen bases for the Pirates' Double-A affiliate. He ranked in the Eastern League's top five in at-bats, extra base hits, runs scored and total bases. He led the Eastern League in hits and doubles and won the league's batting title.

What's startling is that Marte's defense is considered even more developed than his offense. He has great range in center field because of his ability to read the ball off the bat. He also possesses a very good arm from the outfield.

Marte's offensive numbers do not look like a fluke. He hit .315 for Bradenton in 2010 with 22 stolen bases, and he hit .309 in 2009 across three leagues.

If anything, Marte seems to be improving at the plate, especially in the power department. Marte showed more gap-to-gap power this season and his 12 home runs were an unforeseen addition to his intriguing repertoire.

Marte is 23 years old.

So why is Marte considered trade bait by some Pirates faithful? Depth in the Pirates outfield, the signing of 2010 draftee Josh Bell and the need for a power hitter are all key factors in the Marte trade rumor mill.

The Pirates currently have Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen patrolling the PNC Park outfield. In terms of skill set, Marte doesn't seem much different than either player.

Signing Josh Bell adds a future power bat to the Pirates fold. He is a switch-hitter with a developing approach at the plate. However, he is only 18 and is years away from the major league level. He is expected to be the Pirates' future right fielder.

Currently, the makeup of the Pirate lineup forces them to play station-to-station baseball. They lack a base-clearing home run presence. Outside of Pedro Alvarez, all other potential options are years away from contributing in Pittsburgh.

Despite Marte's obvious talent, he is Pittsburgh's best shot at landing an established power bat. Last week, the Pirates reportedly turned down a deal for Mets' first baseman Ike Davis when Marte was included in the deal with pitcher Brad Lincoln.

Yes, the Pirates lack a power bat, but realistically this team is not quite ready either way. A home run hitter would put this lineup up to par, but the Pirate pitching staff is still not playoff caliber.

With that established, Marte cannot be spared at this point in time. He is a major building block for the future, especially if his 12 home runs are a testament to his true power potential at the plate.

Five-tool players do not grow on trees, especially in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have a chance to add to their young nucleus by developing a player in their own house. That is how foundations are built in baseball, and it is time the Pirates realize that.

Adding to Marte's attraction has to be McCutchen's sketchy contract situation. If the Pirates front office cannot lock McCutchen down long term, Marte will be needed more than ever.

It is an attractive idea to add power to the Pirates lineup, but it must be done tactfully and patiently.

With the current Pirates team, GM Neil Huntington is better off waiting on Matt Curry and Alex Dickerson's development. Top Pirates pitching prospects will not be ready for two more years anyway, and without their arms the Pirates will not be a legitimate contender.

Patience is tough to ask for from a desperate fan base, but it has to be that way. If you are going to build for the future, you have to do it all the way and the right way.

Marte is a big part of that plan, and it needs to stay that way.