Kyle McPherson to be ready for Spring Training

Rob Biertempfel writes that Kyle McPherson, who had shoulder issues earlier this winter, will be ready to go at Spring Training. With Charlie Morton injured, Gerrit Cole heading to Indianapolis (and Rick VandenHurk heading to Korea, although VandenHurk might not have really been in the picture anyway), the fifth starter job will come down to McPherson or Jeff Locke.

My guess is that it will be Locke, for reasons that don't have much to do with McPherson's injury. McPherson has only made three career Class AAA starts, and the Pirates tend to be pretty conservative with promotions. If circumstances force their hand, as was the case when McPherson picked up big-league starts down the stretch last year, that's one thing. But if they have a choice, my guess is that they'd probably rather let McPherson collect a couple months' worth of Class AAA starts before they bring him back up.

Of course, all this assumes that everyone ahead of McPherson and Locke will be ready to go as well.

* * *

By the way, if you're among those who have had issues with the new Bucs Dugout layout, SB Nation wants your input.