BRADENTON David Price Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Erik Gonzalez and Kevin Newman are competing to start at shortstop for Pittsburgh, the one open position in the Pirates’ everyday lineup.The job opened when Jordy Mercer left after seven seasons and signed with the Detroit Tigers.Gonzalez was acquired from Cleveland on Nov. 14. Newman made his major league debut with the Pirates last August and retains his rookie status.Gonzalez spent the last three years as a utility infielder, stuck behind such stalwarts as shortstop Francisco Lindor, third baseman Jose Ramirez and second baseman Jason Kipnis.“I was starting to lose my passion for baseball,” Gonzalez said. “I was talking to my agent to try to move to another team. I just want the chance to play.”He will have a chance to prove himself during the exhibition season, which begins Saturday. The Pirates feel they may have unearthed a potential impact player in Gonzalez.“We’ve had people that’ve seen this man play defense and said, ‘This guy can be dynamic,'” manager Clint Hurdle said. “‘OK’ wasn’t a word that came out of anybody’s mouth. ‘Above average. Dynamic. Very good. More range than anybody you’ve had at short.'”Whether Gonzalez will hit enough to be a regular is the question. In 162 career games, he has a .263 batting average and five home runs.“It’s hard when you only play once a week to keep your timing,” he said. “I did the best I could to stay ready. I worked hard every day before games.“I do think I learned a lot about hitting from my teammates. I talked to Lindor a lot, talked to Ramirez, talked to (Edwin) Encarnacion. They are all great hitters Craig Kimbrel Jersey , and they helped me.”Newman struggled in his initial trip to the big leagues, hitting .209 in 31 games. However, he was the Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2015 and was once considered among the top 100 prospects in baseball.The Pirates feel Newman is a better player that what he showed last year. General manager Neal Huntington pointed out that Newman lost 10 pounds during the season and was not at his best physically once he reached the major leagues.Newman, though, has come back stronger this spring. He was one of the few Pirates with a chance to make the opening-day roster to attend the team’s minicamp in January, and he also showed up to spring training more a week before the full squad was scheduled to report.“Getting an opportunity is all you could ever ask for,” Newman said. “I’m really excited about it. Every day, I worked as hard as I could, got as toned as I could, got as prepared as I could to come in ready to fight for a spot.”NOTES: The Pirates held their first full-squad workout Monday. The full contingent of 61 players was on hand. … Right-hander Rookie Davis was signed to a minor league contract and given an invitation to major league camp. He made his big league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017 but spent last season in the minors while rehabbing from hip surgery. … Former Pirates players who are guest instructors in camp include Steve Blass, John Candelaria, Bill Mazeroski Steven Wright Jersey , Omar Moreno, Manny Sanguillen and Rennie Stennett. The Philadelphia Phillies continued their busy winter on Thursday by signing Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million deal, but that megadeal may wind up being the last big splash the team makes this offseason.A source told MLB.com's Todd Zoleckithat it is "unlikely" the Phillies sign starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel or closer Craig Kimbrel after reaching an agreement with Harper. Zolecki notes, though, that things could change if either free agent pursues a short-term deal.While top free agents like Harper and Manny Machado have signed recently, both Keuchel and Kimbrel remain unsigned鈥攂ut not because they are not coveted assets.Keuchel, 31, is coming off a season in which he went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 34 starts, striking out 153 in 204.2 innings. The southpaw's impressive resume features two All-Star selections, the 2015 American League Cy Young award, four Gold Gloves and a World Series ring.The former 20-game winner has a career 4-2 record in the postseason with a 3.31 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts).With spring training camps in full force http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey , Keuchel recently told Fox 26's Mark Berman that he was anxious to join a team:Mark Berman MarkBermanFox26Dallas Keuchel (kidkeuchy) on his free agent situation: quot;Im calm amp;amp; collected outside the field. So I really dont hit the panic button at all. Im worried about getting myself ready..At the same time Id like to get out there amp;amp; meet new teammates or meet old teammates.quot; JdOo00Wa7qKimbrel, meanwhile, has been the top reliever on the market all winter.The right-hander went 5-1 with 42 saves and a 2.74 ERA in 63 appearances, striking out 96 batters in 62.1 innings. His dominance out of the bullpen helped Boston win a franchise-record 108 games last season as well as the World Series.The 30-year-old has 333 career saves and has allowed just 285 hits in 532.2 career innings.CBS Sports'Jim Bowdenreported last week that Kimbrel was willing to sit out the 2019 season if offers didn't improve. Kimbrel's agent,David Meter, denied that report, calling it "wildly inaccurate."Philadelphia ownerJohn Middleton toldNightengaleback in November that the team was willing to spend "stupid money." After signing Harper ($330 million) and Andrew McCutchen (three years, $50 million) while acquiring shortstop Jean Segura and catcher J.T. Realmuto already, the Phillies may be nearing their limit.