Just when the roster looked like it was starting to take shape for the Pittsburgh Pirates, they agreed to one-year contracts Friday with a pair of players who could change the makeup of the starting lineup.

By adding Michael A. Taylor, the Pirates now have a bona fide center fielder with the speed and defensive acumen suited for the position, a 2021 AL Gold Glove winner with 72 career defensive runs saved.

While Taylor’s 33.5% strikeout rate is a concern, he had 36 extra-base hits, 51 RBIs and 48 runs scored while batting either eighth (16 games) or ninth (90) for the Minnesota Twins last season. His speed on the basepaths has the potential to be an RBI boost for the leadoff batter.

The decision to sign Domingo German is a bit more complicated.

The 31-year-old right-hander became only the 24th player in major-league history to pitch a perfect game last June, but he’s been suspended for alleged domestic violence issues, using an illegal substance while pitching and alcohol abuse over the course of six seasons with the New York Yankees.

A Pirates source said the club spent a considerable amount of time interviewing German and his wife and investigating his background with team, league and industry sources, including the MLB Players Association, before agreeing to a one-year minor-league contract for $1.25 million with performance bonuses and a 2025 club option for $2.25 million with performance bonuses.

Simply put, he’s a proven starting pitcher who comes cheap.

The Pirates are taking a chance on a player with a troubled past but doing so in low-risk, high-reward fashion.

1. Catcher: With Endy Rodriguez out for the season after Tommy John surgery, the Pirates signed Yasmani Grandal to be their primary catcher even if manager Derek Shelton warned that the 35-year-old backstop wouldn’t play 100 games.

Henry Davis has taken advantage of his opportunity, perhaps enough to earn the starting spot with Grandal out while dealing with plantar fasciitis. Davis led the Pirates with nine RBIs entering Saturday’s Grapefruit League games, and his four home runs rank second. His play behind the plate is improved, as well, though Davis still has to show he can handle the rigors of being an everyday catcher in the majors.

Jason Delay has options remaining so he could start the season in the minors but is likely to take advantage of Grandal’s health and make the Opening Day roster. Ali Sanchez, signed to a $1 million contract in December, could be the odd man out, especially with the Pirates needing to clear a space on the 40-man roster.

Christopher Horner | TribLive Pirates infielder Jared Triolo takes batting practice on Feb. 20, 2024, at Pirate City in Bradenton.  

2. Second base: What started as a five-man competition has come down to deciding between two players. Jared Triolo has had an excellent spring training, slashing .333/.419/.481, and Liover Peguero has been very good (.292/.370/.458).

Ji Hwan Bae started 64 games at second base last season but has been out since March 5 with a left hip flexor and could be headed for the injured list.

Nick Gonzales, who is hitting .269/.321/.385 with three doubles but no RBIs, should start the season in Triple-A so he can play every day.

Although Alika Williams hasn’t hit (.167), he’s sound defensively and has shown the ability to play second base, shortstop and third base and be a utility infielder.

Triolo looks like the favorite to start at second, which could compel the Pirates to have Peguero start at shortstop every day at Triple-A instead of playing once or twice a week in the majors. Or they could rotate at second base, given Triolo’s ability to play first and third with Peguero backing up Oneil Cruz at shortstop.

Christopher Horner | TribLive Pirates center fielder Jack Suwinski takes batting practice on Feb. 20, 2024, at Pirate City in Bradenton.  

3. Right field: The arrival of Taylor allows Jack Suwinski to shift to right field, opposite Bryan Reynolds in left. That keeps the power bats in the corner spots, reducing the wear and tear that comes with playing center at cavernous PNC Park.

It also diminishes the likelihood of a platoon in right, where righties Connor Joe and Edward Olivares and lefties Billy McKinney and Joshua Palacios are vying for regular playing time.

Joe is hitting .190 this spring but tied for the team lead with 31 doubles last season, can also play left field and offers a right-handed alternative at first base.

Olivares, acquired from Kansas City, has shown speed but is batting .200. Palacios, who dealt with a lower-leg injury, is 0 for 4 in his first two games.

McKinney, meantime, has had the best spring of the bunch. He was slashing .310/.459/.448 with seven RBIs and led the majors with a 13-game on-base streak, drawing eight walks against three strikeouts.

Olivares avoided arbitration by signing for $1.35 million, but the Pirates proved with Miguel Andujar last year that guaranteed money doesn’t always dictate decisions.

Taylor doesn’t have much time to get many at-bats this spring, so the decision on the fourth outfielder could come down to his availability and whether the Pirates want a righty or lefty bat.

Christopher Horner | TribLive Pirates pitcher Quinn Priester works out before throwing a bullpen session on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Pirate City.  

4. Starting pitching: The top three spots in the rotation belong to right-hander Mitch Keller, an All-Star already named the Opening Day starter, and lefties Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales.

Roansy Contreras looked like the leading candidate for the fourth spot before giving up six walks in his last start. Shelton repeatedly has noted Contreras is only 24. That’s almost a year younger than Luis Ortiz.

The unspoken part is that Contreras is out of minor-league options, so the Pirates probably aren’t willing to risk losing a pitcher who showed so much promise until last May. Contreras could be a starter or work in bulk relief.

That leaves the Pirates to pick from lefty Bailey Falter and three right-handers for the final spot in the rotation.

Where Ortiz and Quinn Priester have major-league experience, 22-year-old Jared Jones has been one of the stars of spring training, touching triple digits, holding opponents to a .120 batting average and not allowing an earned run in 71⁄3 innings entering Saturday.

The Pirates also added depth by signing veteran starters in Chase Anderson, lefty Eric Lauer and German to minor-league deals. Anderson has 200 starts in a 10-year career and hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in seven innings. Lauer and German need time to build up their arms.

This could come down to roster management. Falter also is out of options but can pitch in bulk relief. Where Priester and Ortiz are both on the 40-man roster but have options, Jones would have to be added. Same for the veterans.

Priester has shown improved command this spring, with 10 strikeouts against one walk, and is coming off his best performance Friday night in striking out five New York Yankees.

Priester gets the edge, although Jones has a chance to make the rotation if Contreras moves to the bullpen.

Christopher Horner | TribLive Pirates catcher Henry Davis smiles during a workout on the first day of spring training on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at Pirate City.  

5. Roster projections: The position players should see Davis and Delay at catcher — at least, until Grandal is ready to return — with Rowdy Tellez at first base, Triolo at second, Cruz at shortstop, Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes at third; an outfield of Reynolds, Suwinski, Taylor and Palacios; and Andrew McCutchen as designated hitter, with Joe splitting time between first base and the outfield and Peguero as the backup middle infielder.

The pitching staff should see a starting rotation of Keller, Perez, Gonzales, Contreras and Priester, with a bullpen led by two-time All-Star closer David Bednar — who has yet to pitch this spring because of a lat injury — and lefties Ryan Borucki, Aroldis Chapman, Jose Hernandez and Falter and righties Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski and Brent Honeywell Jr., who requires a roster spot but could replace Dauri Moreta as a fireman.

The Pirates face Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Opening Day, so look for a lineup loaded with right-handed bats: Cruz SS (L), Reynolds LF (S), Hayes 3B, McCutchen DH, Davis C, Suwinski RF (L), Triolo 2B, Joe 1B, Taylor CF, Keller SP.

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