66 Comments

Looking at whose left, I think a trade for Ward (who has great metrics but has been unlucky) and Rengifo might be a good move. Both are under control for a few more years too. Then go get chafin and I think that’s a solid deadline. You still have a centerfield issue though.

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I like Rengifo. I think he is a little underrated.

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Pham not coming. Back to the Lou

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Yorke to Indy. Priester to Worcester.

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Love the move to get Yorke. Not your average no-hit MIF and probably ready to make the jump to the bigs. I'd like to see Peggy get a run until he comes up, but I suspect he is on the way out in a trade at some point over the next 36 hours.

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He hits for average and power and his K/BB rate has improved each year. At AA in 2023 in the Eastern League he had 506 PA, 25 doub/5 Trip/13 HR, .785 OPS with 122 K/ 51 BB or 24.1% K/10.1 BB. In AAA this year with 169 PA, 8 doub/6 HR, .898 OPS, 32 K/24 BB or 18.9% K/14.2% BB. .989 Fielding percentage at 2B at AAA.

No reason he would not be able to step in at 2B right now for the Pirates, with Williams being sent back to AAA. We know what we have in Triolo and Bae, might as well give this kid 10 or 15 starts to see how he handles it!

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Is he on the Pirates 40 man now? If not, we have a spot open to make another trade.

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38 starts in AAA. Don’t get your hopes up Yorke is going to be the offensive difference maker this team so desperately needs.

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27 hours, but who's counting? Apparently not Ben.....

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The 18th pick in the 2019 draft (Quinn)

For

The 17th pick in the 2020 draft (Yorke)

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Jul 29Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Swapping Priester for Yorke is a fine trade. Initially looked at it as an overpayment by Boston. Not a really a “needle mover”, but think it demonstrates how much confidence they have in Peggy/Alika/Bae/Tiolo to hold down 2nd until Gonzo is back. People will be upset they didn’t swing bigger. Can’t say I disagree. But a fine trade nonetheless.

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There’s nothing wrong with this trade, but it’s not enough.

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For 2024 it doesn’t even move the needle.

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Agreed

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How about McAdoo not making Fangraphs Top 40 list from June , or updated Top 41 which went down to 35+ FV? Bulletin board material

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It's not an updated list. It was just a very very very very delayed pre-season list, that was only updated to include draft picks. Even the short mention in the "pre-season" list of McAdoo made little sense. He should move up quite a bit in Pipeline and Fangraphs team lists when they do actual updates.

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goodbye priester. we hardly knew ye

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Jul 29·edited Jul 29Author

Who tf is Nick Yorke?

Cards meanwhile got Fedde. Why don’t the Pirates just join the Eastern League?

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future pirates all star, that's who

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Moving through the Boston system quickly and seems to be hitting at almost every stop. 2B moving recently to LF. AA and AAA this year. Had a good fall league in 2022.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=yorke-000nic&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2024-07-29_br

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Jul 29·edited Jul 29

Hitting .310 in AAA with an .898 OPS. Never saw him play but on paper looks decent. This is what Quinn Priester gets you.

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Jul 29Author

Funny, he's hitting way better in AAA than he was in AA. Maybe a reflection of talk around MLB that AAA pitching is awful this year.

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Jul 29·edited Jul 29

Always looking at the bright side.

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He had injury issues after A ball.

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I think his brother is a better hitter, (1st basemen at Grand Canyon) but needs to lay off the seconds and thirds at dinner time.

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No joke. Joe Yorke. Looks like a DT.

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I thought it was Zach?

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Jul 29·edited Jul 29

Just googled Nick Yorke brother and Joe popped up. Looked at his profile. All three are bros.

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About like Zach in body structure. The pirates better keep Nick away from the buffets, those genes usually run in families. Hopefully it never becomes an issue.

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Dude will leave you high and dry. He is a Creep. Better call the Karma Police.

I will stop now. I have no clue. Said he is their 14th ranked prospect

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I don't hate this deal. Not sure if they're gonna give him a chance now or send him down to AAA

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A dude on X tweeted that we signed Griffin for 6.3 bonus. Might be bullshit because I can't seem to find any other outlet saying anything about it. Will scour for more info

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I'm looking at his tweets now. Has a tweet from back on the 24th saying the Cubs and Pirates had prelim talks about Bellinger and Neris lol

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Also a Bleday trade back on July 3rd, and Vlad trade back on July 1st.

Sounds like someone shooting blanks into the wind

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Jul 29Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Lol, fair enough. I wasn't sold on it, especially since neither Mayo or Callis reported it

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I think Cherington has to do “something.” What is the question. Expecting any kind of blockbuster is unrealistic. I think he’s made it pretty clear he’s not going to do that. I’d be okay with a couple of pretty easy pickups.

Say Kevin Pillar to play center for the rest of this season? His numbers have been pretty good with the Angels, and he’s planning to retire at the end of the year so the cost should be minimal and Nutting wouldn’t have to worry about paying him in the future. Combine that with trading for a blocked AAA outfielder (someone mentioned Pedro Leon who’s the Astros 25th ranked prospect but there are also others) who should cost little to get and at least might have a chance to become a decent major league ready outfielder next year if not this year, which is something the Pirates don’t have. Not asking for much, but he has to do something.

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Jul 29Author

He got a latte today. That’s something.

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We got a New Yorke??

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Was once New Amsterdam

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Jul 29Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Yep, the Astros and DBack (Barrosa) have CFers that are major league ready and blocked. Neither should be to expensive and they might be an upgrade this year.

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Loving this weekly segment as always. Thank you AM and squad!

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Jul 29Author

I’m afraid AM got no help this week.

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What a difference it would have made to get one or two actual (even average!) major league hitters via free agency in the off-season. Tellez's turn around has been pure luck. Imagine if we already had a Pham or Winker or such because THEY WERE EMINENTLY AFFORDABLE at the time! Instead, we have a pitching corps that has been incredible and hitters that can't score. What a joke!

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Luck? You could say that about anyone then. Give it a rest. Winker has been terrible before. Is it luck that he is better this year?

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What would it take to get Mike Yastrzemski for the Giants? Could we get it done without giving up a top-5 prospect?

Something like this? (#10, #11 & #30 per MLB Pipeline / #7, #11 & NR per BoD):

Zander Mueth + Lonnie White Jr + Kristian Curtis

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Not a bad idea, but I think it is very unlikely for the Pirates to go for a player that is making 8 miillion and arbitration eligible..... otherwise they would have gotten Arozarena. I think the Giants might actually give Yaz to us for a lot less than what you are proposing. They might want him off their books. His offensive numbers this year are a smidge over Conner Joe.

Yaz 8 hrs .249 avg .322 obp .761 ops

Joe 7 hrs .239 avg .322 obp .703 ops

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I make that trade every day and twice on Sunday. Fix the black hole in Center, relagate MAT to defensive sub/pinch runner and all at a cost that really is pallatable. Mueth is years away and White is so delayed by injury. Do it.

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Hes 34 with one more year of control and some of his underlying numbers have taken a step back this year. I think thats steep to be honest, but would be interested at the right price

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He’d be our 3rd best hitter and can feasibly play CF, currently our biggest black hole.

Hope he comes cheaper, but you gotta give to get, especially in this market.

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Yeah youre right, him and pham is probably a pretty decent OF combo to ride the rest of the season

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i think they probably only get 1 bat and Pham is most likely.

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I'm back! What'd I miss???

Injuries, and no moves made with deadline less than 48 hrs away....

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Jul 29Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Suspiciously plant-like activity...

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Like a plant plant or a Bill J whatever plant?

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deciduous.

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Oh, shit. You're on to me!

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Jul 29Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Welcome back?

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Watching MLB and Dero has some hypothetical trades - one of local interest is Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham from the CWS to the Pirates for Charles McAdoo. Think people do not notice?

BTW, the Pirates seem to be having issues in the OF - lack of a CF and now a RF - sent Suwinski to AAA. The Jays have two of my possible OF's now that they traded a reliever to Seattle for CF Jonatan Clase. Add Addison Barger who is a LH hitting OF/3B with VG power. Impressive about him is that he has maintained the power and cut back his K/BB rate - In 2022 at A+/AA/AAA he had 26 doubles, 2 triples, 26 HR in 467 AB but a K/BB of 131/48. In 2023 at AAA in 340 AB he had 25 doubles, 9 HR and cut his K/BB to 86/52. In 2024 in 200 AB in AAA he had 15 doubles, 9 HR and a K/BB of 48/40 before being promoted to Toronto.

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The Pirates have been playing without a center fielder all year. Even if Bae or, whoever takes over, performs at only below average level, it will be a major improvement over Suwinski. I hope Jack can figure something out in Indy but having him on the active roster has been a drag on this team.

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I'd be so mad if the Pirates big get was adding a reliever lol

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Jul 29Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Prepare for it.

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Jul 29Author

I'll be surprised if they get that much, apart from waiver types.

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I think it would be nice for BC to do something this tradeline, if not hitting a very big need then how about RP...just bolster some part of this team, geez I would happy if they just DFA'd some and replace with players in the organization...

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