This is not a trade the Mets would make, but it is definitely one that would benefit the Pirates. Therefore, get ready to figure out which pitcher they would like to have in addition to Henry Davis. Baty is a high rated hitter with even higher rated power from the Left side. In addition to being a 3B, he can and has played in LF, and 2B.
For what it’s worth BTV has them at similar value and that’s fair, they are both very similar, you mentioned Batty’s power but it seems that you forget that Davis has similar power rating coming up and I believe that Davis is currently playing better defense at a more demanding position.
I am thinking Pirates. Catching depth is key and despite spring results they are still sitting on one catcher with MLB hitting success (and that is not extensive). I am not sure what hole Baty fills right now unless we are sure Hayes can't rebound. Baty has struggled similarly to Davis at MLB so he has the same risks from that standpoint. So my conclusion: Davis is more likely to fill a need than Baty and both have similar batting risks at this point.
Was thinking 1b for Batty with Horowitz moving to 2b. I really have little confidence that Davis will hit, Batty is of course in a similar boat but I have a little more confidence.
Me too, I think he's to important to the Mets though. He's kinda like their Triolo with the potential to hit. He'd be our best defensive shortstop. Mauricio might fill that role in a couple of months though.
I think he's scheduled to get into games in the back half of this week (mid March). I think he'll need a couple of months in the minors maybe more before he's 100%.
Looks like they just wanted both him and Shugart to get a couple hitters, and Lawrence to get an inning, and they didn’t look likely to go into the bottom of the 9th.
Lawrence, btw, suddenly looks interesting. Over 4 years, his velocity dropped 3 mph to about 94.5. Today he was roughly 95.5 to 97. Stuff+ likes his slider a lot, so getting his sinker just to be serviceable would be a big thing.
He is working on a 4-seamer, which tells me that he is going to give up on the groundball thing and work higher in the zone with his slider. I think that will make a world of difference. It is just hard to get the spin necessary from those low arm slots to create the vertical drops that allow a guy to focus on being a groundball pitcher.
This is why signing bums is not necessary and why I keep harping on Cherington wasting money and roster spaces each offseason on bums. The waiver wire provides better value than the guys Cherington signs.
BTW... the velocity drop may have been the result of trying to get more vertical drop. If he goes to a straight 4-seam grip, his velocity is likely to improve a little.
You mean Javier Baez? - doesn't he have a big dollar > $20 mil/yr contract? In the Nutting world we could use $20 mil to get 3 IKF types, or a boatload of Frazier types. Now, they traded Flaherty to the Dodgers and got a SS in return who could be a possibility.
Endy is the back up, Davis down to AAA, carrying 3 catcher, especially at the start of the season is tricky. You need more arms and the short bench has to be flexible. So Frazier for better or worse, Triolo because he can truly play every position but C, then a back up OF, Jack since Cook k issues are a concern (but I love his glove!). That’s probably the bench. Would I rather have Yorke over Frazier, yes. But Frazier is on the 26 if healthy.
I’ve been thinking about catcher. I wonder what the strategy is? Knowing the Pirates they’ll trade the guy with the least controllable time. That would be Bart. So if he’s having a fantastic season I see them trading him at the deadline especially if Endy and Hank continue to perform. We’ll see, but I love the spring Endy is having
Catcher could be our strongest position with Bart and Endy. Bart is in his First year of Arb and is only getting paid $1.2 mil, and I doubt Endy has reached his first year of MLB Service. So, they are both good and most importantly, cheap. Therefore, I doubt Bart is going anywhere. Endy can also play 1B, 2B, and OF.
Bart is not eligible for FA till 2028. A trade is not necessarily imminent unless some one gives an offer that they can’t refuse especially if Hank and Endy both are hitting and healthy. If they can keep all three in the daily lineup and all are contributing, a trade won’t be needed till after the 26 season if Bart indicates he intends to hit the market in 28
Per RKs post it is a bit early to worry or think about this until there is more proof on the field. It would be awesome to be trading from a position of strength. If all (dream world) appear to be legitimate (top 15?) starting catchers then there are a myriad of possibilities. You can get a better return with players with more control and cheaper $ in that scenarios it could be Hank or Endy getting traded. Where I will agree with Nelson, if all 3 are plus players and Pirates are in the pennant race (my addition) then it makes a LOT of sense to trade from strength to upgrade elsewhere at this years trade deadline but by no means do I think it would be Bart just because he has less control. Just to be clear... when you are a bad team (Pirates track record) it can be smart to trade player with less control as they are less likely to be around when you actually get good. Let's hope they are past that.
A switch hitter who has experience as a primary Catcher, and has MiLB experience at 1B, 2B, and OF in addition to Catching - a budget-strapped GM's wet dream.
I also think the time a catcher spends game-planning with their pitchers is time-consuming and can be draining in today's game. Having 3 catchers working with assigned starting pitchers can keep them fresh.
Wonder if Heaney will continue his nibbling strategy. Last week in his post-outing interview with Hannah he even used the word in assessing his performance. If he can't attack hitters, he's doomed.
No stream available....only those in attendance will see his pitch location.
Yeah, by the time the bullpen gets in, it’s all scrub vs. scrub. Doesn’t seem like the best way to sort all these relievers. Logically, it’d actually make more sense to have Skenes, Keller, et al, throw the LAST three innings. They just need to get stretched out.
Henry Davis for Brett Batty, who says no……
This is not a trade the Mets would make, but it is definitely one that would benefit the Pirates. Therefore, get ready to figure out which pitcher they would like to have in addition to Henry Davis. Baty is a high rated hitter with even higher rated power from the Left side. In addition to being a 3B, he can and has played in LF, and 2B.
For what it’s worth BTV has them at similar value and that’s fair, they are both very similar, you mentioned Batty’s power but it seems that you forget that Davis has similar power rating coming up and I believe that Davis is currently playing better defense at a more demanding position.
I am thinking Pirates. Catching depth is key and despite spring results they are still sitting on one catcher with MLB hitting success (and that is not extensive). I am not sure what hole Baty fills right now unless we are sure Hayes can't rebound. Baty has struggled similarly to Davis at MLB so he has the same risks from that standpoint. So my conclusion: Davis is more likely to fill a need than Baty and both have similar batting risks at this point.
Was thinking 1b for Batty with Horowitz moving to 2b. I really have little confidence that Davis will hit, Batty is of course in a similar boat but I have a little more confidence.
I replied above, but Baty can and has played LF & 2B in the minors, and has 60 or 70 rated power from the left side. This would be a steal.
I'd rather get Mauricio and Gilbert.
I rather get Acuna and see if he could hold down SS.
Me too, I think he's to important to the Mets though. He's kinda like their Triolo with the potential to hit. He'd be our best defensive shortstop. Mauricio might fill that role in a couple of months though.
Is he still out with the ACL injury?
I think he's scheduled to get into games in the back half of this week (mid March). I think he'll need a couple of months in the minors maybe more before he's 100%.
Santana out after one batter according to game day! Any updates?
He got 2 batters, one to end an inning, one to start the next inning.
Looks like they just wanted both him and Shugart to get a couple hitters, and Lawrence to get an inning, and they didn’t look likely to go into the bottom of the 9th.
Lawrence, btw, suddenly looks interesting. Over 4 years, his velocity dropped 3 mph to about 94.5. Today he was roughly 95.5 to 97. Stuff+ likes his slider a lot, so getting his sinker just to be serviceable would be a big thing.
He is working on a 4-seamer, which tells me that he is going to give up on the groundball thing and work higher in the zone with his slider. I think that will make a world of difference. It is just hard to get the spin necessary from those low arm slots to create the vertical drops that allow a guy to focus on being a groundball pitcher.
This is why signing bums is not necessary and why I keep harping on Cherington wasting money and roster spaces each offseason on bums. The waiver wire provides better value than the guys Cherington signs.
BTW... the velocity drop may have been the result of trying to get more vertical drop. If he goes to a straight 4-seam grip, his velocity is likely to improve a little.
Good to hear, I missed his inning so didn't know he got in today.
old man pham is hurt
Inquiring mind - what was the injury? Or how bad did it look?
just listening
block said stiff side or something similar to that
Left hip tightness, seems nothing to worry about per DK Sports.
Sorry, but I wasn’t worried.
A Pham injury would be a blessing.
Him or Frazier, if they would ever save their pennies and use it on a mid tier player instead of 2-3 awful players…..
Takes Skubal deep, one step forward, two steps back.
Baez is a good gamble in 2025
wish we´d trade for him and torkelson
You mean Javier Baez? - doesn't he have a big dollar > $20 mil/yr contract? In the Nutting world we could use $20 mil to get 3 IKF types, or a boatload of Frazier types. Now, they traded Flaherty to the Dodgers and got a SS in return who could be a possibility.
No, Mel. He means Joan Baez.
Helluva voice but could never hit the curve
"We need to do the little things well"........Bae not having his head in the game. Forgets there's a runner tagging on first.
So far, I'm not the least bit impressed with any of the lefties that BC added, unless you count Borucki, who won't make the team.
Heaney makes me think of Richard Wagner. He must hail from Nibelheim.
...that's funny...
Cook is making the case for Jack.
you taking Jack or Bae north?
Jack
A year removed from a 25+ homer season and just short of .800 OPS, you got to give that guy a chance over Bae, Davis, Cook etc…..
Or you could not sign a guy who’d be on a MiL deal anywhere else and try two of them.
Is this Ben? 🤔.
endy 2 for 2 again today
cant keep this guy off the roster
"Do not underestimate me! Muuaah hahahaha!!!"
-- Ben
so true - it is inevitable they send both tank and endy to aaa
Endy is the back up, Davis down to AAA, carrying 3 catcher, especially at the start of the season is tricky. You need more arms and the short bench has to be flexible. So Frazier for better or worse, Triolo because he can truly play every position but C, then a back up OF, Jack since Cook k issues are a concern (but I love his glove!). That’s probably the bench. Would I rather have Yorke over Frazier, yes. But Frazier is on the 26 if healthy.
In a 6-game week, Bart catches four games, Cutch DH's four games, and Endy does two of each.
Or Bart and Endy split catching 3 and 3 so Bart gets a day at DH.
and then announce an extension for shelton and ikf on opening day
BOBBY!
Barts 2 for 2, Endy 1 for 1 with a walk, against Skubal. Not too shabby
we cannot afford to keep these bats out of the lineup in favor of Adam Frazier and Jared Triolo
I’ve been thinking about catcher. I wonder what the strategy is? Knowing the Pirates they’ll trade the guy with the least controllable time. That would be Bart. So if he’s having a fantastic season I see them trading him at the deadline especially if Endy and Hank continue to perform. We’ll see, but I love the spring Endy is having
Catcher could be our strongest position with Bart and Endy. Bart is in his First year of Arb and is only getting paid $1.2 mil, and I doubt Endy has reached his first year of MLB Service. So, they are both good and most importantly, cheap. Therefore, I doubt Bart is going anywhere. Endy can also play 1B, 2B, and OF.
I still think they trade Bart at some point due to control
Bart is not eligible for FA till 2028. A trade is not necessarily imminent unless some one gives an offer that they can’t refuse especially if Hank and Endy both are hitting and healthy. If they can keep all three in the daily lineup and all are contributing, a trade won’t be needed till after the 26 season if Bart indicates he intends to hit the market in 28
Per RKs post it is a bit early to worry or think about this until there is more proof on the field. It would be awesome to be trading from a position of strength. If all (dream world) appear to be legitimate (top 15?) starting catchers then there are a myriad of possibilities. You can get a better return with players with more control and cheaper $ in that scenarios it could be Hank or Endy getting traded. Where I will agree with Nelson, if all 3 are plus players and Pirates are in the pennant race (my addition) then it makes a LOT of sense to trade from strength to upgrade elsewhere at this years trade deadline but by no means do I think it would be Bart just because he has less control. Just to be clear... when you are a bad team (Pirates track record) it can be smart to trade player with less control as they are less likely to be around when you actually get good. Let's hope they are past that.
ENdy being a switch hitter makes him incredibly valuable in the role you envision
And even though the Pirates have keepen this hidden, he is a good first baseman as well.
A switch hitter who has experience as a primary Catcher, and has MiLB experience at 1B, 2B, and OF in addition to Catching - a budget-strapped GM's wet dream.
the best version of our team has all of Bart, Endy and Hank hitting for us
with Endy playing first base from time to time and Tank splitting DH duties with Cutch
I also think the time a catcher spends game-planning with their pitchers is time-consuming and can be draining in today's game. Having 3 catchers working with assigned starting pitchers can keep them fresh.
some of these dudes may have a personal catcher too
Ive seen Jones prefer Tank and Keller prefer Bart and Skenes prefer Grandal
I see on MLB.com they ran a player poll got teams they thought would surprise this season. The Buccos were #4
lets go bucs!
Wonder if Heaney will continue his nibbling strategy. Last week in his post-outing interview with Hannah he even used the word in assessing his performance. If he can't attack hitters, he's doomed.
No stream available....only those in attendance will see his pitch location.
I hate seeing good players miss a chunk of spring training because they can't get signed in 4 months. It seems they are usually behind.
Justin Lawrence is supposed to make his Pirate debut today.
Looks like a pretty solid inning- of course it was against a lot of guys I’ve never heard of but good inning none the less.
Yeah, by the time the bullpen gets in, it’s all scrub vs. scrub. Doesn’t seem like the best way to sort all these relievers. Logically, it’d actually make more sense to have Skenes, Keller, et al, throw the LAST three innings. They just need to get stretched out.