I'm a big Keiner Delgado fan but he's also not a SS. I don't know why they even try? It's a fringy arm at best.
But u want a dark horse to rise up prospect list I'll go with Delgado. If he can get back to some of that FCL plate discipline(I doubt he ever gets back to DSL plate discipline and has an above .500 OBP ever again) and be above .350 OPS and something like .260/.360/.385 with 15 HR and 20+ SB that would be around Termarr land numbers.
He's one of my picks to rebound and have a sort of breakout.
JDLS is 13th, Morel 30th. This comment was interesting wrt there being multiple teams involved, which would have driven up the price:
"On Friday, the Pirates agreed to sign Darrel Morel, a former Dodgers commit, for $1.8 million, which is more than the approximately $1 million bonus my sources indicate he had agreed to with Los Angeles. Morel worked out in front of teams in Dodgers gear on Thursday, then had a new agreement the next morning."
Im also thinking Morel's bonus was probably agreed upon a few years ago so now that he's probably grown and developed, im not surprised hes more expensive than he was as 13-14yo or whenever they agreed
Longenhagen mentioned that all three players taken from the Dodgers ended up with more money, so good for each of them. Of course there may be players who had agreed to bonuses 2-3 years ago and didn't develop in the last couple and now will be left with very little.
The difference being that the Reds are talking about increasing payroll now, as they've done before, which makes it more likely that they'll be able to add those key pieces (not that I don't keep hoping that we'll make another significant move or two).
Without saying any names, Ive really enjoyed that the BoD Squad offseason has involved much less toxicity and bickering than we had towards the end of the season. I know it drove me away the last few weeks, so I really hope we can keep it this way moving forward :)
Too bad the Bucs couldn't turn some of that international signing money into an actual player they needed from one of the top competitors for Sasaki. This was a unique opportunity but I fear all they will get out of it is a headline for having signed a Dodger-commit who will likely fall prey to their inept ability to develop offensive players.
This is their only hope for the future. They refuse to spend "now" money, and we have been almost completely unable to develop hitting. Right now, according to Cot's we are spending about $81 mil this year on Player Salaries. Cincy is around $104 mil, Milwaukee around $108 mil, Cardinals around $141 mil, and the Cubs around $179 mil. We are at least one Middle Of The Order (MOTO) hitter away from competing "almost" equally for the Playoffs.
Anthony Santander is a switch hitting MOTO hitter who has averaged playing 152 games/year over the past 3 years while also averaging 32 HR/yr. Put him between Reynolds (another switch hitter) and Cruz. He was looking 4/$80 and his camp now says he will accept an offer of fewer years. How about 2/$45 with no opt out. If it is not working, he would be a helluva trade chip at the deadline.
A little more than 7 years ago the Pirates picked up a 6'7" MiLB Shortstop from the Dodgers in exchange for LHRP Tony Watson. Watson helped the Dodgers get to the playoffs and WS that year, but Oneil Cruz has turned into a power hitting CF/SS, and an offensive leader for the Pirates.
The Pirates are now ready to sign a 6'5" power hitting IFA, Darell Morel, who is also a SS and, until a few days ago, was linked to signing with the Dodgers for about $1 mil. LAD are trying to sign IFA SP Roki Sasaki and will need possibly all of their IFA money to sign Sasaki. The Pirates moved into that void and it now looks like Morel will sign with the Pirates tomorrow for $1.8 mil. We can only hope.
That's long term help. Short term is that the Pirates are now the only team in the NL Central who will be under $100 mil in Player salaries since the Reds passed the $100 mil mark with the signing of Lux. The other small-market franchise in the NL Central, Milwaukee, is well beyond the $100 mil mark. The Pirates talk about competing, but these teams are putting their money where their mouth's are!
God I hope youre right. I don't expect Oneil to run as much as Elly but maybe the move to center narrows the defensive gap between the two and Oneil can take that offensive step forward this year
He is 6'7 so that step would be a lot like nger than stout ass Terrmar. Bet plates clang when that dude hits the leg press machine at Planet Fitness in Altoona
Since becoming the principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, you have been the steward of 14 losing seasons out of 18, zero division championships, zero playoff series wins, and 8 last place finishes. You have been the one constant during this era of futility. Your way is not working. At what point do you realize that you are The Problem? Will you please give someone else a chance to make right what has been so wrong and sell the team?
At this point in my imagination, Greg Brown jumps up, Mike in hand. His quivering voice raised a couple of octaves. He shouts into the mike, "I can tell you! Bob Nutting is a gooood maaaan!"
To which I retort, "Greg, this is no time to be angling for another merit increase. Let the man answer the questions."
IIRC, all questions for Bob now get screened so no chance he'll be asked about his stewardship of the franchise. Not only is he cheap, but he's a coward.
My other thought is that I'm so looking forward to hearing Brown tell us for the sixth straight spring training how "things just feel different this year". Of course, I know that's what ST is for and I'll probably fall for it this year with Skenes, Jones, Keller, Chandler, and Harrington/Oviedo/Falter being rotation options...
I’ve seen hostile questions get asked at Piratesfest, and most of the time the response is a scripted answer or even outright silence, in the case of one outburst I witnessed.
I have seen some interesting answers to questions in the Q&A’s, but those tend to come with the less hostile questions, non-payroll questions I’ve seen people ask. I’d imagine they anticipate some level of hostility in the questions, particularly around payroll.
That wouldn't keep Bob from explaining his vision, including why running low payrolls doesn't need to keep them from winning (as surely he believes). It could all be done in a respectful way, but as far as I know Bob has been unwilling to take on that topic.
Again, not the platform to put Nutting on Front Street.
My kids are now too old, but I took them every year until COVID stopped it. They loved every minute of it.
PiratesFest is not about holding Nutting or the team accountable.
It's a nice family atmosphere, where you can meet players, get autographs, play games, win prizes and tour the stadium.
I just looked it up - PiratesFest is this Saturday & Sunday, but they do it at the David L Lawrence convention center. Disappointed it's not at PNC Park
You can tell who has and who hasn't been to PirateFest.
Not that social norms would stop plenty of belligerent cranky old dudes from making a scene but the hypothetical of that while thousands of kids are smiling and laughing and looking for autographs did give me a laugh this morning.
I'm a big Keiner Delgado fan but he's also not a SS. I don't know why they even try? It's a fringy arm at best.
But u want a dark horse to rise up prospect list I'll go with Delgado. If he can get back to some of that FCL plate discipline(I doubt he ever gets back to DSL plate discipline and has an above .500 OBP ever again) and be above .350 OPS and something like .260/.360/.385 with 15 HR and 20+ SB that would be around Termarr land numbers.
He's one of my picks to rebound and have a sort of breakout.
Feb 12: Ps & Cs. Write it down.
Most interested in Ramirez and Rainey from the NRI's. I think they are both likely to make the club.
Gonna be a helluva competition for the 8 spots in the pen.
Love them making a real competition. Last year's pen being so bad sank our chances throughout the season so really need to turn that around
And there's always an injury or two during ST. So depth and quality of bullpen arms is important.
I always liked Ramirez. Glad they got him back. Rainey is an interesting fella too. Stuff was filthy as recently as 2022.
Longenhagen just posted his international prospect rankings and reports:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-international-prospect-rankings-and-scouting-reports/
JDLS is 13th, Morel 30th. This comment was interesting wrt there being multiple teams involved, which would have driven up the price:
"On Friday, the Pirates agreed to sign Darrel Morel, a former Dodgers commit, for $1.8 million, which is more than the approximately $1 million bonus my sources indicate he had agreed to with Los Angeles. Morel worked out in front of teams in Dodgers gear on Thursday, then had a new agreement the next morning."
Im also thinking Morel's bonus was probably agreed upon a few years ago so now that he's probably grown and developed, im not surprised hes more expensive than he was as 13-14yo or whenever they agreed
Longenhagen mentioned that all three players taken from the Dodgers ended up with more money, so good for each of them. Of course there may be players who had agreed to bonuses 2-3 years ago and didn't develop in the last couple and now will be left with very little.
Reminds me of the Braves situation a few years back and how the Pirates ended up with Bae. Let's hope this one works out a bit better, lol.
I still think Bae can be a good major leaguer, but I don't see him getting the opportunity with the Pirates.
Maybe the Pirates can trade him to a team like the White Sox or Rockies where he'd get more playing time.
I think Bae would be a lot better in Colorado on the hitting side, if he could improve his defense there, he might lengthen his career.
The Twins and CWS both filched guys from LAD, too.
Well dang, a "cap" actually works, go figure.
Duck the Fodgers.
It might be interesting to see how well the Reds follow through on this:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/reds-rumors-tv-deal-payroll-increase-free-agency-trades.html
I think the Cubs are the favorites with the Brewers 2nd, but a couple of key additions could put the Reds up there with the Cubs.
I'm often left wondering if Pirate fans remember the 2024 Cincinnati Reds won exactly one single game more than the 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates.
I'd say we're also a couple of key additions from being up there with the Cubs.
The difference being that the Reds are talking about increasing payroll now, as they've done before, which makes it more likely that they'll be able to add those key pieces (not that I don't keep hoping that we'll make another significant move or two).
now that's certainly fair, ugh.
Without saying any names, Ive really enjoyed that the BoD Squad offseason has involved much less toxicity and bickering than we had towards the end of the season. I know it drove me away the last few weeks, so I really hope we can keep it this way moving forward :)
Too bad the Bucs couldn't turn some of that international signing money into an actual player they needed from one of the top competitors for Sasaki. This was a unique opportunity but I fear all they will get out of it is a headline for having signed a Dodger-commit who will likely fall prey to their inept ability to develop offensive players.
This is their only hope for the future. They refuse to spend "now" money, and we have been almost completely unable to develop hitting. Right now, according to Cot's we are spending about $81 mil this year on Player Salaries. Cincy is around $104 mil, Milwaukee around $108 mil, Cardinals around $141 mil, and the Cubs around $179 mil. We are at least one Middle Of The Order (MOTO) hitter away from competing "almost" equally for the Playoffs.
Anthony Santander is a switch hitting MOTO hitter who has averaged playing 152 games/year over the past 3 years while also averaging 32 HR/yr. Put him between Reynolds (another switch hitter) and Cruz. He was looking 4/$80 and his camp now says he will accept an offer of fewer years. How about 2/$45 with no opt out. If it is not working, he would be a helluva trade chip at the deadline.
Honestly a little surprised no team has done this. Pirates have at least capitalized *something* out of the situation.
Stay tuned. Whoever signs him will probably have to acquire some pool $$.
A little more than 7 years ago the Pirates picked up a 6'7" MiLB Shortstop from the Dodgers in exchange for LHRP Tony Watson. Watson helped the Dodgers get to the playoffs and WS that year, but Oneil Cruz has turned into a power hitting CF/SS, and an offensive leader for the Pirates.
The Pirates are now ready to sign a 6'5" power hitting IFA, Darell Morel, who is also a SS and, until a few days ago, was linked to signing with the Dodgers for about $1 mil. LAD are trying to sign IFA SP Roki Sasaki and will need possibly all of their IFA money to sign Sasaki. The Pirates moved into that void and it now looks like Morel will sign with the Pirates tomorrow for $1.8 mil. We can only hope.
That's long term help. Short term is that the Pirates are now the only team in the NL Central who will be under $100 mil in Player salaries since the Reds passed the $100 mil mark with the signing of Lux. The other small-market franchise in the NL Central, Milwaukee, is well beyond the $100 mil mark. The Pirates talk about competing, but these teams are putting their money where their mouth's are!
Why settle for the second coming of Cruz when we can dream big and imagine the next de la Cruz?
;)
Oneil > Elly
Elly performed beyond any reasonable expectation.
It's all in the xwOBA
Oneil .340
Elly .328
God I hope youre right. I don't expect Oneil to run as much as Elly but maybe the move to center narrows the defensive gap between the two and Oneil can take that offensive step forward this year
He is 6'7 so that step would be a lot like nger than stout ass Terrmar. Bet plates clang when that dude hits the leg press machine at Planet Fitness in Altoona
Piratesfest questions for Robert Nutting:
Since becoming the principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, you have been the steward of 14 losing seasons out of 18, zero division championships, zero playoff series wins, and 8 last place finishes. You have been the one constant during this era of futility. Your way is not working. At what point do you realize that you are The Problem? Will you please give someone else a chance to make right what has been so wrong and sell the team?
At this point in my imagination, Greg Brown jumps up, Mike in hand. His quivering voice raised a couple of octaves. He shouts into the mike, "I can tell you! Bob Nutting is a gooood maaaan!"
To which I retort, "Greg, this is no time to be angling for another merit increase. Let the man answer the questions."
I would shorten it to this.
Why are you the way that you are? We hate…so much about the things you choose to be.
IIRC, all questions for Bob now get screened so no chance he'll be asked about his stewardship of the franchise. Not only is he cheap, but he's a coward.
My other thought is that I'm so looking forward to hearing Brown tell us for the sixth straight spring training how "things just feel different this year". Of course, I know that's what ST is for and I'll probably fall for it this year with Skenes, Jones, Keller, Chandler, and Harrington/Oviedo/Falter being rotation options...
I’ve seen hostile questions get asked at Piratesfest, and most of the time the response is a scripted answer or even outright silence, in the case of one outburst I witnessed.
I have seen some interesting answers to questions in the Q&A’s, but those tend to come with the less hostile questions, non-payroll questions I’ve seen people ask. I’d imagine they anticipate some level of hostility in the questions, particularly around payroll.
It's not exactly the platform for those type of shenanigans.
It's a family friendly atmosphere
That wouldn't keep Bob from explaining his vision, including why running low payrolls doesn't need to keep them from winning (as surely he believes). It could all be done in a respectful way, but as far as I know Bob has been unwilling to take on that topic.
His vision maybe blurred to to those damn transition glasses.
Again, not the platform to put Nutting on Front Street.
My kids are now too old, but I took them every year until COVID stopped it. They loved every minute of it.
PiratesFest is not about holding Nutting or the team accountable.
It's a nice family atmosphere, where you can meet players, get autographs, play games, win prizes and tour the stadium.
I just looked it up - PiratesFest is this Saturday & Sunday, but they do it at the David L Lawrence convention center. Disappointed it's not at PNC Park
You can tell who has and who hasn't been to PirateFest.
Not that social norms would stop plenty of belligerent cranky old dudes from making a scene but the hypothetical of that while thousands of kids are smiling and laughing and looking for autographs did give me a laugh this morning.