Did Andre Jackson have enough trade value that the Pirates could have used him as a throw-in in a larger trade? or trade him for a minor-league player?
According to Statcast, he had 3 pitches that were positive Run Value. His 4 Seam FB, thrown 44.6% was a +5; his Slider, thrown 17% was a +2; and the Curve which he only threw 6.5% of the time was a +1. Offsetting almost all of that was his Changeup which he threw 32% of the time was a -7.
Best of the guys thought to possibly have a shot at the Rotation was/is Carmen Mlodzinski with four Plus Value pitches - 4S FB 49.8% - +5; Cutter 13.1% - +2; Sweeper 22% - +1; Change-up 14.7% - +1.
Ugh. I know that it shouldnt be held against the dodgers for going for it and all but their offseason feels so icky to me. Like the prime yankees years of just buying players. So, i hate it
I dont mind it if LA and NYC are where they go to graze in the pastures of old age; that is fine
But they should support the Pirates role as the team who introduces players to the league - - Need limitless spending for the draft and international spending for the pirates - - - and some sort of leverage so that the best in the business of development and coaching young players goes to lower income teams
If the collective (other mlb teams) would just forfeit the games in Los Angeles, the Dodgers would lose over $350,000,000 in pre-sales alone. Just let them know they'll just be doing it until the next collective bargaining deal is agreed on.
They'd pretty much make the playoffs but would probably go bankrupt quite quickly.
Don't know how the monies are allocated, but $325 over 12 years is $27 mil per season. Right now in MLB we have 2 guys making $43 mil a year, one making $37 mil who did not pitch an inning last year, and one at $36 mil (former Pirate) who won the Cy Young. Former Pirates Glasnow and Musgrove are making $20+mil and Taillon is close at $18 mil.
For the Pirates, they need to figure a way to keep their best pitchers longer than 5 or 6 MLB seasons - that's only if they are serious about competing.
I hate to lose Jackson but I can understand the appeal of playing in Asia after seeing what happened with Fedde and others before him. Maybe Jackson's team will give him a chance to start which was probably not going to happen in MLB, and with a strong year or two he could come back and make much more than he was on track to make.
Jackson saw the veteran signings and (correctly) knew he would be in AAA a lot next year. Instead he’s banking 7 figures to see the world. Smart.
Suwinski is still young, will get better defensively after more CF innings than he had throughout minors. You drop him down against LHP not bench him. Impact player.
Does any pitcher really want to play in Japan? Or is a last resort? I think you are buying into a Pirates media spin that they are "doing Jackson a favor". I totally hate this dfa.
Jackson has one of the best arms and best stuff in that pen.
A similar comp is Robert Stephenson, another arm that Marin and BC didn't know what they had.
I believe Stephenson will revert to what he was with the Pirates and the Rockies. Both times when he was moved, looked good the blew up again the following season after he was moved. Thinking the same thin is gonna happen again .
This rule refers to someone warming up on the mound, not warming up in the bullpen. It is in reference to a rare situation that happened maybe 20 times last season.
It sounds like that might be the direction they are going as sort of a compromise. I hope not also. They already have all of the correct ball/strike answers. The players just need to hit and pitch. They shouldn't have to second guess the umpire, then ask for the oorrect answer (ball or strike).
I saw games of both in Indy and prefer the robo ump.
At this point they project to have roughly average production everywhere across the board except for OF and 2B, and C remains a whole lot of hope and prayer.
I agree Cutch is a lock, but I feel he is a lock to play about 75% of the time vs. the other locks (and my already documented protest of Jack in the full time section). I thought they did a good job of resting him some last year and will do the same this year.
I am also not as sure Delay as the backup catcher. His hitting post April was that of a defense first / weak hitting backup. That also sounds like Sanchez so IMO it may be more of an open completion. I agree Delay deserves the shot and hope he gets it.
What they do with Cutch is a tough one for me, too.
On the one hand, they're not gonna find a better bat to be their DH. But on the other, it sure would solve a lot of problems if he was still an average defender at an outfield corner.
I guess I can picture just enough games in the outfield (20?) so he gets some real game action and the rest at DH. If I put some rose colored glasses on (Pirates squeeze into playoffs), you could see him in RF, Hank as DH(if Pirates made the playoffs, Hank HAD to hit), and a defense first catcher with a lefty on the hill against the Bucs. Cutch would not feel like a total stranger in the OF. Give him another 90 games at DH and he has 110 starts. Seems about right and it still leaves 70 other games with an open slot at DH.
I guess a need a fan poll because this is becoming a pet peeve of mine well beyond this site(don't worry it doesn't keep me up at night). Am I the only one that sees Jack as a platoon player? Strong side of the platoon and good defense so he does get the bulk of at bats, but what about his profile says he should start against lefties? Not that this should be a reason not to change, but they basically platooned him last year other than when we flat out didn't have another CF option on the roster. Net: why does he keep getting listed as a full time starter?
Yes. The proper application of their resources should be to get a CF (Kiermaier), shift Jack to right to platoon him with Oli, and a Rowdy/Joe platoon at first. Or just move Cruz to center, and the rest of the changes apply.
That is what I was picturing also. Whether it was Kiermaier or a Michael Taylor, I still pictured (thinking realistically?) somebody who may start 110 - 120 games. That leave Oli getting more starts than a strict platoon and Jack in center some. But still leaves Jack on the bench against lefties. Where I think Jack gets to try to prove himself is when he is left in games vs. LHP which I do not mind especially when it is earlier in the game. I don't think he is immediately replaced given his defensive ability and more importantly defensive flexibility.
Very SSS, but in 31 PAs in September he had a 113 wRC+ against lefties with his K% dropping to about 19% (it was about 42% for the season). Never believe September stats, but I think they should give him a couple of months in '24 for him to try to show that those results were real and not just luck.
I am still on the fence with Jack seems like he should be older than 25. He did have a bit of an improvement against LH pitching late. I am just not convinced that he is a lost cause yet and not convinced that he will be a solid hitter against lefties. This is the season that he has to produce to show he can be the full time starter in CF
Here is the problem. He should have been getting more at bats against LHP in the "we are absolutely not contending" years. That was the time to see if he improved in that area. If they really will be in "we are at least appearing to contend" mode then you can't give him much leash to break the platoon moniker. Playing to win is a day in and day out thing. I think he's still young enough and hard-working enough to improve but trying it out on the field should be getting harder.
I don't disagree with that assessment, but that is partly why I would not make him a lock which seems defined as full time starter. His slight improvement still ended in a very ugly line against lefties in 2023. I am not saying I feel he should not get a chance, but I view him VERY differently from the other locks. In many ways Rowdy is a similar 'lock' (not that I am thrilled to type that).
It's a great combo! Did a port stop in Dubai while on deployment in the Navy and had beer on the pier with a gyro vendor. Pretty good stuff, atleast us sailors and marines thought so
I just drafted the Transactions section for his player page. Since the shoulder surgery that pretty much did him in, an amazing number of teams have taken a look at him and consistently given up after anywhere from a few months to a few days.
Yeah, that is why I was thinking a AAA depth option hoping and praying a trade comes down that would involve some of the depth to some 40 man spots and he can place hold if need be till a younger guy is ready to slot in. 🤞🤞🙏🙏
Among other things, the Pirates could really use someone to separate themselves from the pack at second. Peggy, Bae, Gonzales, Triolo. Really hope one of them can have a breakout year and establish themself as an everyday player there.
We need two additions that are able to produce 3+ WAR minus the players they replace, doubtful that it will come by trade on the field side so here’s hoping that whoever wins the 2b is able to have a monster year. The other could come from the pitching side, Bieber is predicted to have a 3+ by years end, maybe he’s the one add thru trade!!!!
Cruz, whoevers at 2b (my vote is peggy), and a mystery starter all could be options to have a big increase in productivity over last year. If rowdy hits 30+ bombs or olivares doesnt suck in RF like he did in left, they could both stand as a little less, but not insignificant, improvement
My initial thought would be kind of a shared 2nd between Liover and Triolo with Peggy backing up short and Triolo backing up 3rd and some 1st. Keeping the hot bat in the lineup (fingers crossed). All the while hoping one of them stakes his claim.
My vote is for Peggy as well. Imo, if he puts it all together he gives you the best chance at "splash". I'm curious about triolo with the bat this year. If I'm not mistaken, he made a change that resulted in some increased power.
He's not throwing Oneill Cruz missiles, but from the games I saw he is a legit major league shortstop. I think the scouts have him with an above average arm as well. I question his bat more. As much as I like the kid, collectively we have our doubts.
Way way way more upside with Peguero in my opinion. I couldn't agree with you more. I am one of the last Pirates fans that still have hopes for Nick and I am pulling for him. Peggy seems like a guy that could break out. If not, I would stil prefer him as the back-up second baseman/shortstop over Alika.
I feel the same about Nick. It was fun watching him and Peguero play together in the minors and it would have been fun if it worked out the same in Pittsburgh but that usually only happens in baseball movies, lol.
Did Andre Jackson have enough trade value that the Pirates could have used him as a throw-in in a larger trade? or trade him for a minor-league player?
According to Statcast, he had 3 pitches that were positive Run Value. His 4 Seam FB, thrown 44.6% was a +5; his Slider, thrown 17% was a +2; and the Curve which he only threw 6.5% of the time was a +1. Offsetting almost all of that was his Changeup which he threw 32% of the time was a -7.
Best of the guys thought to possibly have a shot at the Rotation was/is Carmen Mlodzinski with four Plus Value pitches - 4S FB 49.8% - +5; Cutter 13.1% - +2; Sweeper 22% - +1; Change-up 14.7% - +1.
Being reported the Dodgers are signing Yamamoto. 12 years $325,000,000.
Come on Dodgers sign one more big contract this off season, you are so close to doubling the past decade of pirates payroll in one off season.
Ugh. I know that it shouldnt be held against the dodgers for going for it and all but their offseason feels so icky to me. Like the prime yankees years of just buying players. So, i hate it
I dont mind it if LA and NYC are where they go to graze in the pastures of old age; that is fine
But they should support the Pirates role as the team who introduces players to the league - - Need limitless spending for the draft and international spending for the pirates - - - and some sort of leverage so that the best in the business of development and coaching young players goes to lower income teams
If the collective (other mlb teams) would just forfeit the games in Los Angeles, the Dodgers would lose over $350,000,000 in pre-sales alone. Just let them know they'll just be doing it until the next collective bargaining deal is agreed on.
They'd pretty much make the playoffs but would probably go bankrupt quite quickly.
Don't know how the monies are allocated, but $325 over 12 years is $27 mil per season. Right now in MLB we have 2 guys making $43 mil a year, one making $37 mil who did not pitch an inning last year, and one at $36 mil (former Pirate) who won the Cy Young. Former Pirates Glasnow and Musgrove are making $20+mil and Taillon is close at $18 mil.
For the Pirates, they need to figure a way to keep their best pitchers longer than 5 or 6 MLB seasons - that's only if they are serious about competing.
Depending on the signing bonus and yearly salary, the Dodgers might have to pony up around $123 million in 2024 for Yamamoto.
Signing bonus $50 million
Former team $50 million
Salary yearly $23 million
I hate to lose Jackson but I can understand the appeal of playing in Asia after seeing what happened with Fedde and others before him. Maybe Jackson's team will give him a chance to start which was probably not going to happen in MLB, and with a strong year or two he could come back and make much more than he was on track to make.
Jackson saw the veteran signings and (correctly) knew he would be in AAA a lot next year. Instead he’s banking 7 figures to see the world. Smart.
Suwinski is still young, will get better defensively after more CF innings than he had throughout minors. You drop him down against LHP not bench him. Impact player.
Jackson was out of options, so they weren't going to have much flexibility with him.
Does any pitcher really want to play in Japan? Or is a last resort? I think you are buying into a Pirates media spin that they are "doing Jackson a favor". I totally hate this dfa.
Jackson has one of the best arms and best stuff in that pen.
A similar comp is Robert Stephenson, another arm that Marin and BC didn't know what they had.
I believe Stephenson will revert to what he was with the Pirates and the Rockies. Both times when he was moved, looked good the blew up again the following season after he was moved. Thinking the same thin is gonna happen again .
this is what we want to do
SS Cruz
LF Reynolds
DH Cutch
1B #Turner / Tellez
C Tank / Delay
3B Hayes
RF Suwinski / Oliveres
2B Peguero / Triolo
CF %Varsho
Suwinski needs to be in the 5 spot, his slash line there is
.304/.422/.670 OPS of 1.092
MVP jack confirmed
Andre Jackson DFAd
Apparently he’s headed to Japan.
Him and hatch both seem like those fringe type of guys that will probably go dominate over there
Maybe this is the big trade Mackey was alluding to, Jackson to the Mariners for Sasaki (negotiating rights for 30 days)...
If only it was legal, maybe it is. The Dodgers deferring $680 million is perfectly legitimate.
subscribe!
sorry Ms Jackson...
Bunch of rule changes and one seems incredibly stupid. Any pitcher who warms up has to face at least one hitter.
This rule refers to someone warming up on the mound, not warming up in the bullpen. It is in reference to a rare situation that happened maybe 20 times last season.
Still stupid. You can get into issues over whether the pitcher may or may not be hurt.
I liked the players response - basically: let's give the current changes at least another year before we make more changes.
The only thing I much want to see now is robo umps.
Agree.. I am all in on that. I was formally against it but it is just too obvious now.
As long as they don’t do the system where the ump calls it and either team can appeal to the robot. It’s not time consuming but it breaks the flow.
Agree again.. I am against the challenge format. Just robo all pitches.
It sounds like that might be the direction they are going as sort of a compromise. I hope not also. They already have all of the correct ball/strike answers. The players just need to hit and pitch. They shouldn't have to second guess the umpire, then ask for the oorrect answer (ball or strike).
I saw games of both in Indy and prefer the robo ump.
Injuries be damned.
At this point they project to have roughly average production everywhere across the board except for OF and 2B, and C remains a whole lot of hope and prayer.
That's a watchable club.
Feels like a couple good breaks away from a big jump and a couple bad breaks away from a whole lot of pain lol
'Watchable? Mission accomplished!"
Bob
I agree Cutch is a lock, but I feel he is a lock to play about 75% of the time vs. the other locks (and my already documented protest of Jack in the full time section). I thought they did a good job of resting him some last year and will do the same this year.
I am also not as sure Delay as the backup catcher. His hitting post April was that of a defense first / weak hitting backup. That also sounds like Sanchez so IMO it may be more of an open completion. I agree Delay deserves the shot and hope he gets it.
What they do with Cutch is a tough one for me, too.
On the one hand, they're not gonna find a better bat to be their DH. But on the other, it sure would solve a lot of problems if he was still an average defender at an outfield corner.
I guess I can picture just enough games in the outfield (20?) so he gets some real game action and the rest at DH. If I put some rose colored glasses on (Pirates squeeze into playoffs), you could see him in RF, Hank as DH(if Pirates made the playoffs, Hank HAD to hit), and a defense first catcher with a lefty on the hill against the Bucs. Cutch would not feel like a total stranger in the OF. Give him another 90 games at DH and he has 110 starts. Seems about right and it still leaves 70 other games with an open slot at DH.
you said it brother
I guess a need a fan poll because this is becoming a pet peeve of mine well beyond this site(don't worry it doesn't keep me up at night). Am I the only one that sees Jack as a platoon player? Strong side of the platoon and good defense so he does get the bulk of at bats, but what about his profile says he should start against lefties? Not that this should be a reason not to change, but they basically platooned him last year other than when we flat out didn't have another CF option on the roster. Net: why does he keep getting listed as a full time starter?
Yes. The proper application of their resources should be to get a CF (Kiermaier), shift Jack to right to platoon him with Oli, and a Rowdy/Joe platoon at first. Or just move Cruz to center, and the rest of the changes apply.
That is what I was picturing also. Whether it was Kiermaier or a Michael Taylor, I still pictured (thinking realistically?) somebody who may start 110 - 120 games. That leave Oli getting more starts than a strict platoon and Jack in center some. But still leaves Jack on the bench against lefties. Where I think Jack gets to try to prove himself is when he is left in games vs. LHP which I do not mind especially when it is earlier in the game. I don't think he is immediately replaced given his defensive ability and more importantly defensive flexibility.
Very SSS, but in 31 PAs in September he had a 113 wRC+ against lefties with his K% dropping to about 19% (it was about 42% for the season). Never believe September stats, but I think they should give him a couple of months in '24 for him to try to show that those results were real and not just luck.
Is a couple of months gonna change anything? I dunno it’s gonna be another 40 plate appearances.
He's absolutely a platoon player.
870+ ops
The definition of a platoon player.
That's one vote in agreement! Check is in the mail.
I don't know if Jack is a platoon player as much as a streaky player. His good is good. His bad is really bad.
His splits tell a story beyond just streaky.
By his splits he should only be batting 5th, superstar slash line in that spot. Kinda joking but it is impressive and it's a decent sample size.
304/422/670 1.092
Wow just looked them up. 24 homers against righties, 2 homers against lefties.
Now here are his batting averages by months in 2023. .279, .209, .185, .246, .130, .289.
I am still on the fence with Jack seems like he should be older than 25. He did have a bit of an improvement against LH pitching late. I am just not convinced that he is a lost cause yet and not convinced that he will be a solid hitter against lefties. This is the season that he has to produce to show he can be the full time starter in CF
Here is the problem. He should have been getting more at bats against LHP in the "we are absolutely not contending" years. That was the time to see if he improved in that area. If they really will be in "we are at least appearing to contend" mode then you can't give him much leash to break the platoon moniker. Playing to win is a day in and day out thing. I think he's still young enough and hard-working enough to improve but trying it out on the field should be getting harder.
I don't disagree with that assessment, but that is partly why I would not make him a lock which seems defined as full time starter. His slight improvement still ended in a very ugly line against lefties in 2023. I am not saying I feel he should not get a chance, but I view him VERY differently from the other locks. In many ways Rowdy is a similar 'lock' (not that I am thrilled to type that).
Pirates signed Jake Lamb to a MiL deal.
I hope that doesn't take time away from Seth Beer. :)
HEY! Beer here!!
Beer & Lamb? I dunno . . . .
It's a great combo! Did a port stop in Dubai while on deployment in the Navy and had beer on the pier with a gyro vendor. Pretty good stuff, atleast us sailors and marines thought so
Yeah, that combo is not appetizing……
What about beer and pierogis? Polish beer of course.
A match made in heaven. I remember something mentioned about a beach bar to be named later as Pier Rogies. What else but Beer and rogies 😁😁
Saw that. Seems like AAA depth in case a good trade takes a couple of prospects off of the Indy roster and can fill in until a AA guy gets bumped .
I just drafted the Transactions section for his player page. Since the shoulder surgery that pretty much did him in, an amazing number of teams have taken a look at him and consistently given up after anywhere from a few months to a few days.
Yeah, that is why I was thinking a AAA depth option hoping and praying a trade comes down that would involve some of the depth to some 40 man spots and he can place hold if need be till a younger guy is ready to slot in. 🤞🤞🙏🙏
**to open some 40 man spots…. My kingdom for an edit button!
Click on the three dots in the lower right of your post. What's your kingdom worth?
Both Beer and Lamb haven't been the same since surgeries.
Among other things, the Pirates could really use someone to separate themselves from the pack at second. Peggy, Bae, Gonzales, Triolo. Really hope one of them can have a breakout year and establish themself as an everyday player there.
Whos got that info on Rodriguez from cuba?? Maybe thats a significant arm we could bring in
We need two additions that are able to produce 3+ WAR minus the players they replace, doubtful that it will come by trade on the field side so here’s hoping that whoever wins the 2b is able to have a monster year. The other could come from the pitching side, Bieber is predicted to have a 3+ by years end, maybe he’s the one add thru trade!!!!
Cruz, whoevers at 2b (my vote is peggy), and a mystery starter all could be options to have a big increase in productivity over last year. If rowdy hits 30+ bombs or olivares doesnt suck in RF like he did in left, they could both stand as a little less, but not insignificant, improvement
My initial thought would be kind of a shared 2nd between Liover and Triolo with Peggy backing up short and Triolo backing up 3rd and some 1st. Keeping the hot bat in the lineup (fingers crossed). All the while hoping one of them stakes his claim.
My vote is for Peggy as well. Imo, if he puts it all together he gives you the best chance at "splash". I'm curious about triolo with the bat this year. If I'm not mistaken, he made a change that resulted in some increased power.
From what I saw of Williams he doesn't have the arm for ss!
He's not throwing Oneill Cruz missiles, but from the games I saw he is a legit major league shortstop. I think the scouts have him with an above average arm as well. I question his bat more. As much as I like the kid, collectively we have our doubts.
His arms are smaller than my wife's. Never going to hit.
But can she play shortstop?
No but she can't hit either.
Still more upside with Pequero backing up Cruz at ss then Williams!
Way way way more upside with Peguero in my opinion. I couldn't agree with you more. I am one of the last Pirates fans that still have hopes for Nick and I am pulling for him. Peggy seems like a guy that could break out. If not, I would stil prefer him as the back-up second baseman/shortstop over Alika.
I feel the same about Nick. It was fun watching him and Peguero play together in the minors and it would have been fun if it worked out the same in Pittsburgh but that usually only happens in baseball movies, lol.