I see where the Fish made an offer to Tim Anderson in the last week. That could be the reason a trade with the Pirates is on hold at the moment. If/when Anderson turns it down, it may allow the fish to pull the trigger on the trade. 🤞
Pirates rumored to be in on Whit Merrifield. Hard pass for me. Why they just don't start Triolo there and have Liover serve as the back-up MI is beyond me.
We're saved--the Phillies just signed him. I'm starting to wonder if agents are "leaking" that the Pirates are interested only to drive up prices, knowing that they can say whatever they want and Cherington would be unlikely to ever deny it because he just never says much of anything anyway.
I'd rather them just claim Livan Soto that was just dfa'd by the Orioles. Still young with options and bats left handed for depth. Good fielder no power he'd fit right in lol
They will if they can find the 40-man space. He is Cherington's type through and through... can't make consistent contact, but he rarely lifts the bat off his shoulder and so draws BBs. Claiming him would actually be pretty good... so... the Pirates are probably out... even though he matches their profile.
Also... he can play a decent SS and is probably better than Williams... at least at the plate if not in the field. I would drop Williams off the 40-man to pick up Soto in a New York minute.
I’d be fine with that if one or two of peguero, bae or Gonzales get dealt for a starter. Then merrifiled would slot into 2nd or he Triolo both could just move around the Diamond.
Nothing would scream "we only trust veterans" louder than signing a guy like Merrifield. The only way that makes sense is if at least 2-3 of Bae, Peguero, Gonzales, and Triolo will be used to find rotation or CF help and Merrifield is to serve as a bridge to Cheng, Jebb, and Johnson.
Regarding the Prospect exhibition, I’m trying to figure out who’s gonna play the field. We are set at pitchers, but man, I’m having a tough time trying to figure out the hitters.
How anyone who saw or read about Cherington's performance yesterday can have confidence in anything he says is beyond comprehension. The guy's either a total Nutting lackey (okay that one's already a given) or simply a con artist who thinks he selling snake oil to a bunch of gullible rubes. "We chased down a lot this winter that ultimately didn't feel like it made sense." (Translation: The boss told me I couldn't buy anything without his permission).
"I would say that we have some desire to bring in another starting pitcher." Really? What a shocking and enlightening revelation. "We do feel like we're better." Operative word there has to be "feel" because no rational thought process could ever arrive at that conclusion particularly the way other teams in the division have actually done things to improve themselves.
He also hinted at the notion that some quality players don't want to play in Pittsburgh as part of the reason he's done so little. That might be the biggest cop-out of them all. The reason they don't want to come here, even if that might occasionally be true, is because they correctly perceive the complete lack of commitment to building a winning team he and Nutting continue to display. Their unwillingness to spend appropriate amounts of money to entice them to come just might also be in play. Self-fulfilling and self-serving notion that acts cyclically to allow them to continue to do as they please with little resistance.
Sorry, I know it's the spring and all fans are supposed to be giddy with optimism about the upcoming season. I was beginning to feel some of that before seeing BC's little exhibition of ineptness and condescending attitude toward fans. He still has time to do something noteworthy with this team but if the lack of interest he showed yesterday is any indication, that is not going to happen.
Well... players who are actually good expect to receive more than a one-year contract at market value. If you will only give out one-year contracts, then you are going to get junk... and so... the Pirates get junk... year in and year out.
There probably is a disconnect in how we're valuing our prospects vs. how other teams value our prospects, which is common characteristic of poor GMs.
Since Huntington was fired in large part to a bad trade, I think Ben sees the safest way to keeping his job as not risking trading prospects. Why should he when his boss thinks he's doing a fantastic job with his very conservative approach?
So, evidently, the money isn't available when the time is right--just another misleading statement by Cherington (the time couldn't have been more right--we have a decent foundation but a need that aligned with the strength of this FA class).
Players will gladly come to Pittsburgh if the money (i.e., commitment to winning) is there--that excuse could apply to Cincinnati and KC, and a few other places, but that hasn't held those organizations back from signing quality players. The excuses this administration comes up with...
Thank you. I frequently sense an undercurrent of “western PA is a hellhole, why would anyone want to come here” among posts I read here. Lotta people think LA, NYC, SF are hellholes. They have no problem attracting FAs.
The other possibility is that the money could be there, but BC is just a shitty negotiator w/ agents. You've got to know how to play your hand, understand the competition, and what carrots the player/agent are interested in that move the needle.
There's actually a skill-set needed by a small market GM.
Sounds like he grossly miscalculated the market, which is prob the reason to “pivot” in January. I would suspect that they had a handful of targets, and they were either too expensive or just didn’t want to sign in Pittsburgh. He vaguely inferred something to the effect that there were a bunch of FA’s that had a predetermined destination or preference, maybe the “preference” he was referring to was anywhere BUT Pittsburgh.
Idk, I think it’s odd that they can’t attract an above average, age-appropriate FA. And, I do think they have tried.
The Pirates will always be in a position of proactively acquiring the Rowdy Tellez's of the world or reactively pivoting to the best value they can find.
You have to be the club willing to go that extra year or extra couple million in AAV otherwise, and that's simply not their MO.
In on Harrington too. And 24(?!) in the top 500 ties us with the Rays for most.
Of course the 2014 list had Gregory Polanco, Alen Hanson, Nick Kingham and other familiar names. I’d feel better about our high-end quality and depth if there was any track record of successful development. So far, there’s been a half-season of Keller and maybe Suwinski to give them credit for.
It's more complicated than this, but at the end of the day there's only been a handful of prospects that have actually done anything elsewhere either. I oscillate back and forth on just how bad Pirate dev has been relative to how bad analyst takes have been when the overwhelming majority of aborted Pirate prospects haven't done anything with other orgs too.
Alen Hanson being a case in point; instead of being a development failure, maybe we all just overreacted to a fluky good year at the age of 19 at a low level. If you ignore that year, then he’s a guy who never walked much, never had much power, and his majors career makes much more sense.
Although if he was able to do it at 19 in A, then why couldn’t he do it at 21 in AA? But we know it doesn’t work like that.
In an annual tradition I started on The Asylum, then moved to Pirates Prospects, then Bucs on Deck, I bring you my annual prognistication of who will make the Opening Day roster. A few notes. 100% means that barring injury a player will be on the roster. Anything less than 100% accounts for idea that injuries could occur, giving that player a greater chance to make the roster. Without further ado.
Catchers
Yasmani Grandal…..100%
Henry Davis……………90%
Jason Delay……………20%
Ali Sanchez…………….10%
Abrahan Gutierrez…...0%
Carter Bins……………….0%
.
Yesterday’s surprising comments by Shelton caused me to list Davis at 90%. I suppose if he tanks in Spring Training, there’s a chance he starts in AAA. I have Delay as the favorite over Sanchez.
An All Star and 2nd in MLB with 39 Saves last year for another corner OF? Not following the reasoning or the need.
Two players who are blocked in their ascent to MLB are Nick Gonzales 2B, Pirates and Ceddanne Rafaela CF, Boston Red Sox. The Pirates are very deep in the MI and Gonzales could be right behind Vaughn Grissom who was just traded to Boston and is listed as their starting 2B. Rafaela is a RH hitter and a strong defensive CF. He can step in as the starting CF or platoon with the LH hitting Bae in CF. Get it done Ben!
A look at the Red Sox depth chart shows that the best they project for Rafaela is the 3rd option in CF. They are short MI's and the Pirates are short CF's. I would see both getting better opportunities in MLB after the trade than before.
I like Rafaela as a trade target but I'm not sure if we have a middle infielder they would want (maybe Peguero).
I still like Jorge Barrosa from the Dbacks, I think his fielding is close to Rafaela, without the plus arm. Barrosa doesn't have the power potential either but has way better plate discipline and on base skills.
A plus defensive CF would help the team considerably.
Also would like to target Blaze Jordan from Boston as a potential 1st basemen for the future.
I agree. i don't think Gonzales is blocked at all.. so far he has been either beaten out or not good enough, how ever you want to look at it. I also think that could change but he needs to show he deserves it.
Most noteworthy thing for me is that he has Lonnie White at 7. As someone who wants to believe in White I found that encouraging. He has Shim at 11, and basically said the sky is the limit given his talent —- he just has to prove it on the field this year.
On the downside, even though he ranks him at 5, he claims that scouts have Solometo as a reliever because he’s having problems repeating his delivery. That would be a huge disappointment.
Let’s see, he also said that Yordany de Los Santos was a victim of the stupid elimination of the short season leagues between complex and Low A, and not to give up on him based on his struggles at Bradenton. Finally, he has my other fave, Shalin Polanco, in the other category, but pointed out that he was only 19 last year and has the tools to succeed.
I dunno. His platoon or possible platoon issues may mean he’s a reliever if he’s anything at all. Would his stuff tick up in the pen and in shorter outings? My question is how is it determined if a guys stuff will tick up in the pen and if it won’t?
The pen bump typically comes from matters of endurance. Gerrit Cole can hit triple digits on his 100th pitch, so it's unlikely he's hitting like 105 or whatever out of the pen.
Dude's who tend to lose stuff as the pitch count rises inevitably have to throttle themselves in order to make it through 5-6 innings. Those are the types that seem to really pop in the pen.
I’d always thought that loss of stuff was a major issue for guys who are ticketed to the pen. Also health, lack of a third pitch, etc. Sol may not have the ball of clay to do that (kind of a mediocre heater) out of the pen. It WAS his first full year after all, maybe we’ll see an improvement in stuff. Im not optimistic, but who knows.
Kinda would be cool to see Cole throwing 105-110 out of the pen though.
I get what they are saying about Solo. In my opinion this year will tell a lot. I think he started to tire out in his last several starts. Last year he started out decent but not great in Greensboro but after a few starts he was very good to excellent leading to his promotion. When he got to Altoona he kept right on truckin' for several starts looking like at worst a mid rotation starter. I think the work load caught up to him down the stretch, his velocity, control and the ability to repeat his delivery regressed. He was ony 20 years old throwing over 100 (more than doubling the prior year) innings and still didn't look horrible throughout while being in double A the last half.
Glad to hear the discussions between the Marlins and Pirates are on hold at best. If they had any CF prospects, Jazz Chisholm would not be their CF. Other than CF, the Pirates do not have a need to talk with anyone unless it involves a "now" young CF such as Brenton Doyle, Jake Meyers . . . etc. or a young prospect such as Ceddanne Rafaela (24) of the Red Sox, or Everson Pereira (23) NYY. Both are RH hitters.
I am shocked about the Basallo news! He was just recently mentioned in trade rumors for Luzardo. Although being able to continue to hit will be good, it was his defense that needed the most work. Anyhoo…
I could be crazy but I feel like I’m actually coming around on the Yaz deal. Switch hitting catcher, wants a rebound year, wants to mentor Henry. Maybe though Henry goes to AAA to catch for Skenes and Jones.
Maybe Solomento gets an early bump and he’s catching 3/5 of the 2025 rotation. Just saying, because I don’t mind that because I think Grandal will be just fine early this year. Good for the staff too- did everyone see how many white Sox pitchers have been traded or Cease.
Yaz had a role there to be sure.
Like Basallo it’s Henry’s time behind the plate in games that is needed not his bat. It’s surely not his defense in RF when Grandal is catching which would happen with Shelton.
Catch EVERY day in AAA. Delay is the perfect name and role for the show for 2024- see Henry and Skenes come up together, same DAY in early June as hungry DOGS. Ready to Win!
… ok so that’s a bit much, but it should be a boost - so if the team is competitive early, it should support that play, one would think, maybe even push for the wild card.
I personally see Grandal signing as a chance to send Delay back to AAA in order to help Skenes and Jones.
Pirates need to score more runs this year to stay competitive, and for that to happen, they can’t afford to send down one of their potential impact bats, like Davis for 60 games or so, in order for him to improve his defense.
IMHO, they need Davis hitting bombs in PNC and learning from Grandal by spending time with him.
This is exactly the issue with signing Grandal, to be honest. If the Pirates want Davis getting regular PT in the majors, then signing Grandal just gives Shelton an opportunity to reduce that, that having Ali Sanchez or Jason Delay doesn’t. If the Pirates think Hank needs more time in AAA to work on his defense, well, then they f’d up 2023 right good, but I guess it’s good that they are willing to admit their mistakes. But in that case, Grandal is the worst type of signing, because he won’t make us meaningfully better in 2024, and doesn’t offer any hope for the future, either; it’s just more treading water.
Diego Castillo has been claimed again. He is now an Oriole…..
That is pretty crazy given the O’s infield depth. Hard to understand that one. A good test for the O’s development machine.
Could be close on a trade maybe?
I see where the Fish made an offer to Tim Anderson in the last week. That could be the reason a trade with the Pirates is on hold at the moment. If/when Anderson turns it down, it may allow the fish to pull the trigger on the trade. 🤞
Pirates rumored to be in on Whit Merrifield. Hard pass for me. Why they just don't start Triolo there and have Liover serve as the back-up MI is beyond me.
We're saved--the Phillies just signed him. I'm starting to wonder if agents are "leaking" that the Pirates are interested only to drive up prices, knowing that they can say whatever they want and Cherington would be unlikely to ever deny it because he just never says much of anything anyway.
I'd rather them just claim Livan Soto that was just dfa'd by the Orioles. Still young with options and bats left handed for depth. Good fielder no power he'd fit right in lol
They will if they can find the 40-man space. He is Cherington's type through and through... can't make consistent contact, but he rarely lifts the bat off his shoulder and so draws BBs. Claiming him would actually be pretty good... so... the Pirates are probably out... even though he matches their profile.
DFA Williams or put Brubaker on the 60 day IL.
Also... he can play a decent SS and is probably better than Williams... at least at the plate if not in the field. I would drop Williams off the 40-man to pick up Soto in a New York minute.
That's what I was thinking.
I’d be fine with that if one or two of peguero, bae or Gonzales get dealt for a starter. Then merrifiled would slot into 2nd or he Triolo both could just move around the Diamond.
Shelton inherited Hurdle's veteranosity gene.
Nothing would scream "we only trust veterans" louder than signing a guy like Merrifield. The only way that makes sense is if at least 2-3 of Bae, Peguero, Gonzales, and Triolo will be used to find rotation or CF help and Merrifield is to serve as a bridge to Cheng, Jebb, and Johnson.
Regarding the Prospect exhibition, I’m trying to figure out who’s gonna play the field. We are set at pitchers, but man, I’m having a tough time trying to figure out the hitters.
How anyone who saw or read about Cherington's performance yesterday can have confidence in anything he says is beyond comprehension. The guy's either a total Nutting lackey (okay that one's already a given) or simply a con artist who thinks he selling snake oil to a bunch of gullible rubes. "We chased down a lot this winter that ultimately didn't feel like it made sense." (Translation: The boss told me I couldn't buy anything without his permission).
"I would say that we have some desire to bring in another starting pitcher." Really? What a shocking and enlightening revelation. "We do feel like we're better." Operative word there has to be "feel" because no rational thought process could ever arrive at that conclusion particularly the way other teams in the division have actually done things to improve themselves.
He also hinted at the notion that some quality players don't want to play in Pittsburgh as part of the reason he's done so little. That might be the biggest cop-out of them all. The reason they don't want to come here, even if that might occasionally be true, is because they correctly perceive the complete lack of commitment to building a winning team he and Nutting continue to display. Their unwillingness to spend appropriate amounts of money to entice them to come just might also be in play. Self-fulfilling and self-serving notion that acts cyclically to allow them to continue to do as they please with little resistance.
Sorry, I know it's the spring and all fans are supposed to be giddy with optimism about the upcoming season. I was beginning to feel some of that before seeing BC's little exhibition of ineptness and condescending attitude toward fans. He still has time to do something noteworthy with this team but if the lack of interest he showed yesterday is any indication, that is not going to happen.
in his defense, maybe he thinks the prospects are better than any trade that can be made
we already know that no free agent ever wants to come here
Well... players who are actually good expect to receive more than a one-year contract at market value. If you will only give out one-year contracts, then you are going to get junk... and so... the Pirates get junk... year in and year out.
most free agents are a waste of money
home grown is the way to go
I can't think of any free agents that the Rangers signed on their way to winning the World Series this year.
buying a championship is lame anyways
No fear of that with the Pirates.
There probably is a disconnect in how we're valuing our prospects vs. how other teams value our prospects, which is common characteristic of poor GMs.
Since Huntington was fired in large part to a bad trade, I think Ben sees the safest way to keeping his job as not risking trading prospects. Why should he when his boss thinks he's doing a fantastic job with his very conservative approach?
I´d rather see Skenes, Jones, Bubba and Solo than Eduardo Cabrera or Dylan Cease
Those who forget history (Cole, Taillon, Heredia, McPherson, Kingham, Allie all in our 2012 top 9, Huntington's fifth year) are doomed to repeat it.
So, evidently, the money isn't available when the time is right--just another misleading statement by Cherington (the time couldn't have been more right--we have a decent foundation but a need that aligned with the strength of this FA class).
Players will gladly come to Pittsburgh if the money (i.e., commitment to winning) is there--that excuse could apply to Cincinnati and KC, and a few other places, but that hasn't held those organizations back from signing quality players. The excuses this administration comes up with...
Thank you. I frequently sense an undercurrent of “western PA is a hellhole, why would anyone want to come here” among posts I read here. Lotta people think LA, NYC, SF are hellholes. They have no problem attracting FAs.
On a positive note, Mackey had a story about Perez yesterday with Perez saying how much he wanted to play for the Pirates and at PNC.
And I think Chapman said something similar.
The other possibility is that the money could be there, but BC is just a shitty negotiator w/ agents. You've got to know how to play your hand, understand the competition, and what carrots the player/agent are interested in that move the needle.
There's actually a skill-set needed by a small market GM.
He did say earlier this offseason that they were waiting for better deals, and I wonder if he miscalculated the market, or maybe is still waiting.
Sounds like he grossly miscalculated the market, which is prob the reason to “pivot” in January. I would suspect that they had a handful of targets, and they were either too expensive or just didn’t want to sign in Pittsburgh. He vaguely inferred something to the effect that there were a bunch of FA’s that had a predetermined destination or preference, maybe the “preference” he was referring to was anywhere BUT Pittsburgh.
Idk, I think it’s odd that they can’t attract an above average, age-appropriate FA. And, I do think they have tried.
The Pirates will always be in a position of proactively acquiring the Rowdy Tellez's of the world or reactively pivoting to the best value they can find.
You have to be the club willing to go that extra year or extra couple million in AAV otherwise, and that's simply not their MO.
The ZIPs top 100 prospects was just published on fangraphs. Definitely some interesting discrepancies from Longenhagen's list. Worth the read!
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/zips-2024-top-100-prospects/
Michael kennedy in the top 100 was wild
In on Harrington too. And 24(?!) in the top 500 ties us with the Rays for most.
Of course the 2014 list had Gregory Polanco, Alen Hanson, Nick Kingham and other familiar names. I’d feel better about our high-end quality and depth if there was any track record of successful development. So far, there’s been a half-season of Keller and maybe Suwinski to give them credit for.
It's more complicated than this, but at the end of the day there's only been a handful of prospects that have actually done anything elsewhere either. I oscillate back and forth on just how bad Pirate dev has been relative to how bad analyst takes have been when the overwhelming majority of aborted Pirate prospects haven't done anything with other orgs too.
Alen Hanson being a case in point; instead of being a development failure, maybe we all just overreacted to a fluky good year at the age of 19 at a low level. If you ignore that year, then he’s a guy who never walked much, never had much power, and his majors career makes much more sense.
Although if he was able to do it at 19 in A, then why couldn’t he do it at 21 in AA? But we know it doesn’t work like that.
If Robert Murray says it, it's likely to be true. The kid has scored solid scoops since he was 18 (I think) back in Milwaukee.
Or he's figured out that he just has to find the lowest-ceiling guy and say the Pirates will sign him.
In an annual tradition I started on The Asylum, then moved to Pirates Prospects, then Bucs on Deck, I bring you my annual prognistication of who will make the Opening Day roster. A few notes. 100% means that barring injury a player will be on the roster. Anything less than 100% accounts for idea that injuries could occur, giving that player a greater chance to make the roster. Without further ado.
Catchers
Yasmani Grandal…..100%
Henry Davis……………90%
Jason Delay……………20%
Ali Sanchez…………….10%
Abrahan Gutierrez…...0%
Carter Bins……………….0%
.
Yesterday’s surprising comments by Shelton caused me to list Davis at 90%. I suppose if he tanks in Spring Training, there’s a chance he starts in AAA. I have Delay as the favorite over Sanchez.
Send Bednar to O's for Heston Kjerstad.
An All Star and 2nd in MLB with 39 Saves last year for another corner OF? Not following the reasoning or the need.
Two players who are blocked in their ascent to MLB are Nick Gonzales 2B, Pirates and Ceddanne Rafaela CF, Boston Red Sox. The Pirates are very deep in the MI and Gonzales could be right behind Vaughn Grissom who was just traded to Boston and is listed as their starting 2B. Rafaela is a RH hitter and a strong defensive CF. He can step in as the starting CF or platoon with the LH hitting Bae in CF. Get it done Ben!
Unfortunately, I doubt anyone that has seen gonzales swing at a breaking ball believes him to have any value
A look at the Red Sox depth chart shows that the best they project for Rafaela is the 3rd option in CF. They are short MI's and the Pirates are short CF's. I would see both getting better opportunities in MLB after the trade than before.
I like Rafaela as a trade target but I'm not sure if we have a middle infielder they would want (maybe Peguero).
I still like Jorge Barrosa from the Dbacks, I think his fielding is close to Rafaela, without the plus arm. Barrosa doesn't have the power potential either but has way better plate discipline and on base skills.
A plus defensive CF would help the team considerably.
Also would like to target Blaze Jordan from Boston as a potential 1st basemen for the future.
I agree. i don't think Gonzales is blocked at all.. so far he has been either beaten out or not good enough, how ever you want to look at it. I also think that could change but he needs to show he deserves it.
Law’s top 20 on the Bucs on The Athletic…top 5 of Skenes, TJ, Jones, Bubba, Tony Sol.
Most noteworthy thing for me is that he has Lonnie White at 7. As someone who wants to believe in White I found that encouraging. He has Shim at 11, and basically said the sky is the limit given his talent —- he just has to prove it on the field this year.
On the downside, even though he ranks him at 5, he claims that scouts have Solometo as a reliever because he’s having problems repeating his delivery. That would be a huge disappointment.
Let’s see, he also said that Yordany de Los Santos was a victim of the stupid elimination of the short season leagues between complex and Low A, and not to give up on him based on his struggles at Bradenton. Finally, he has my other fave, Shalin Polanco, in the other category, but pointed out that he was only 19 last year and has the tools to succeed.
I don’t think having Sol as a reliever would be a disappointment. Not if he’s an impact reliever and even if he isn’t.
Is that impact reliever stuff?
I dunno. His platoon or possible platoon issues may mean he’s a reliever if he’s anything at all. Would his stuff tick up in the pen and in shorter outings? My question is how is it determined if a guys stuff will tick up in the pen and if it won’t?
I always thought that Hoby Milner is a likely outcome. Maybe not an impact reliever, but an important cog to a good pen.
Agreed on all that.
The pen bump typically comes from matters of endurance. Gerrit Cole can hit triple digits on his 100th pitch, so it's unlikely he's hitting like 105 or whatever out of the pen.
Dude's who tend to lose stuff as the pitch count rises inevitably have to throttle themselves in order to make it through 5-6 innings. Those are the types that seem to really pop in the pen.
I’d always thought that loss of stuff was a major issue for guys who are ticketed to the pen. Also health, lack of a third pitch, etc. Sol may not have the ball of clay to do that (kind of a mediocre heater) out of the pen. It WAS his first full year after all, maybe we’ll see an improvement in stuff. Im not optimistic, but who knows.
Kinda would be cool to see Cole throwing 105-110 out of the pen though.
I get what they are saying about Solo. In my opinion this year will tell a lot. I think he started to tire out in his last several starts. Last year he started out decent but not great in Greensboro but after a few starts he was very good to excellent leading to his promotion. When he got to Altoona he kept right on truckin' for several starts looking like at worst a mid rotation starter. I think the work load caught up to him down the stretch, his velocity, control and the ability to repeat his delivery regressed. He was ony 20 years old throwing over 100 (more than doubling the prior year) innings and still didn't look horrible throughout while being in double A the last half.
I hadn’t seen ours was released. Thanks.
Glad to hear the discussions between the Marlins and Pirates are on hold at best. If they had any CF prospects, Jazz Chisholm would not be their CF. Other than CF, the Pirates do not have a need to talk with anyone unless it involves a "now" young CF such as Brenton Doyle, Jake Meyers . . . etc. or a young prospect such as Ceddanne Rafaela (24) of the Red Sox, or Everson Pereira (23) NYY. Both are RH hitters.
An Oriole gets hurt - cry me a river.
I am shocked about the Basallo news! He was just recently mentioned in trade rumors for Luzardo. Although being able to continue to hit will be good, it was his defense that needed the most work. Anyhoo…
I could be crazy but I feel like I’m actually coming around on the Yaz deal. Switch hitting catcher, wants a rebound year, wants to mentor Henry. Maybe though Henry goes to AAA to catch for Skenes and Jones.
Maybe Solomento gets an early bump and he’s catching 3/5 of the 2025 rotation. Just saying, because I don’t mind that because I think Grandal will be just fine early this year. Good for the staff too- did everyone see how many white Sox pitchers have been traded or Cease.
Yaz had a role there to be sure.
Like Basallo it’s Henry’s time behind the plate in games that is needed not his bat. It’s surely not his defense in RF when Grandal is catching which would happen with Shelton.
Catch EVERY day in AAA. Delay is the perfect name and role for the show for 2024- see Henry and Skenes come up together, same DAY in early June as hungry DOGS. Ready to Win!
… ok so that’s a bit much, but it should be a boost - so if the team is competitive early, it should support that play, one would think, maybe even push for the wild card.
I personally see Grandal signing as a chance to send Delay back to AAA in order to help Skenes and Jones.
Pirates need to score more runs this year to stay competitive, and for that to happen, they can’t afford to send down one of their potential impact bats, like Davis for 60 games or so, in order for him to improve his defense.
IMHO, they need Davis hitting bombs in PNC and learning from Grandal by spending time with him.
This is exactly the issue with signing Grandal, to be honest. If the Pirates want Davis getting regular PT in the majors, then signing Grandal just gives Shelton an opportunity to reduce that, that having Ali Sanchez or Jason Delay doesn’t. If the Pirates think Hank needs more time in AAA to work on his defense, well, then they f’d up 2023 right good, but I guess it’s good that they are willing to admit their mistakes. But in that case, Grandal is the worst type of signing, because he won’t make us meaningfully better in 2024, and doesn’t offer any hope for the future, either; it’s just more treading water.