slightly off topic, but a question for you and for really.......the whole group. At this point, we could still use an outfielder (much more than a catcher) and yet I have heard nothing about interest in someone with power, whom wouldn't demand a big or long term contract. I'm talking about Adam Duvall. For the life of me, i cannot fathom why we wouldn't want him on a 1 or even 2 year deal given our lack of outfield prospects
its good that noone could call our starting 5 anything close to a MLB staff at this point. He's got to sick or swim. we have to find out what we have, and we have to do it now. Either to increase his value to trade, or to know we are all in on Endy. We can't hold back a #1 draftpick for Gary Sanchez
It honestly makes less sense to move him behind the plate for a temporary year while Endy heals. It shows zero long term planning for Hank. If you want to sink or swim with him, put him in right.
He needs to develop to see if he can legitimately share catcher, be traded for something we need, or allow us to move endy when he heals. Hank has no future in thenoutfield and it kills his trade value. Way too often fans and writers dont understand the need for small markets to optimize player value at all costs. Hanks greatest value is at a catcher, he only should be moved off of it if he fails.
If he can’t catch (and it’s looking like he’s awful at it) what’s his trade value then? Player value doesn’t mean much if the guy can’t play the actual position. So if he fails behind the plate (looking likely) how do you market him to potential trade partners? As a DH?
Arky.... I highly doubt that anyone has seen him enough at catcher at any level or during the offseason training to make that assertion. Being mlb ready to catch in 2023 and being able to develop into a passable catcher with massive offensive upside in 2024 and beyond are two different things. You will need to come to grips that a catcher with 30 hr potential is rare but it is not rare at OF, we could go get Adam duvall to.do that for 10m today. So... to maximize his value he must spend 2024 at catcher, and whether he fails or not, worst case scenario is that hed have the same value to the firm a year from now as he does today if we give up on his catching now and move him to OF or first base.
Davis is so talented behind the plate they couldn’t wait to not play him there for even half a game. Yet you’re trying to persuade me that an offseason of work behind the plate will make him passable. I’d put the chances at that around 5%. Also if he keeps playing there, that doesn’t really make him passable; that just means they’re trying to shoehorn him into the role and unwilling to admit he isn’t a catcher.
They’re not signing Duvall. You should probably accept that.
There’s a lot of risk. He’s had some injury issues so what if he gets hurt early on. Do we have to table that decision on whether he can catch again? And actually, NO, he wouldn’t have the same value if he proved this year he can’t catch. Then we’ve got two years in a row of him as a butcher at two different positions, with negative defensive value.
Basically no risk at all to keep as catcher and still a ton of potential reward. I dont give a crap about 2024, we are not a contender yet. Losing oviedo and endy this offseason just cost us 2024. Debate it if you want, but im being realistic. This year you develop your young arms for the rotation, henry behind the plate, and you answer your 2nd base question with whom weve got, then everything is set for a real chance in 2025 to win a division
Kiley has his organizational prospect rankings up today, and while he has nice things to say about our core, we only rank 14th overall and 4th! in the NL Central.
12th from BA which also just dropped. Seems kind, tbh.
They ranked the system 24th in 2020 while being led by Keller, Hayes, and Cruz up top. We'll be exceptionally lucky to get three players of such quality out of the 2024 group.
Facts. Probably means we should have been ranked higher in 2020 honestly. I don't think 23 other teams ended up with that kind of talent from their best 3 prospects that year
I think you see a lot of volatility in the Pirates' rankings because of their ineptitude at development. It introduces a wild card element that surfaces erratically, 2023 being an extreme example.
Jesus….please no. That guy shouldn’t do my kids U8 travel ball games. He is extremely annoying and not good…I will never understand why people think that hack is good
Haha, I missed that. As someone who lives in NC and makes my way over to Greensboro a few times a year and is tortured by that man, this is no laughing matter!
I only got to hear his calls when AM used to post daily video highlights on the previous site, my initial reaction was “ who is this clown?” Then I decided that it was so ridiculous that all I could do is laugh. Just don’t play it loud if you have dogs!
So clearly Cherington is following the Huntington playbook, but the only question is which of the following steps in a rebuild such a signing would meet:
You look at Gary Sanchez and those offensive numbers jump out at you. I saw him in spring training hit into a groundball double play where he didn't take more than 3 steps out of the batter's box. Yankee fans were tired of him and the word is most pitchers don't think he puts in the needed time to be a catcher. These are mostly rumors, but I think there is a reason no one signed him until late last year and the same is happening this year.
From a defensive point or leadership role, it won't be a steal. From an offensive point, it should be a steal. However, I'm not sure the Pirates will like that .217 batting average to go along with homering ever 12 at bats. I think they will try to change his approach and make him into .220 hitter with homers every 60 at bats. Hey, that is what Endy's numbers were last year.
Interesting how they've been so successful integrating prospects into the show and yet Jackson Holiday is arguably their first in a long line to be promoted aggressively.
Orioles and Brewers - 2 organizations doing exactly what the Pirates wish they could. Brewers looking like Tampa-lite & I wouldn’t be surprised if they flip Adames to keep the pipeline stocked.
Didn’t we have a chance to hire Matt Arnold instead of BC?
Orioles cleaned house and hired the #2 guy from the most successful organization in the mid-2010s who brought one of the top few analytic minds in baseball with him.
The Pirates cleaned house and hired the #5 guy of a club with two successful years in the last two decades who brought a development director from an org who was shitcanning everyone for their failure to develop prospects.
You raise a fascinating point about Baker and MLB in general. The Pirates aren’t unique in making “reputation” based hires of people who come from org’s with questionable track records. Look at the White Sox loading up on former Royals personnel.
It’s exactly the opposite in the NFL. If the Rays were in the NFL you’d have teams hiring their hot dog vendors trying to get an edge. Don’t get me wrong the Rays (and other successful teams) have been raided a little bit, but not to the extent you’d expect given their success.
I also don't think it's fair to bury guys just because they were under unsuccessful execs nor value ones who had little to do with clubs who were successful.
It's just awfully coincidental that a successful club like the Brewers won under David Stearns (Astros) and Mat Arnold (Rays), and a successful club like the Orioles is winning under two guys from the Astros.
Of course, the Dbacks are winning under two dudes ( Hazen and Sawdaye) who literally worked under the Ben Cherington Red Sox.
Like most things, I think there’s a happy medium between the MLB approach which seems to emphasize reputation versus the NFL, which seems to emphasize recent success. Of course it isn’t fair to bury people just because they happen to work for a mismanaged organization, but at the same time, you would think you would at least start by looking for hires within organizations who competently perform the skills you’re seeking. Throughout the league I don’t see much of a correlation to that. If I was looking for a player development guy, the Cubs are one of the last places I’d look. Their prior record with development, and pitching especially, is atrocious.
I wonder how much we paid the search firm that brought us Cherington? And it all started at the top: Nutting valued a PR guy over a baseball guy for president which made a search firm necessary, and search firms tend to go with those with experience and who are well connected. We missed our chance to find a real innovator when we started down that path by hiring Williams.
DL Hall is a lefty, and misses many more bats than Q. Also Ortiz sounds much more likely to stick at short than Peggy. I don’t think that’s particularly close.
I'm guessing there's very little value with Peguero and Priester.
Probably more like Jones and a lesser version of Johnson.
For the O's this reminds me of the Cole trade to Houston...They're trading players they don't need. Ortiz didn't have a future in balt's infield and Hall is a failed starter like Musgrove was in Houston. The difference is the 34th pick, but those have a high rate of failure. On the surface this is a HUGE win for the O's.
They get to give Burnes a QO if they don't extend him and will receive a pick between the 1st round and competitive 1st round. So they basically swapped one of their 2 extra 1st round picks this year for one in 2025 if not extended.
Right, so the pick is a wash (just exchanging an extra pick in '24 for one in '25). I think the Peguero and Priester comp is reasonable if we step back a year or two. Unfortunately, their struggles in the majors have lowered their value. It's why we sometimes need to trade prospects sooner than later.
That's totally a reasonable comp. Priester and Peguero are younger and have just lost some of their prospect shine. The big difference is being in the same division as Milwaukee.
I'd say it's more like Key and Ortiz. Joey has an elite glove, and hits the ball hard, but hard into the ground. Hall has quality stuff, but has had trouble throwing strikes.
Welll... Burnes will be receiving a qualifying offer at the end of next season, unless he tears his elbow up: an offer that he will reject, so the team that had him all season and made the offer (in this case Baltimore) will receive a compensation pick if they do not resign him. Giving Milwaukee the #34 pick just makes up for the pick that Milwaukee would lose, and Baltimore will receive this pick back if they do not sign Burnes to an extension.
Good point. Thought I was going to be a part time Mariners fan but Orioles are making it tough. And I did party at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore a few times. Never been further than Cleveland westward. This is me thinking out loud but Orioles it may be. Thanks for the inspiration Mr. Borealus. Happy Groundhogs Day.
My favorite teams in order are 1) Pirates 2) Royals 3) Rangers 4) Diamondbacks. And that was long before this season, so you can imagine how happy I was with the World Series. Also... only the 2nd time in 30+ years that I team that I like has won the World Series. Happy times.
Never had much love for any other MLB team but the Bucs ( I do love the Mets TV broadcast crew though, eastern PA blacked out Pirates games growing up so I watched my dad's Mets lose instead)
As for favorite player, obviously Bay! Best Canadian baseball player ever (Votto who?)
My older brother moved to the Burgh when I was real young, we went to visit and saw this happen at a Bucs game and I've loved them ever since!
My favorite teams are the Pirates, Pirates and the Pirates.
When I was a kid, it was KC due to Bo and the Blue Jays. Loved those WS teams and was a huge fan of Devon White. My opinion, he's the best defensive CF'er I've ever seen. Dude just glided out there.
My favorite position player as a kid was George Brett and so began my love for the Royals. My favorite player was Nolan Ryan... and so began my love for the Rangers, but I also was a big fan of Charlie Hough (and every knuckleballer since actually.)
Can't say I ever liked any other team all that much. Just know which teams I don't like. As I wrote the previous comment I thought two things. Both covered in this song and name of the band. Life imitating music.
I'm pro signing Sanchez. Even though it brings about even more of what I was saying yesterday in comments about a roster that as a whole has very odd construction, Gary was a quality defender AND hitter last year. Two-for-one at catcher. Issue is what do you do with Tank then? In which case, give him a 1B mitt lol
Really looking that way. Starting to think maybe they are going the Phillies-lite version. "We don't care if you field your position well, just hit nukes"
I do like adding gary the player, but just makes the handling of tank even more of a royal fuckup if he has been spending the whole offseason prepping as a catcher. I can't think of any other org that has screwed up a 1-1 in the basics of not giving him a position. That said, would probably put tank at 1b or RF, in which case a connor joe trade would make sense
Davis was rushed last year, and I don’t know if sending him back to AAA is not a bad idea. If he had hit last year in the bigs I would argue against it. But didn’t hit and didn’t catch so unless he hammers the ball against MLB pitching in ST I believe that he should be in AAA if the team were to sign Sanchez.
4 career innings at 1B lol but, it's hard to know his market being this late in off-season, cause I'd imagine you aren't signing Gary under the notion he's playing 1B after the strong year he had on both sides. Let Tank begin his Freddie Freeman arc, and plug him at 1B lol
Would certainly make the team better, i still think the fucked up managing tank if thats what they do. But this would still be more time to learn a position than they gave him for RF last year so improvement
It would seem to close the book on Davis at C, and probably move Olivares to a bench role and entrench Cutch at DH with Davis in RF. And you're right, it would continue our odd roster construction. But it would also strengthen our lineup so would be a net positive.
Regarding Burnes, happy for Orioles fans. He could be just what they need to win Manfred’s piece of metal this year.
Seems like a good thing for Pirates, and other NL Central clubs, on the surface, too. Brewers will likely take a step back this year, especially if they also trade Adames so the SS they acquired can take over.
Brewers are trying to thread the window of contention needle by trading away Burnes right after spending to bring in Hoskins and giving top prospect, Jackson Churrio, a long-term deal. Gonna be interesting to see how it plays out for them.
Regardless, as a fan it sure beats the tear it down to the studs and suck for several years approach the Pirates took. Maybe BN will learn a lesson from Rays and Brewers on how to operate a small market team?
You can avoid long rebuilds if you operate the way the Brewers are here. It’s all about knowing when to hit the retool button. Also, notice that they emphasized quality over quantity in the trade returns.
A very nice move by the Orioles trading two high prospects who are blocked at the MLB level, so they will never miss them. Hall was moved to the BP and Ortiz would always be looking up at guys like Henderson and Holliday.
Gary Sanchez? He would not be on my wish list at this point in the Pirates REBUILD!
It's a gain, in essence for the NL Central, but the Brewers aren't short on pitching prospects themselves: Hall, Misiorowski, and Gasser are Top 100. Not to mention they have recent history of development success. Add in they aren't shy about starting players in the majors (extending Chourio, who will likely begin in MLB), and Ortiz himself will be PPI eligible.
They also are fairly flush with some infield options so I wouldn't be surprised if they filled in with another arm since ortiz is adding some crowd to their roster. Also, if they keep/sell adames will be interesting
I think Adames will go to the Giants, Marlins or Red Sox. Dodgers would be on the next tier, I think they'll give Lux a long look in spring training. If Lux looks bad, the Dodgers would jump to the top.
Which is kind of funny if you think about it, cause they do also have Tyler Black. They could go with a very quality youth movement of players that were all Top 100 within last year: Black, Ortiz, Chourio, and some mixture of Mitchell/Chourio/Frelick. To go with Hoskins, Yelich, Contreras, and Adames.
The Reds and Brewers creating the Pirates dream lineups loaded with prospects lol
Yes, knowing the Brewers, they'll be just fine. It wouldn't even surprise me if Hall was in a couple of WAR of Burnes, the way the Brewers have success with pitchers. In any case, I'd be surprised if the Brewers don't have another move coming that will keep them as division favorites.
Well within our budget
slightly off topic, but a question for you and for really.......the whole group. At this point, we could still use an outfielder (much more than a catcher) and yet I have heard nothing about interest in someone with power, whom wouldn't demand a big or long term contract. I'm talking about Adam Duvall. For the life of me, i cannot fathom why we wouldn't want him on a 1 or even 2 year deal given our lack of outfield prospects
Him, or I'd be for Michael A Taylor, who'd push Jack to RF
I'd still go the cheap route with a trade for Jorge Barrosa. Strong defense, good speed and on base potential.
Gary S would be a really nice addition. Davis is not in any capacity to lead an MLB staff.
its good that noone could call our starting 5 anything close to a MLB staff at this point. He's got to sick or swim. we have to find out what we have, and we have to do it now. Either to increase his value to trade, or to know we are all in on Endy. We can't hold back a #1 draftpick for Gary Sanchez
It honestly makes less sense to move him behind the plate for a temporary year while Endy heals. It shows zero long term planning for Hank. If you want to sink or swim with him, put him in right.
He needs to develop to see if he can legitimately share catcher, be traded for something we need, or allow us to move endy when he heals. Hank has no future in thenoutfield and it kills his trade value. Way too often fans and writers dont understand the need for small markets to optimize player value at all costs. Hanks greatest value is at a catcher, he only should be moved off of it if he fails.
If he can’t catch (and it’s looking like he’s awful at it) what’s his trade value then? Player value doesn’t mean much if the guy can’t play the actual position. So if he fails behind the plate (looking likely) how do you market him to potential trade partners? As a DH?
Arky.... I highly doubt that anyone has seen him enough at catcher at any level or during the offseason training to make that assertion. Being mlb ready to catch in 2023 and being able to develop into a passable catcher with massive offensive upside in 2024 and beyond are two different things. You will need to come to grips that a catcher with 30 hr potential is rare but it is not rare at OF, we could go get Adam duvall to.do that for 10m today. So... to maximize his value he must spend 2024 at catcher, and whether he fails or not, worst case scenario is that hed have the same value to the firm a year from now as he does today if we give up on his catching now and move him to OF or first base.
Davis is so talented behind the plate they couldn’t wait to not play him there for even half a game. Yet you’re trying to persuade me that an offseason of work behind the plate will make him passable. I’d put the chances at that around 5%. Also if he keeps playing there, that doesn’t really make him passable; that just means they’re trying to shoehorn him into the role and unwilling to admit he isn’t a catcher.
They’re not signing Duvall. You should probably accept that.
There’s a lot of risk. He’s had some injury issues so what if he gets hurt early on. Do we have to table that decision on whether he can catch again? And actually, NO, he wouldn’t have the same value if he proved this year he can’t catch. Then we’ve got two years in a row of him as a butcher at two different positions, with negative defensive value.
Basically no risk at all to keep as catcher and still a ton of potential reward. I dont give a crap about 2024, we are not a contender yet. Losing oviedo and endy this offseason just cost us 2024. Debate it if you want, but im being realistic. This year you develop your young arms for the rotation, henry behind the plate, and you answer your 2nd base question with whom weve got, then everything is set for a real chance in 2025 to win a division
let him learn his craft in the minors.
Kiley has his organizational prospect rankings up today, and while he has nice things to say about our core, we only rank 14th overall and 4th! in the NL Central.
Oof
12th from BA which also just dropped. Seems kind, tbh.
They ranked the system 24th in 2020 while being led by Keller, Hayes, and Cruz up top. We'll be exceptionally lucky to get three players of such quality out of the 2024 group.
Facts. Probably means we should have been ranked higher in 2020 honestly. I don't think 23 other teams ended up with that kind of talent from their best 3 prospects that year
Couldn't agree more; I remember making the argument at the time that such a ranking was a demonstration of how out of touch BA had become.
FanGraphs had them 4th (which was probably equally egregious from the other direction) and Pipeline was almost an exact average at 15.
I think BA has gotten better, but that was a very poor showing.
I think you see a lot of volatility in the Pirates' rankings because of their ineptitude at development. It introduces a wild card element that surfaces erratically, 2023 being an extreme example.
That shouldnt matter. Prospect rankings should be all player related, not system related.
Also fair.
Brault heading toward the booth
Here´s hoping for play by play instead of color guy?
I thought he was pregame and postgame like the Fort?
maybe the two of them will take over Robbie´s job
or maybe they hire some broad...
bring back Trenni
No chance! I want the Greenhoppers’ play by play guy!
Jesus….please no. That guy shouldn’t do my kids U8 travel ball games. He is extremely annoying and not good…I will never understand why people think that hack is good
It was sarcasm, I even used the font! His home runs calls make chuckle each time he does them.
Haha, I missed that. As someone who lives in NC and makes my way over to Greensboro a few times a year and is tortured by that man, this is no laughing matter!
I only got to hear his calls when AM used to post daily video highlights on the previous site, my initial reaction was “ who is this clown?” Then I decided that it was so ridiculous that all I could do is laugh. Just don’t play it loud if you have dogs!
I saw that, and I think he'll be great.
I dont believe the Sanchez rumors because that would mean Keller wouldnt be throwing to Delay
Gaby Sanchez, sweet!
So clearly Cherington is following the Huntington playbook, but the only question is which of the following steps in a rebuild such a signing would meet:
1. Acquire a former Yankees catcher, or
2. Acquire a Sanchez.
Then send him to the minors until he produces. Then eventually DFA him like most of the other former Yankees.
You look at Gary Sanchez and those offensive numbers jump out at you. I saw him in spring training hit into a groundball double play where he didn't take more than 3 steps out of the batter's box. Yankee fans were tired of him and the word is most pitchers don't think he puts in the needed time to be a catcher. These are mostly rumors, but I think there is a reason no one signed him until late last year and the same is happening this year.
Not exactly a fantastic role model for Hank
Sooooo, what you're saying is, the Pirates should be able to get him for a steal. And by steal, market rate for a year? Plus option? Lol
From a defensive point or leadership role, it won't be a steal. From an offensive point, it should be a steal. However, I'm not sure the Pirates will like that .217 batting average to go along with homering ever 12 at bats. I think they will try to change his approach and make him into .220 hitter with homers every 60 at bats. Hey, that is what Endy's numbers were last year.
I have horse blinders in this moment. All I see is 111 wRC+ and 7 DRS lol
An above-avg wRC+ is the disease and Andy Haines is the cure.
Robert Smith is the Cure.
Also a fairly accomplished running back. Dude didn't fumble very often.
lol.... well he is the most important component of the cure
Gary Sanchez...I sure hope that is all smoke on him for Pirates...
No need to worry.
Orioles well done...they have drafted very well, developed well and now have traded well, good for Baltimore...
Interesting how they've been so successful integrating prospects into the show and yet Jackson Holiday is arguably their first in a long line to be promoted aggressively.
Orioles and Brewers - 2 organizations doing exactly what the Pirates wish they could. Brewers looking like Tampa-lite & I wouldn’t be surprised if they flip Adames to keep the pipeline stocked.
Didn’t we have a chance to hire Matt Arnold instead of BC?
I don't believe Matt Arnold went to Andover.
This is where I get to be envious that the Orioles appear to have someone in charge who knows what they are doing, right?
Orioles cleaned house and hired the #2 guy from the most successful organization in the mid-2010s who brought one of the top few analytic minds in baseball with him.
The Pirates cleaned house and hired the #5 guy of a club with two successful years in the last two decades who brought a development director from an org who was shitcanning everyone for their failure to develop prospects.
You reap what you sow.
You raise a fascinating point about Baker and MLB in general. The Pirates aren’t unique in making “reputation” based hires of people who come from org’s with questionable track records. Look at the White Sox loading up on former Royals personnel.
It’s exactly the opposite in the NFL. If the Rays were in the NFL you’d have teams hiring their hot dog vendors trying to get an edge. Don’t get me wrong the Rays (and other successful teams) have been raided a little bit, but not to the extent you’d expect given their success.
Interesting perspective.
I also don't think it's fair to bury guys just because they were under unsuccessful execs nor value ones who had little to do with clubs who were successful.
It's just awfully coincidental that a successful club like the Brewers won under David Stearns (Astros) and Mat Arnold (Rays), and a successful club like the Orioles is winning under two guys from the Astros.
Of course, the Dbacks are winning under two dudes ( Hazen and Sawdaye) who literally worked under the Ben Cherington Red Sox.
We just can't have nice things.
Like most things, I think there’s a happy medium between the MLB approach which seems to emphasize reputation versus the NFL, which seems to emphasize recent success. Of course it isn’t fair to bury people just because they happen to work for a mismanaged organization, but at the same time, you would think you would at least start by looking for hires within organizations who competently perform the skills you’re seeking. Throughout the league I don’t see much of a correlation to that. If I was looking for a player development guy, the Cubs are one of the last places I’d look. Their prior record with development, and pitching especially, is atrocious.
I wonder how much we paid the search firm that brought us Cherington? And it all started at the top: Nutting valued a PR guy over a baseball guy for president which made a search firm necessary, and search firms tend to go with those with experience and who are well connected. We missed our chance to find a real innovator when we started down that path by hiring Williams.
I believe every bit of that.
That he hired a search firm only to select a literal clone of Huntington calls into question what the search firm was for.
Well they both went to Amherst, Bob still thinks they went to Andover.
I beaned a kid from Andover once (by accident... but it felt satifsying).
I thought they went to allderdice
It's one of those that starts with an A.
Just surprised he hasn't hired someone from Williams yet, his favorite New England school or did he just go there.
Even if they don’t, they’re at least trying.
this is a very easy comp for the Pirates. Ortiz is basically Peguero. Hall is basically Priester. Plus the #34 pick.
I'd have a hard time doing that for us but that's what it's supposed to be like in a trade.
DL Hall is a lefty, and misses many more bats than Q. Also Ortiz sounds much more likely to stick at short than Peggy. I don’t think that’s particularly close.
I'm guessing there's very little value with Peguero and Priester.
Probably more like Jones and a lesser version of Johnson.
For the O's this reminds me of the Cole trade to Houston...They're trading players they don't need. Ortiz didn't have a future in balt's infield and Hall is a failed starter like Musgrove was in Houston. The difference is the 34th pick, but those have a high rate of failure. On the surface this is a HUGE win for the O's.
Only 1 season of Burnes though. Unless they go to WS, I can’t see it as a HUGE win for O’s no matter how poorly the pieces they traded away do.
They get to give Burnes a QO if they don't extend him and will receive a pick between the 1st round and competitive 1st round. So they basically swapped one of their 2 extra 1st round picks this year for one in 2025 if not extended.
Right, so the pick is a wash (just exchanging an extra pick in '24 for one in '25). I think the Peguero and Priester comp is reasonable if we step back a year or two. Unfortunately, their struggles in the majors have lowered their value. It's why we sometimes need to trade prospects sooner than later.
That's totally a reasonable comp. Priester and Peguero are younger and have just lost some of their prospect shine. The big difference is being in the same division as Milwaukee.
I'd say it's more like Key and Ortiz. Joey has an elite glove, and hits the ball hard, but hard into the ground. Hall has quality stuff, but has had trouble throwing strikes.
Welll... Burnes will be receiving a qualifying offer at the end of next season, unless he tears his elbow up: an offer that he will reject, so the team that had him all season and made the offer (in this case Baltimore) will receive a compensation pick if they do not resign him. Giving Milwaukee the #34 pick just makes up for the pick that Milwaukee would lose, and Baltimore will receive this pick back if they do not sign Burnes to an extension.
Good point. Thought I was going to be a part time Mariners fan but Orioles are making it tough. And I did party at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore a few times. Never been further than Cleveland westward. This is me thinking out loud but Orioles it may be. Thanks for the inspiration Mr. Borealus. Happy Groundhogs Day.
My favorite teams in order are 1) Pirates 2) Royals 3) Rangers 4) Diamondbacks. And that was long before this season, so you can imagine how happy I was with the World Series. Also... only the 2nd time in 30+ years that I team that I like has won the World Series. Happy times.
Never had much love for any other MLB team but the Bucs ( I do love the Mets TV broadcast crew though, eastern PA blacked out Pirates games growing up so I watched my dad's Mets lose instead)
As for favorite player, obviously Bay! Best Canadian baseball player ever (Votto who?)
My older brother moved to the Burgh when I was real young, we went to visit and saw this happen at a Bucs game and I've loved them ever since!
https://youtu.be/wBHWRpoeIXk?si=4HCIvcSgHcwKiBcR
Dang. The helmet shot at end was intense. Solly didn't looked bothered at all
My favorite teams are the Pirates, Pirates and the Pirates.
When I was a kid, it was KC due to Bo and the Blue Jays. Loved those WS teams and was a huge fan of Devon White. My opinion, he's the best defensive CF'er I've ever seen. Dude just glided out there.
My favorite position player as a kid was George Brett and so began my love for the Royals. My favorite player was Nolan Ryan... and so began my love for the Rangers, but I also was a big fan of Charlie Hough (and every knuckleballer since actually.)
Can't say I ever liked any other team all that much. Just know which teams I don't like. As I wrote the previous comment I thought two things. Both covered in this song and name of the band. Life imitating music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZUz4C6kqk
I'm pro signing Sanchez. Even though it brings about even more of what I was saying yesterday in comments about a roster that as a whole has very odd construction, Gary was a quality defender AND hitter last year. Two-for-one at catcher. Issue is what do you do with Tank then? In which case, give him a 1B mitt lol
I get the vibe that this FO doesn’t put a lot of stock in coherent roster construction.
Really looking that way. Starting to think maybe they are going the Phillies-lite version. "We don't care if you field your position well, just hit nukes"
give us a harper and maybe it would work. Trading Harper for BRey doesn't cut it
That's why it's Phillies-lite lol
I do like adding gary the player, but just makes the handling of tank even more of a royal fuckup if he has been spending the whole offseason prepping as a catcher. I can't think of any other org that has screwed up a 1-1 in the basics of not giving him a position. That said, would probably put tank at 1b or RF, in which case a connor joe trade would make sense
Has gary played any 1b in his career?
Maybe then Davis gets moved for pitching…
Maybe the off-season work Davis did has shown he is not a catcher much like his work at the position in the minors.
Davis was rushed last year, and I don’t know if sending him back to AAA is not a bad idea. If he had hit last year in the bigs I would argue against it. But didn’t hit and didn’t catch so unless he hammers the ball against MLB pitching in ST I believe that he should be in AAA if the team were to sign Sanchez.
4 career innings at 1B lol but, it's hard to know his market being this late in off-season, cause I'd imagine you aren't signing Gary under the notion he's playing 1B after the strong year he had on both sides. Let Tank begin his Freddie Freeman arc, and plug him at 1B lol
Would certainly make the team better, i still think the fucked up managing tank if thats what they do. But this would still be more time to learn a position than they gave him for RF last year so improvement
Snell apparently loved throwing to him, so maybe is a package deal…….Im kidding!
It would seem to close the book on Davis at C, and probably move Olivares to a bench role and entrench Cutch at DH with Davis in RF. And you're right, it would continue our odd roster construction. But it would also strengthen our lineup so would be a net positive.
He had a couple stops elsewhere, but this is Ben's Russell moment. Grab the ex-Yankees catcher.
these two players have just about nothing in common other than they both use a catchers mit.
And played for the Yankees, which is really the only connection I was making
Regarding Burnes, happy for Orioles fans. He could be just what they need to win Manfred’s piece of metal this year.
Seems like a good thing for Pirates, and other NL Central clubs, on the surface, too. Brewers will likely take a step back this year, especially if they also trade Adames so the SS they acquired can take over.
Brewers are trying to thread the window of contention needle by trading away Burnes right after spending to bring in Hoskins and giving top prospect, Jackson Churrio, a long-term deal. Gonna be interesting to see how it plays out for them.
Regardless, as a fan it sure beats the tear it down to the studs and suck for several years approach the Pirates took. Maybe BN will learn a lesson from Rays and Brewers on how to operate a small market team?
Not holding my breath.
You can avoid long rebuilds if you operate the way the Brewers are here. It’s all about knowing when to hit the retool button. Also, notice that they emphasized quality over quantity in the trade returns.
A very nice move by the Orioles trading two high prospects who are blocked at the MLB level, so they will never miss them. Hall was moved to the BP and Ortiz would always be looking up at guys like Henderson and Holliday.
Gary Sanchez? He would not be on my wish list at this point in the Pirates REBUILD!
Seems like BC want's to move Tank back to the outfield, lol. Sanchez doesn't move the needle for me in terms of meeting the outfield or sp problems.
Not understanding why we aren't hearing about Adam Duvall
Maybe if he would settle for a million but he made seven million last year.
It's a gain, in essence for the NL Central, but the Brewers aren't short on pitching prospects themselves: Hall, Misiorowski, and Gasser are Top 100. Not to mention they have recent history of development success. Add in they aren't shy about starting players in the majors (extending Chourio, who will likely begin in MLB), and Ortiz himself will be PPI eligible.
They also are fairly flush with some infield options so I wouldn't be surprised if they filled in with another arm since ortiz is adding some crowd to their roster. Also, if they keep/sell adames will be interesting
Adames to the Dodgers for Gavin Stone+.
I think Adames will go to the Giants, Marlins or Red Sox. Dodgers would be on the next tier, I think they'll give Lux a long look in spring training. If Lux looks bad, the Dodgers would jump to the top.
Which is kind of funny if you think about it, cause they do also have Tyler Black. They could go with a very quality youth movement of players that were all Top 100 within last year: Black, Ortiz, Chourio, and some mixture of Mitchell/Chourio/Frelick. To go with Hoskins, Yelich, Contreras, and Adames.
The Reds and Brewers creating the Pirates dream lineups loaded with prospects lol
As I said to melkel last night, why does it seem like almost every other org is better at this than we are lol
I know I'd do things differently and probably be under the budget Ben has used so far lol.
I keep asking myself that question lol
I don’t even have to ask the question because the answer is so obvious: it seems like they are better because they are better.
Yes, knowing the Brewers, they'll be just fine. It wouldn't even surprise me if Hall was in a couple of WAR of Burnes, the way the Brewers have success with pitchers. In any case, I'd be surprised if the Brewers don't have another move coming that will keep them as division favorites.