Just saw that. Look, Parker was my favorite Pirate post-Clemente. The slashing line drives, the arm, the swagger. He was a 14th round draft pick by the way, because teams were gun shy because of a high school knee injury playing football.
But I can be objective: his Hall of Fame case is borderline. Bill James distinguishes between peak value and long-term value. Peak Parker —- 1975-1979 —- was a no doubt, first ballot Hall of Famer. But between drugs and messing up his knees, he was not the player he could have been post peak.
But I’m not going to nitpick this decision. I’m really glad he made it, and made it while he is still alive to celebrate.
Yep, having 4 open slots on the 40 man with several dfa players occupying others, they could probably take 2 and not worry about it. Magdaleno would work, I don't think he'll make it to the pirates though
Carlos Duran from the Dodgers is another guy I'd take a chance on, big guy with a great slider, good sinker. A move to the pen might add a tick or 2, for the risk, the reward could be enormous.
Brian Magdaleno has potential as a lefty For $100,000 and a roster spot, worth the gamble to see if anyone in MLB can touch his stuff.
The guy I would really like them to take though is Evan Reifert. Not a lefty, but IMO, the best option available in the rule 5 and a potential shutdown reliever going forward (if he can stay healthy). The fact that the Rays left him unprotected may be an indication that his health is not great though.
My worse trade idea yet! Bellinger for Hayes and IKF, Triolo takes over 3b and move Nick to SS with Peguero backing him and Yorke at 2nd. Bellinger takes over LF and BRey to RF. Ortiz to Cleveland for Naylor with Burrows taking his spot in the rotation. For those who don’t waste time at the trade value site, Bellinger has like a -7 value and Hayes -4 and IKF -.5. The net salary for Bellinger if you subtract Hayes and IKF salaries is about $15 million.
If we can afford $10 mil for Chapman last year, and $8 mil for Perez, then we can spend $20 mil per year for 4 years to get Anthony Santander who has averaged hitting in 155+ games in each of the last 3 years, and he is a good OF. Lineup for opening day - IKF, Reynolds, Cruz, Santander, Hayes, Bart/Rodriguez, etc. We can afford Santander - this franchise needs to be at a salary level of about $100 or $110 mil in 2025 if this ownership wants to even think about winning. That number will be about where Mil and Cincy will be in 2025. Pirates could lead the league in switch hitters in the lineup with Santander, Reynolds, and Rodriguez.
Good chance this will be the last year as a Pirate for Mitch Keller, and it could even be earlier than the end of 2025. With Chandler, Harrington, Ashcraft, Burrows, and possibly Barco, starting at AAA, the Pirates will be able to unload that contract and use the bucks to offset the Santander contract or for loading up with more hitters down the stretch.
I am thinking that sentence is just fine ... for here at BOD, anyway.
But, honestly, I think your syntax is wobbly there and I'm not sure your subject and predicate are in total harmony. There's an extra "so" in there which I am not sure belongs and the diagram I have here in front of me is problematic.
It was in jest, but yes, I’m not the greatest writer. A small part of the many mistakes I make is trying to write without my reading glasses and the fact that I normally write on my IPhone 11……a screen a bit too small for my aging eyes!!!!!
Bellinger exercised his player option and is already due $27.5 mil - the Cubs are trying to get out from under it, because 2026 is also a player option. Bellinger for $27.5 or Santander for $20 - that's a no-brainer. And the way Santander plays the game, I think he would be great for this young Pirate team.
My first reaction is why would the Cubs have any interest in that trade? I thought their goal is to free up money (this does help them some) to spend elsewhere and the players they are getting are for positions they seem very set so then they have 2 players they don't know what to do with. IKF is not an upgrade on Swanson and unless he is healthy again Hayes is not an upgrade on Paredes.
It would save them around $15 million this year and I believe he as another two years in player option, so it’s so they’ll be getting off from under a lot and have zero need for him. Hayes could easily move Paredes to DH since they don’t have one and IKF would be a better utility guy than what they currently have. I get it it’s nuts, if anything we shouldn’t do it, it’s just a tread starter and hopefully get some other suggestions!
He has 1 year left on his contract after this coming season on a player option at 25 million. He may very well opt out of that year if he can stay healthy this season and perform as he has when healthy.
Being Pirates-centric, my first thought when seeing the story of Soto's deal now being $700MM or more was to give up any realistic hope that we'd extend Skenes by buying out even one year (getting that 6th full season back in essence) of FA. I had convinced myself that Bob might be willing to commit $30-$35 for that extra season, but $45MM+?
Only hope now is that Bob sells and we fully take advantage of the good luck that we drafted 1-1 when a generational talent was available.
Thought the Pirates would re-sign Hunter Stratton and glad they have. Local East TN kid who went to the Pirates straight out of JUCO - Walters State CC, and has become a strong bullpen contributor for the Pirates in 2024. 37.2 IP out of the BP before the injury, worth 0.7 fWAR. 1 year of MLB Service and 3 Options.
He will probably be rehabbing into possibly June from the surgery to repair the ruptured patella tendon that ended his 2024 season.
I think I say yes. Part of me still worries about Jones becoming a closer vs. starter (from this you can tell what I value more!) and 2 good adds to the lineup coming to the Bucs. My one concern is the reported demise of Reynolds as an outfielder. If he is truly destined for 1B basically yesterday, then there is a positional dilemma.
I am assuming Cutch is back for one more year (but I agree with your assumption if not) and I hate using DH for somebody who CAN actually field as this seems like we would end up with Casas or Reynolds at DH everyday as both should be in the lineup (even if a 2026 view and Reynolds stays in OF for a year). Nitpicking some - if they all hit... I will not complain!
I agree they might be interested in that, but I also think that this is where the market holdup comes into play. Maybe they would be interested in Jones, but they could also want to sign Corbin Burnes, trade for Logan Gilbert, etc. Maybe Jones is plan C or D.
The Pirates have not, for years, demonstrated that they will EVER give a quality free agent even a 2 year deal, and they will not acquire a player like Crochet (who will get paid). The most they will do is a 1 year deal for a declining veteran trying to hang on, or trying to come back from a terrible season or a major injury. And when I see them spend more than 10-12 million on that one year deal I'll believe it.
If they trade, they will not trade Jared Jones (or any other young major league player that has actually played well). Further, when that trade happens I am truly afraid of what the Pirates will give up and what they will get back. Cherington is terrible at this.
Parker made the Hall
Just saw that. Look, Parker was my favorite Pirate post-Clemente. The slashing line drives, the arm, the swagger. He was a 14th round draft pick by the way, because teams were gun shy because of a high school knee injury playing football.
But I can be objective: his Hall of Fame case is borderline. Bill James distinguishes between peak value and long-term value. Peak Parker —- 1975-1979 —- was a no doubt, first ballot Hall of Famer. But between drugs and messing up his knees, he was not the player he could have been post peak.
But I’m not going to nitpick this decision. I’m really glad he made it, and made it while he is still alive to celebrate.
One of my favorite Parker quotes:
"The sun will shine and I'll get two (hits)."
First Million dollar player in baseball history, right?
-BB
Yup. First million dollar player, which was one source of the Parker hate when his career started to go south in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates should definitely take a Rule 5 guy this year(Tuesday). Get a cheap LHRP for the bullpen.
Yep, having 4 open slots on the 40 man with several dfa players occupying others, they could probably take 2 and not worry about it. Magdaleno would work, I don't think he'll make it to the pirates though
Agee. And I like Griff McGarry too. He’s obviously not LH but he’s what the Pirates look for. Elite extension, plus arsenal, poor command.
Carlos Duran from the Dodgers is another guy I'd take a chance on, big guy with a great slider, good sinker. A move to the pen might add a tick or 2, for the risk, the reward could be enormous.
I’m really surprised they passed.
Brian Magdaleno has potential as a lefty For $100,000 and a roster spot, worth the gamble to see if anyone in MLB can touch his stuff.
The guy I would really like them to take though is Evan Reifert. Not a lefty, but IMO, the best option available in the rule 5 and a potential shutdown reliever going forward (if he can stay healthy). The fact that the Rays left him unprotected may be an indication that his health is not great though.
If Reifert is healthy, he'll probably not make it to the pirates pick. There's definitely a few good relief options in the rule 5.
Yeah. Would not surprise me if he was the first player taken.
My worse trade idea yet! Bellinger for Hayes and IKF, Triolo takes over 3b and move Nick to SS with Peguero backing him and Yorke at 2nd. Bellinger takes over LF and BRey to RF. Ortiz to Cleveland for Naylor with Burrows taking his spot in the rotation. For those who don’t waste time at the trade value site, Bellinger has like a -7 value and Hayes -4 and IKF -.5. The net salary for Bellinger if you subtract Hayes and IKF salaries is about $15 million.
I agree with your first sentence!
If we can afford $10 mil for Chapman last year, and $8 mil for Perez, then we can spend $20 mil per year for 4 years to get Anthony Santander who has averaged hitting in 155+ games in each of the last 3 years, and he is a good OF. Lineup for opening day - IKF, Reynolds, Cruz, Santander, Hayes, Bart/Rodriguez, etc. We can afford Santander - this franchise needs to be at a salary level of about $100 or $110 mil in 2025 if this ownership wants to even think about winning. That number will be about where Mil and Cincy will be in 2025. Pirates could lead the league in switch hitters in the lineup with Santander, Reynolds, and Rodriguez.
Good chance this will be the last year as a Pirate for Mitch Keller, and it could even be earlier than the end of 2025. With Chandler, Harrington, Ashcraft, Burrows, and possibly Barco, starting at AAA, the Pirates will be able to unload that contract and use the bucks to offset the Santander contract or for loading up with more hitters down the stretch.
I thought my first sentence was my best one in a long time, glad you agree! 😌
I am thinking that sentence is just fine ... for here at BOD, anyway.
But, honestly, I think your syntax is wobbly there and I'm not sure your subject and predicate are in total harmony. There's an extra "so" in there which I am not sure belongs and the diagram I have here in front of me is problematic.
But. Yes. That's a good sentence, I agree.
_______________________
"Elvis! Yer scarin' the baby!"
-Wabbit
It was in jest, but yes, I’m not the greatest writer. A small part of the many mistakes I make is trying to write without my reading glasses and the fact that I normally write on my IPhone 11……a screen a bit too small for my aging eyes!!!!!
Bellinger exercised his player option and is already due $27.5 mil - the Cubs are trying to get out from under it, because 2026 is also a player option. Bellinger for $27.5 or Santander for $20 - that's a no-brainer. And the way Santander plays the game, I think he would be great for this young Pirate team.
My first reaction is why would the Cubs have any interest in that trade? I thought their goal is to free up money (this does help them some) to spend elsewhere and the players they are getting are for positions they seem very set so then they have 2 players they don't know what to do with. IKF is not an upgrade on Swanson and unless he is healthy again Hayes is not an upgrade on Paredes.
It would save them around $15 million this year and I believe he as another two years in player option, so it’s so they’ll be getting off from under a lot and have zero need for him. Hayes could easily move Paredes to DH since they don’t have one and IKF would be a better utility guy than what they currently have. I get it it’s nuts, if anything we shouldn’t do it, it’s just a tread starter and hopefully get some other suggestions!
Bellinger played for two months with broken ribs. Take away the 150 PAs in April and May, and he had a very good season.
He has 1 year left on his contract after this coming season on a player option at 25 million. He may very well opt out of that year if he can stay healthy this season and perform as he has when healthy.
Being Pirates-centric, my first thought when seeing the story of Soto's deal now being $700MM or more was to give up any realistic hope that we'd extend Skenes by buying out even one year (getting that 6th full season back in essence) of FA. I had convinced myself that Bob might be willing to commit $30-$35 for that extra season, but $45MM+?
Only hope now is that Bob sells and we fully take advantage of the good luck that we drafted 1-1 when a generational talent was available.
I’ve wondered if an extension would be more feasible with deferrals? Doubt Nutting would go for it though.
This front office needs to get creative whether it's trades or deferrals.
Thought the Pirates would re-sign Hunter Stratton and glad they have. Local East TN kid who went to the Pirates straight out of JUCO - Walters State CC, and has become a strong bullpen contributor for the Pirates in 2024. 37.2 IP out of the BP before the injury, worth 0.7 fWAR. 1 year of MLB Service and 3 Options.
He will probably be rehabbing into possibly June from the surgery to repair the ruptured patella tendon that ended his 2024 season.
No Tyler O'Neill? We're doomed! Maybe we can give the O's a pitcher or two and get him in a trade. The O's don't seem to need him.
I think I say yes. Part of me still worries about Jones becoming a closer vs. starter (from this you can tell what I value more!) and 2 good adds to the lineup coming to the Bucs. My one concern is the reported demise of Reynolds as an outfielder. If he is truly destined for 1B basically yesterday, then there is a positional dilemma.
I am assuming Cutch is back for one more year (but I agree with your assumption if not) and I hate using DH for somebody who CAN actually field as this seems like we would end up with Casas or Reynolds at DH everyday as both should be in the lineup (even if a 2026 view and Reynolds stays in OF for a year). Nitpicking some - if they all hit... I will not complain!
I'd make that trade.
I agree they might be interested in that, but I also think that this is where the market holdup comes into play. Maybe they would be interested in Jones, but they could also want to sign Corbin Burnes, trade for Logan Gilbert, etc. Maybe Jones is plan C or D.
Possibly, it might take a lower tier throw in, one way or the other. Something like Jebb going to them or Conrad coming to us. Seems possible though.
Abreu in left field, Casas at firstbase, just upgrade the bullpen and the roster looks much better.
I'd still like to see the pirates make a play for Crochet lol.
The Pirates have not, for years, demonstrated that they will EVER give a quality free agent even a 2 year deal, and they will not acquire a player like Crochet (who will get paid). The most they will do is a 1 year deal for a declining veteran trying to hang on, or trying to come back from a terrible season or a major injury. And when I see them spend more than 10-12 million on that one year deal I'll believe it.
If they trade, they will not trade Jared Jones (or any other young major league player that has actually played well). Further, when that trade happens I am truly afraid of what the Pirates will give up and what they will get back. Cherington is terrible at this.
WHAT HE SAID.
I know