It also makes me a bit concerned that at this late date we still have $1.8MM left to spend on a player that is not considered elite (according to MLB Pipeline), but maybe that's the result (or cause of) the change in international scouting leadership.
This is exactly what I hoped the pirates would do. Sure I held out a modicum of hope that we could land Sasaki, but this is where we can take advantage of the clubs who are “in it”. As Wilber points out we could do a lot worse than plucking a guy the dodgers planned on signing.
Saw that $1.1 million, the other Dodger top committed play is at $590,000, apparently they are asking him to sign next year. Padres asking their top committed to sign in '26 as well.
It's possible the Pirates hadn't spent everything, and it's also possible they had to cut a couple guys loose.
The bonus amounts can be misleading, especially if you look at BA's rankings (Morel isn't in there), which are based entirely on bonus amount. These top guys agree to bonuses a couple years in advance, when they're around 14. A lot changes in that time, especially with guys in their mid-teens. By the time guys sign, some have moved up in scouts' estimation and some down. (It's a truly awful system.) The more notable factor here is that the Dodgers are as good at this as any team in MLB.
Taylor Ward signed for $7.825 that’s probably how much it would cost to sign grichuk or Verdugo. Honestly you’d need both to match ward’s production, so you are looking at about $15M plus to sign both. I would go all in for Ward might cost you an Ashcraft or solometo but I’d do it. Then that leaves you with roughly $15M to play with to get some more arms and maybe another bat.
If not Ward then just go pay $15M for profar already!
Ward would be a decent pickup but playing devils advocate
1. Signing Ward would make Cook an extra piece, I want to see more Cook not less
2. Signing Ward makes our lineup very RH’ed. The only regulars that bat LH would be Cruz, Reynolds, and Horowitz.
3. Why give up more young pitching when Ward would be only a small upgrade over Grichuk, Hayes or some other RH bat that would cost nothing more than Nutting cash
I think if you get grichuk you get less cook as well. You can sell me on grichuk/Winker or Verdugo platoon. But Ward is a 2.5-3 WAR guy and I think only a platoon would get you close to that. I do agree the lineup would be too right handed though. Profar makes a lot of sense too for that reason. I will happy with the following situations.
1. Trade for Ward then sign two more bullpen arms and maybe a lefthanded bench bat
2. A platoon of Winker and Grichuk and then Signing two more bullpen arms.
3. Signing Profar to a multi year deal and then signing two more bullpen arms
The bullpen arms I am eyeing are minter and Leclerc especially if they can trade for Ward.
I think the biggest hole in the Ward discussion is that the Angels have stated and have made moves to try to compete. Ward is an important part of that plan for the same reasons he would fit nicely in the Pirates lineup. One could argue they could trade Ward and then maybe they sign a Profar as they have much deeper pockets, but for now it doesn't seem he is remotely on the market.
Pass an reported he was available for trade though. What you are saying makes sense but based on the reports he is available and has been since the deadline. It might just be the asking price is too high
I think Ashcraft and Solometo are on two completely different planets wrt prospect status/ranking. There is no way that Ward would only cost Solometo, you’d probably need to throw in another one or two top ten guys. Don’t get me wrong, Ward provides solid production, but I don’t like that he is another RH bat. I’d go high upside, and the highest upside play here is to overpay Grichuk and platoon him with Suwinski.
I’m not saying it would cost just one of them but as the headliner. I’m saying Ashcraft is probably the high end and Solometo low end of the beginning of a deal.
I think you are failing the team if you go in counting on Suwinski.
Found an old (miniature) book around the house recently...."Baseball Wit and Wisdom" published by Running Press. Since pitchers/catchers report in about a month, I thought I'd share some of those bits here as we ramp up to warmer weather, spring training, and renewed (albeit, perhaps, foolishly optimistic) hope.
"Growing up is a ritual -- more deadly than religion, more complicated than baseball, for there seemed to be no rules. Everything is experienced for the first time. But baseball can soothe even those pains, for it is stable and permanent, steady as a grandfather dozing in a wicker chair on a veranda." -- W.P. Kinsella, "Shoeless Joe"
Looked at the zips for last year and boy that was a doozy. Probably adding at least 6 WAR in the rotation and I know the position player group is weak but man I can’t imagine at least a guy or two step up from that bleak outlook
BA describes Darrell Morel as a 6’5” LHH with big power potential.
The underlying point of the article is that this is the start of some Sasaki-related craziness. Could be a much less sedate Jan. 15th than usual.
https://youtu.be/D6WMnOCKri8?si=O1UwgoMEeYsHNxp_
I think this is him 3 and a half years ago.
Blake Sabol was dfa'd.
Interesting development in that it doused my flickering hope that we were in on Sasaki (surely he'd want to pitch with Skenes, right?):
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/pirates-to-sign-dodgers-committed-intl-prospect-darell-morel.html
It also makes me a bit concerned that at this late date we still have $1.8MM left to spend on a player that is not considered elite (according to MLB Pipeline), but maybe that's the result (or cause of) the change in international scouting leadership.
This is opportunistic so I like it
This is exactly what I hoped the pirates would do. Sure I held out a modicum of hope that we could land Sasaki, but this is where we can take advantage of the clubs who are “in it”. As Wilber points out we could do a lot worse than plucking a guy the dodgers planned on signing.
The Dodgers are really good in Lat Am. Good team to filch from.
That crossed my mind as well. It still surprises me that we had that much to offer, which MLBTR says was double what the Dodgers had agreed to.
Romero had the previously agreed bonus as 1.1 mil so he is/was a dude, and the person who originally said double isn’t particularly good at math.
Saw that $1.1 million, the other Dodger top committed play is at $590,000, apparently they are asking him to sign next year. Padres asking their top committed to sign in '26 as well.
It's possible the Pirates hadn't spent everything, and it's also possible they had to cut a couple guys loose.
The bonus amounts can be misleading, especially if you look at BA's rankings (Morel isn't in there), which are based entirely on bonus amount. These top guys agree to bonuses a couple years in advance, when they're around 14. A lot changes in that time, especially with guys in their mid-teens. By the time guys sign, some have moved up in scouts' estimation and some down. (It's a truly awful system.) The more notable factor here is that the Dodgers are as good at this as any team in MLB.
The Dodgers and Padres are supposedly asking the '25's to sign in '26. Pirates need to go get Alvarez from the Padres next lol.
Yeah, weird situation. Might as well take advantage.
Taylor Ward signed for $7.825 that’s probably how much it would cost to sign grichuk or Verdugo. Honestly you’d need both to match ward’s production, so you are looking at about $15M plus to sign both. I would go all in for Ward might cost you an Ashcraft or solometo but I’d do it. Then that leaves you with roughly $15M to play with to get some more arms and maybe another bat.
If not Ward then just go pay $15M for profar already!
After the year solometo had, I don’t think you have a chance to get Ward. Maybe Hines Ward. lol
Ward would be a decent pickup but playing devils advocate
1. Signing Ward would make Cook an extra piece, I want to see more Cook not less
2. Signing Ward makes our lineup very RH’ed. The only regulars that bat LH would be Cruz, Reynolds, and Horowitz.
3. Why give up more young pitching when Ward would be only a small upgrade over Grichuk, Hayes or some other RH bat that would cost nothing more than Nutting cash
The Billy Cook Fan Club (TM) approves
A 26 yr old AAA fan club?
He's averaging 81 DRS and 27 OAA per 162 games in the outfield so far lol.
Love it
I think if you get grichuk you get less cook as well. You can sell me on grichuk/Winker or Verdugo platoon. But Ward is a 2.5-3 WAR guy and I think only a platoon would get you close to that. I do agree the lineup would be too right handed though. Profar makes a lot of sense too for that reason. I will happy with the following situations.
1. Trade for Ward then sign two more bullpen arms and maybe a lefthanded bench bat
2. A platoon of Winker and Grichuk and then Signing two more bullpen arms.
3. Signing Profar to a multi year deal and then signing two more bullpen arms
The bullpen arms I am eyeing are minter and Leclerc especially if they can trade for Ward.
I think the biggest hole in the Ward discussion is that the Angels have stated and have made moves to try to compete. Ward is an important part of that plan for the same reasons he would fit nicely in the Pirates lineup. One could argue they could trade Ward and then maybe they sign a Profar as they have much deeper pockets, but for now it doesn't seem he is remotely on the market.
Melkel made a good point that Ward might become more expendable if they sign Santander, who they have been linked to
Pass an reported he was available for trade though. What you are saying makes sense but based on the reports he is available and has been since the deadline. It might just be the asking price is too high
I think Ashcraft and Solometo are on two completely different planets wrt prospect status/ranking. There is no way that Ward would only cost Solometo, you’d probably need to throw in another one or two top ten guys. Don’t get me wrong, Ward provides solid production, but I don’t like that he is another RH bat. I’d go high upside, and the highest upside play here is to overpay Grichuk and platoon him with Suwinski.
I’m not saying it would cost just one of them but as the headliner. I’m saying Ashcraft is probably the high end and Solometo low end of the beginning of a deal.
I think you are failing the team if you go in counting on Suwinski.
Found an old (miniature) book around the house recently...."Baseball Wit and Wisdom" published by Running Press. Since pitchers/catchers report in about a month, I thought I'd share some of those bits here as we ramp up to warmer weather, spring training, and renewed (albeit, perhaps, foolishly optimistic) hope.
"Growing up is a ritual -- more deadly than religion, more complicated than baseball, for there seemed to be no rules. Everything is experienced for the first time. But baseball can soothe even those pains, for it is stable and permanent, steady as a grandfather dozing in a wicker chair on a veranda." -- W.P. Kinsella, "Shoeless Joe"
Looked at the zips for last year and boy that was a doozy. Probably adding at least 6 WAR in the rotation and I know the position player group is weak but man I can’t imagine at least a guy or two step up from that bleak outlook
mlbtraderumors say former Pirate, Olivares, is signing in Japan.
Standard career progression:
Major leagues > Pirates > Japan/Korea
And then after a few good seasons in Japan/Korea back to the Pirates.