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.
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.
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
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.
The Dodgers are really good in Lat Am. Good team to filch from.
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.
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.