I might be desperate for any kind of Pirate's major league roster news, but the suspense over the needed move to formally sign Chapman is killing me. I think that signing was reported last Monday, but still hasn't been announced. Possible causes of the delay:
1. They're waiting until they can move someone to the 60-day
2. They're working on some sort of trade --- with each passing day I keep mentally adding additional teams to the trade so now it's a 6-team trade involving 27 players (25 of which will be lottery tickets)
3. They keep leaving messages for Alika Williams but he won't return their calls
4. Chapman failed his physical
5. Chapman realized he signed with the Pirates and changed his mind
I have come to the conclusion that making a significant trade would influence the amount of post June innings available for young pitchers to cut their teeth
They only need to fill April and May starts
That being said, I am now a proponent of no trades for a starter and no big money spent
Signing Cueto, Rich Hill and Bumgarner to show dudes how it works in spring training and a few early months of the season - - Would cost less than $10 mil for the three of them
It did in fact work last year as we can all agree that Hill helped Oviedo take the next step and I think the same could be helpful for Ortiz, Contreras, Jones, Solo, Bubba, Wolf, Paul and Priester
We should try to trade Alika and Selby for Bart and Will Bednar. I don't really want Bart but think it could be a way to get the other Bednar and clear a space on the 40 man.
The Pirates also apparently signed a RHP named Chris Gau to a MiL deal. BA's monthly transactions pages show him being released by the Rays and signed by the Pirates over the last month or two, but MiLB.com doesn't have any of this, so who knows. He's done very well in the lower minors but not so much in AAA. He's already 27 and hasn't even pitched very much in AAA yet, so he looks like upper level depth.
Kiley McDaniel's top 100 is out and at the top are Holliday and Chourio in the 65 tier with Skenes as part of a fairly large group in the 60 tier (at 7 as the highest ranked pitcher but held back from being higher due to the increased injury risk for pitchers). Our other ranked prospects are Johnson (55 tier), Jones (50), and Harrington (50).
While four is a good number, the Cubs and Brewers each have five and the Reds have six. Our window that Cherington seemed to be shooting for (I'm sure he wouldn't use that term) will coincide with a window for at least three of our division rivals (of course the Brewers' window just stays open), and we know the Cardinals will spend or do whatever it takes to be competitive. I hope there's a time when we can say the pain of '20-'22 was worth it.
O, and things couldn't be looking better for the Orioles with finally being freed of the Angelos family and having seven prospects in the top 100.
I think you're just looking at the difference in methodology between various outlets.
Kiley and Longenhagen factor risk into their FV whereas BA gives a projection and risk separate. BA's grade 55/high risk prospect may effectively be exactly the same as Kiley's grade 45 prospect.
The lack of impact bats compared to those teams is most concerning. The Reds project to have a ridiculously deep lineup and already have a lot of pitching depth to go with it. The Cubs have a deep stable of hitting prospects and the funds to go buy the top tier pitching. And then we’re collecting second baseman to turn into power hitters and praying that Oneil Cruz lives up to his potential.
Cherington isn’t qualified to be a clubhouse attendant for any other team in the division. None of them is Tampa or anything, but they’re all playing many, many levels above him.
I give credit to those who were advocating for Arnold to be the choice. Or they could have gone with the TB tree. But that would probably have required a baseball person as president.
Yeah, that was good work by Ben. Trash the team for half a decade, while completely ignoring what the opposition was doing. He has some vague, half-baked plan for the future, while teams like Milwaukee and Chicago seem to have a fairly set strategy.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Brewers do, with Burnes and Adames as pending FAs. Given that no one looks like world beaters in the Central, why not take one more crack with these guys. If it goes sideways, they can flip them at the deadline.
The Bucs are going to need misfortune to hit their rivals and to hit on a bunch of these prospects. I don’t see them getting higher than 3rd in the division over the next few seasons.
They emphasized getting guys closer to the majors that they viewed as having higher floors: Crowe, Yajure, CSN, Bryse Wilson, etc. Those portions of the trade returns were in effect hedged, so that they didn’t completely lose a trade. Getting prospects with higher ceilings means you’re taking less quantity and guys that aren’t as close to the majors. After all, generally speaking, if a team has a quality player close to the majors, they probably aren’t trading him as they’ll have a use for him.
I agree with you up to a point. The Marte deal was decidedly the opposite (prep arm and LA signing) both of which were a long way away.
Both of us would agree that whatever return they chose (closer to the majors and higher floor or farther away and higher ceiling), this development group will bone it up.
The Marte deal was a good example of the opposite. And Cherington wasn’t as bad Huntington during the last rebuild. But generally speaking, there’s a reason why teams trade guys that are close to the majors.
It's like this organization didn't just have their best clubs in a generation run up against a divisional buzzsaw and come away with nothing because of it.
Andres Alvarez? Is that a typo? A 22nd Round pick in 2019 who had a second shot at AA last year as a 26 year old. The results - 368 AB, and a slash of .215/.285/.345/.630 OPS. This in no way should result in an invite to ST. No Jase Bowen? Just another thank you from Ben for your efforts in the AFL!
Like to see Lonnie White, Jr be hooked up with TJ and Jack Brannigan at GBO to start 2024. TJ is just a natural hitter while Brannigan also has the football background and the right attitude. Will the Pirates start the year with Ji-Hwan Bae in CF?
I might be desperate for any kind of Pirate's major league roster news, but the suspense over the needed move to formally sign Chapman is killing me. I think that signing was reported last Monday, but still hasn't been announced. Possible causes of the delay:
1. They're waiting until they can move someone to the 60-day
2. They're working on some sort of trade --- with each passing day I keep mentally adding additional teams to the trade so now it's a 6-team trade involving 27 players (25 of which will be lottery tickets)
3. They keep leaving messages for Alika Williams but he won't return their calls
4. Chapman failed his physical
5. Chapman realized he signed with the Pirates and changed his mind
6. The check bounced
7. Whack CSN
I have come to the conclusion that making a significant trade would influence the amount of post June innings available for young pitchers to cut their teeth
They only need to fill April and May starts
That being said, I am now a proponent of no trades for a starter and no big money spent
Signing Cueto, Rich Hill and Bumgarner to show dudes how it works in spring training and a few early months of the season - - Would cost less than $10 mil for the three of them
It did in fact work last year as we can all agree that Hill helped Oviedo take the next step and I think the same could be helpful for Ortiz, Contreras, Jones, Solo, Bubba, Wolf, Paul and Priester
Only trades I'd be happy with is for Cabrera or Manoah. I like their upside and the price in trade shouldn't be crippling.
the absolute best value would be to unlock the potential of Ortiz, Contreras and Priester somehow
I agree, was hoping Keller would have taken them to Treads with him.
agreed
or Musgrove
We should try to trade Alika and Selby for Bart and Will Bednar. I don't really want Bart but think it could be a way to get the other Bednar and clear a space on the 40 man.
sources say this is a good idea
would be a nice touch to coincide with David´s extension
The Pirates also apparently signed a RHP named Chris Gau to a MiL deal. BA's monthly transactions pages show him being released by the Rays and signed by the Pirates over the last month or two, but MiLB.com doesn't have any of this, so who knows. He's done very well in the lower minors but not so much in AAA. He's already 27 and hasn't even pitched very much in AAA yet, so he looks like upper level depth.
Can confirm!
Kiley McDaniel's top 100 is out and at the top are Holliday and Chourio in the 65 tier with Skenes as part of a fairly large group in the 60 tier (at 7 as the highest ranked pitcher but held back from being higher due to the increased injury risk for pitchers). Our other ranked prospects are Johnson (55 tier), Jones (50), and Harrington (50).
While four is a good number, the Cubs and Brewers each have five and the Reds have six. Our window that Cherington seemed to be shooting for (I'm sure he wouldn't use that term) will coincide with a window for at least three of our division rivals (of course the Brewers' window just stays open), and we know the Cardinals will spend or do whatever it takes to be competitive. I hope there's a time when we can say the pain of '20-'22 was worth it.
O, and things couldn't be looking better for the Orioles with finally being freed of the Angelos family and having seven prospects in the top 100.
Odd to me that neither solo or bubba even a 50? Though kiley's lists are always questionable imo
I think you're just looking at the difference in methodology between various outlets.
Kiley and Longenhagen factor risk into their FV whereas BA gives a projection and risk separate. BA's grade 55/high risk prospect may effectively be exactly the same as Kiley's grade 45 prospect.
Actually I don’t think his lists are that questionable. I think he does individual team lists so I’m sure he’ll explain more there.
The lack of impact bats compared to those teams is most concerning. The Reds project to have a ridiculously deep lineup and already have a lot of pitching depth to go with it. The Cubs have a deep stable of hitting prospects and the funds to go buy the top tier pitching. And then we’re collecting second baseman to turn into power hitters and praying that Oneil Cruz lives up to his potential.
Cherington isn’t qualified to be a clubhouse attendant for any other team in the division. None of them is Tampa or anything, but they’re all playing many, many levels above him.
I give credit to those who were advocating for Arnold to be the choice. Or they could have gone with the TB tree. But that would probably have required a baseball person as president.
Ehhh, the TB tree gave way to Chaim Bloom. I’ve seen sloths move faster than him when making decisions.
Yeah, that was good work by Ben. Trash the team for half a decade, while completely ignoring what the opposition was doing. He has some vague, half-baked plan for the future, while teams like Milwaukee and Chicago seem to have a fairly set strategy.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Brewers do, with Burnes and Adames as pending FAs. Given that no one looks like world beaters in the Central, why not take one more crack with these guys. If it goes sideways, they can flip them at the deadline.
The Bucs are going to need misfortune to hit their rivals and to hit on a bunch of these prospects. I don’t see them getting higher than 3rd in the division over the next few seasons.
In retrospect, this was half baked the second they decided to go quantity over quality, floor over ceiling.
What do you mean, floor over ceiling? With their trade returns on selling off parts?
They emphasized getting guys closer to the majors that they viewed as having higher floors: Crowe, Yajure, CSN, Bryse Wilson, etc. Those portions of the trade returns were in effect hedged, so that they didn’t completely lose a trade. Getting prospects with higher ceilings means you’re taking less quantity and guys that aren’t as close to the majors. After all, generally speaking, if a team has a quality player close to the majors, they probably aren’t trading him as they’ll have a use for him.
I agree with you up to a point. The Marte deal was decidedly the opposite (prep arm and LA signing) both of which were a long way away.
Both of us would agree that whatever return they chose (closer to the majors and higher floor or farther away and higher ceiling), this development group will bone it up.
The Marte deal was a good example of the opposite. And Cherington wasn’t as bad Huntington during the last rebuild. But generally speaking, there’s a reason why teams trade guys that are close to the majors.
It's like this organization didn't just have their best clubs in a generation run up against a divisional buzzsaw and come away with nothing because of it.
Definition of insanity!
Andres Alvarez? Is that a typo? A 22nd Round pick in 2019 who had a second shot at AA last year as a 26 year old. The results - 368 AB, and a slash of .215/.285/.345/.630 OPS. This in no way should result in an invite to ST. No Jase Bowen? Just another thank you from Ben for your efforts in the AFL!
Like to see Lonnie White, Jr be hooked up with TJ and Jack Brannigan at GBO to start 2024. TJ is just a natural hitter while Brannigan also has the football background and the right attitude. Will the Pirates start the year with Ji-Hwan Bae in CF?