MLBTR has a mailbag question re: the cost of Skenes' arb years and whether notoriously cheap Nutting pays or trades. Since I share that trait and don't pay for MLBTR front office (I wonder if Nutting does?), can anyone with access summarize?
Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young award in 2021 and was paid $6.55MM in 2022, $10.01MM in '23 (after losing a hearing to the Brewers), and $15,637,500 in '24.
A healthy Skenes should be able to top Burnes' $32.2MM in total arbitration earnings, but even $45MM for that three-year period might represent a single season of what he could earn in free agency.
So so far I have Borucki and Trainer making the 26 and Stewart with a chance to join them. Delay, Peguero will get released and Nicolas and Yorke will start out in AAA.
I'm not convinced on Borucki. I'd like another lefty in the pen, but his success two years ago was built on an unsustainable BABIP, and an otherworldly low walk rate. I don't think he is on the 40 right now, although I'm sure he can opt out at some point is he thinks there is a major league job waiting for him.
Can I officially get excited about Cruz yet? I don’t know if it’s Pham being in his ear every day. I don’t know if he’s pissed hearing Elly DelaCruz is better than him. Whatever the reason, he’s got me dreaming about being an MVP candidate in 2025.
Sure can. It may just be as simple as he needed a longer development track in the bigs and losing 2023 bled into a slow first half in 2024. I normally think Tennessee Mel is overly optimistic, but I agree with much of what he’s said here.
I think he has bought into whatever Coach Tarrik Brock is telling him, at least from the fielding side. I have seen them talk on multiple occasions and have seen Cruz approach Brock first. I am not expecting an MVP, but I am expecting Cruz to get better.
His splits last year after losing all but 9 games in 2023 are telling -
1st Half - 246/299/439/738 OPS, 7/8 SB, 24 BB/112 K, 32 EBH in 85 G
2nd Half- 277/357/464/821 OPS, 15/15 SB, 27 BB/69 K, 26 EBH in 61 G
In the second half he had an 83 point jump in OPS, 3 more Walks/43 fewer K's, twice as many SB's, and almost the same number of EBH in 24 less games. So far in ST he shows a lot of patience at the plate and better selection of pitches to hit, while taking the walks that are being offered. Should somebody be talking to him about an extension - even if it is only for 2 years. He has 2.110 years of MLB Service, and will play all of 2025 as a 26 year old, I think.
That second half is even more impressive given that he was learning a new position. And yes, with a Skenes extension probably unrealistic* under Nutting, Cruz should be their priority in getting an extension done.
*I still think adding $90-100MM to his expected earnings from arbitration to buy out two years of free agency should be doable, but I've never been so down on Nutting as I am now.
I would sweeten it with a signing bonus of $8 mil (2 per year), then $3 mil, $6 mil, $10 mil, and $15$ mil for the 4 remaining years, then $20 mil and $25 mil for the 2 additional years. Comes to $79 in salary and the $8 mil bonus.
Watching Cruz take some batting practice a few weeks ago had some of us laughing. Just by looking at him and his swing, some of these hits looked like they would barely make it to the outfield.... then the ball would travel over the fence. I don't know if I explained that correctly, but I have seriously never seen anything like that.
If it's his lat, good news that it's not arm trouble for Oviedo. I was at the game when Hunter got hurt. It looked pretty bad. Glad to see he's back throwing. Also glad to see Moreta progressing . Love his personality. Dude can help this team.
Agree. The BP will get a boost from Moreta and Stratton. I think we got Moreta from Cincy for Kevin Newman in 2023 and he put up some VG numbers for the Pirates in the BP 55 appearances, 58 IP, 3.72 ERA, 24 BB/76 K (10.0%/31.8%). 2.104 Years MLB Service, so still 4 years of control.
It's ominous that Oviedo is going back to the doctor who did the TJ surgery, with the concern being that the injury to the lat came from compensating for an elbow that wasn't fully fixed.
I hope I'm reading too much into that return visit.
I don't get the re-imaging the arm, then, but it could be due to "an abundance of caution". Or just standard procedure for any injury to the lat. From the PG:
“The recommendation right now is to re-image the arm, the lat in four weeks time,” Tomczyk said."
Depending upon how Horwitz looks that first week of swings could tell us how long it might be before full contact game swings. With being a first year player and going to another ballclub, he has enough on him already.
MLBTR has a mailbag question re: the cost of Skenes' arb years and whether notoriously cheap Nutting pays or trades. Since I share that trait and don't pay for MLBTR front office (I wonder if Nutting does?), can anyone with access summarize?
Tyvm.
Found this interesting.
Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young award in 2021 and was paid $6.55MM in 2022, $10.01MM in '23 (after losing a hearing to the Brewers), and $15,637,500 in '24.
A healthy Skenes should be able to top Burnes' $32.2MM in total arbitration earnings, but even $45MM for that three-year period might represent a single season of what he could earn in free agency.
Nutting is about the shock the haterz in three weeks and sign Skenes to a seven year deal, thanks to sheetz
BOBBY.
So so far I have Borucki and Trainer making the 26 and Stewart with a chance to join them. Delay, Peguero will get released and Nicolas and Yorke will start out in AAA.
They have Pie Traynor?
That would also require Strzelecki and Wentz to be DFAd.
I'm not convinced on Borucki. I'd like another lefty in the pen, but his success two years ago was built on an unsustainable BABIP, and an otherworldly low walk rate. I don't think he is on the 40 right now, although I'm sure he can opt out at some point is he thinks there is a major league job waiting for him.
I´d rather have Borucki than Lawrence
Also Wetnz gets the nod over Falter with Mlodzinski and Ferguson sharing starting pitcher duties
Can I officially get excited about Cruz yet? I don’t know if it’s Pham being in his ear every day. I don’t know if he’s pissed hearing Elly DelaCruz is better than him. Whatever the reason, he’s got me dreaming about being an MVP candidate in 2025.
Sure can. It may just be as simple as he needed a longer development track in the bigs and losing 2023 bled into a slow first half in 2024. I normally think Tennessee Mel is overly optimistic, but I agree with much of what he’s said here.
My frustration with the Pirates leads to being overly optimistic at even the slightest of improvements.
I think he has bought into whatever Coach Tarrik Brock is telling him, at least from the fielding side. I have seen them talk on multiple occasions and have seen Cruz approach Brock first. I am not expecting an MVP, but I am expecting Cruz to get better.
His splits last year after losing all but 9 games in 2023 are telling -
1st Half - 246/299/439/738 OPS, 7/8 SB, 24 BB/112 K, 32 EBH in 85 G
2nd Half- 277/357/464/821 OPS, 15/15 SB, 27 BB/69 K, 26 EBH in 61 G
In the second half he had an 83 point jump in OPS, 3 more Walks/43 fewer K's, twice as many SB's, and almost the same number of EBH in 24 less games. So far in ST he shows a lot of patience at the plate and better selection of pitches to hit, while taking the walks that are being offered. Should somebody be talking to him about an extension - even if it is only for 2 years. He has 2.110 years of MLB Service, and will play all of 2025 as a 26 year old, I think.
That second half is even more impressive given that he was learning a new position. And yes, with a Skenes extension probably unrealistic* under Nutting, Cruz should be their priority in getting an extension done.
*I still think adding $90-100MM to his expected earnings from arbitration to buy out two years of free agency should be doable, but I've never been so down on Nutting as I am now.
I would sweeten it with a signing bonus of $8 mil (2 per year), then $3 mil, $6 mil, $10 mil, and $15$ mil for the 4 remaining years, then $20 mil and $25 mil for the 2 additional years. Comes to $79 in salary and the $8 mil bonus.
Wow...112 K's in the first half.....yeesh....
Thanks for putting this together!
That was a majestic HR yesterday. I watched the replay last night on SNP.
Of course Skenes is pitching tonight, and this is the only game this week that isn't televised on SNP.
Watching Cruz take some batting practice a few weeks ago had some of us laughing. Just by looking at him and his swing, some of these hits looked like they would barely make it to the outfield.... then the ball would travel over the fence. I don't know if I explained that correctly, but I have seriously never seen anything like that.
If it's his lat, good news that it's not arm trouble for Oviedo. I was at the game when Hunter got hurt. It looked pretty bad. Glad to see he's back throwing. Also glad to see Moreta progressing . Love his personality. Dude can help this team.
Hey, I was at that game too!
I was there too, all the way from Illinois. We should have all three met up for a cool one.
Agree. The BP will get a boost from Moreta and Stratton. I think we got Moreta from Cincy for Kevin Newman in 2023 and he put up some VG numbers for the Pirates in the BP 55 appearances, 58 IP, 3.72 ERA, 24 BB/76 K (10.0%/31.8%). 2.104 Years MLB Service, so still 4 years of control.
It's ominous that Oviedo is going back to the doctor who did the TJ surgery, with the concern being that the injury to the lat came from compensating for an elbow that wasn't fully fixed.
I hope I'm reading too much into that return visit.
They said the elbow is sound.
I don't get the re-imaging the arm, then, but it could be due to "an abundance of caution". Or just standard procedure for any injury to the lat. From the PG:
“The recommendation right now is to re-image the arm, the lat in four weeks time,” Tomczyk said."
You left out the best news of all, Horowitz will be hitting baseballs very soon.
Depending upon how Horwitz looks that first week of swings could tell us how long it might be before full contact game swings. With being a first year player and going to another ballclub, he has enough on him already.