I wonder if the Mets backed out of their deal with Perez to free up more money for Sasaki. Any team that Sasaki would consider (I assume the NY and LA teams and possibly SF, Seattle, and the Cubs) would be foolish to let a commitment to a 15-year-old keep them from going all out for a player that has had the success that Sasaki has had in the NPB.
Yes, reading that story is what got me thinking about this possibility. He'll be a bargain for the team that signs him, well worth even their entire international spending cap.
Something I mentioned months ago, get Skenes and Jones maybe even Bubba to friend Roki on social media, Livy as well if it would help. Heck send Skenes and Jones over to Japan for a working vacation to recruit.
Pipe dream but that could be a sick rotation for a few years.
Skenes, Sasaki, Chandler, Jones, Keller and plenty of depth.
The Japanese players seem to like to sign in the markets I mentioned for logical reasons, but given our track record in Latin America and that it's too soon to expect Kwan to have upgraded what we're doing there, the smart move would be to offer our entire spending cap to signing Sasaki.
The deal with Perez implies that we're clearly not planning to do that, and it very likely would have been unsuccessful anyway--even if we could offer the nearly $7MM we have to spend, Sasaki can make way more than that in the marketing opportunities that would come with the Dodgers, Cubs, Mets, or Yankees. Our only hope would have been, as you suggested, that Skenes already has the reputation that a Skenes/Sasaki pairing would give Sasaki the same kind of marketing opportunities he'd have with those other orgs.
I think Sasaki will sign between $4 and $5 mil. My reasoning is the money he's leaving on the table for not waiting 2 years. I think it's about winning, does he want to play with his countrymen or does he want to go it alone? Does he want to be in a big market or does it even matter?
So many questions, let's hope the pirates at least touches base, knowing the chances are slim but isn't zero. Having Skenes alone has to give them a glimmer, maybe Sasaki would rather want to win championships outside the shadow of his countrymen.
I'm a little concerned that we still haven't hired a hitting coach, not because we need a hitting coach at this point but what it says about our FO's efficiency. They had to know by midseason that Haines was going to be fired so they've had months to work through potential candidates. Of course the only way this matters is if it's keeping Ben from tending to other matters.
Bob has clearly bought into the idea that Ben and Derek just need more time. Hopefully, 2025 is the litmus test--Huntington had us in the playoffs in his 6th year. There is now one more team that makes the postseason and if Ben can't get the Pirates there in his 6th year, that has to be the end for him, right?
When you're behind the pace of your predecessor despite taking over an organization in much better shape, the lack of accountability is hard to understand. Their new slogan, "get better faster" is pretty embarrassing when you consider they're entering year 6. Seems like something that might have worked two years ago, but using it now is like "well, duh".
FWIW, that link leads to an article that ranks MLB rosters for where they stand now and we're 26th in projected WAR, which doesn't tell us much that we didn't already know--Ben has to have a great offseason if we're going to contend.
Indications of a change in strategy in the pursuit of International Free Agents? The Pirates have always had the numbers strategy whereby they would spend money on the second 50 or 100 best prospects hoping that strategy would result in getting a few sleepers cheap - think Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Luis Ortiz. This could be a major change in how we will approach this market in the future.
Along with spending big on IFA's, spend some money and buy some top level hitting instructors to create a positive influence on these young players. Nice article in BA recently about the system in place within the Red Sox Org, and the positive results so far. The Pirates have a solid group of young hitters in the lower levels - let's make sure we have that same quality of development all the way through the system so there is not a dropoff before they hit MLB.
I wonder if the Mets backed out of their deal with Perez to free up more money for Sasaki. Any team that Sasaki would consider (I assume the NY and LA teams and possibly SF, Seattle, and the Cubs) would be foolish to let a commitment to a 15-year-old keep them from going all out for a player that has had the success that Sasaki has had in the NPB.
Sasaki is being posted according to mlbtr.
Yes, reading that story is what got me thinking about this possibility. He'll be a bargain for the team that signs him, well worth even their entire international spending cap.
Something I mentioned months ago, get Skenes and Jones maybe even Bubba to friend Roki on social media, Livy as well if it would help. Heck send Skenes and Jones over to Japan for a working vacation to recruit.
Pipe dream but that could be a sick rotation for a few years.
Skenes, Sasaki, Chandler, Jones, Keller and plenty of depth.
The Japanese players seem to like to sign in the markets I mentioned for logical reasons, but given our track record in Latin America and that it's too soon to expect Kwan to have upgraded what we're doing there, the smart move would be to offer our entire spending cap to signing Sasaki.
The deal with Perez implies that we're clearly not planning to do that, and it very likely would have been unsuccessful anyway--even if we could offer the nearly $7MM we have to spend, Sasaki can make way more than that in the marketing opportunities that would come with the Dodgers, Cubs, Mets, or Yankees. Our only hope would have been, as you suggested, that Skenes already has the reputation that a Skenes/Sasaki pairing would give Sasaki the same kind of marketing opportunities he'd have with those other orgs.
I think Sasaki will sign between $4 and $5 mil. My reasoning is the money he's leaving on the table for not waiting 2 years. I think it's about winning, does he want to play with his countrymen or does he want to go it alone? Does he want to be in a big market or does it even matter?
So many questions, let's hope the pirates at least touches base, knowing the chances are slim but isn't zero. Having Skenes alone has to give them a glimmer, maybe Sasaki would rather want to win championships outside the shadow of his countrymen.
I'm a little concerned that we still haven't hired a hitting coach, not because we need a hitting coach at this point but what it says about our FO's efficiency. They had to know by midseason that Haines was going to be fired so they've had months to work through potential candidates. Of course the only way this matters is if it's keeping Ben from tending to other matters.
It's tough finding somebody with Haines' track record of failure. Give them time.
Never do today if it can be done later, Cherington's thinking. It gives him more excuses for failure.
Bob has clearly bought into the idea that Ben and Derek just need more time. Hopefully, 2025 is the litmus test--Huntington had us in the playoffs in his 6th year. There is now one more team that makes the postseason and if Ben can't get the Pirates there in his 6th year, that has to be the end for him, right?
I hope, the guy has no urgency or real plan on the hitting side.
When you're behind the pace of your predecessor despite taking over an organization in much better shape, the lack of accountability is hard to understand. Their new slogan, "get better faster" is pretty embarrassing when you consider they're entering year 6. Seems like something that might have worked two years ago, but using it now is like "well, duh".
Skenes and Livy are guest pickers on college GameDay today from LSU
Just one more reason why Nutting needs to find the resources to extend Skenes even if just for one or two of his FA years.
Couldn’t find his name on MLB.com top 50 list.
FWIW, that link leads to an article that ranks MLB rosters for where they stand now and we're 26th in projected WAR, which doesn't tell us much that we didn't already know--Ben has to have a great offseason if we're going to contend.
Indications of a change in strategy in the pursuit of International Free Agents? The Pirates have always had the numbers strategy whereby they would spend money on the second 50 or 100 best prospects hoping that strategy would result in getting a few sleepers cheap - think Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Luis Ortiz. This could be a major change in how we will approach this market in the future.
Along with spending big on IFA's, spend some money and buy some top level hitting instructors to create a positive influence on these young players. Nice article in BA recently about the system in place within the Red Sox Org, and the positive results so far. The Pirates have a solid group of young hitters in the lower levels - let's make sure we have that same quality of development all the way through the system so there is not a dropoff before they hit MLB.