32 Comments

lol at scouts pretending they have any fucking clue if a 15 yo will be hit-first or power over hit why do they intentionally make themselves look this stupid.

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Big swing on a miss on guys who havent hit puberty and quickly go from a 5'8 hit tool to a 6'3 power guy lol

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I always love FG, but I’ve noticed that with recent lists, Longenhagen has pumped up newer international signings earlier and earlier. His list today on the Phils had a kid still in the DSL as a 50. That seems a tad premature, and I would guess that most of those aggressive rankings don’t age well.

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A question I'd like to ask the front office...

Why aren't you spotting talent in your own back yard? It's clearly there with JJ Wetherholt predicted to go early in this year's draft. The Phillies grabbed Rincon in the 14th round of the 2022 draft. (Signed around slot $125,000 or $150,000).

I'm not talking about the national spotlight guys that go in the top 5 rounds, but guys that are getting D1 scholarships and can be drafted in the 11th round or later. (JJ Wetherholt in 2021)

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> Why aren't you spotting talent in your own back yard?

this is the post of the year

should move the dominican school to the north avenue park in my opinion

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Submit it for Pirates Fest! Prolly won’t make it through the screening.

Not to excuse it, but some guys seem better suited to start off in school rather than go pro. He wasn’t selected at all, right? Guys mature at different rates.

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I know some really start their maturation in college, but I'd much rather see a minimum risk pick on a local kid that does show some promise in the later rounds. Just a strategy that I'd take.

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I agree with that. And I think the quality of some local prospects has ticked up in recent years. Think there’s a lefty at Mt Lebo who looks to be top 100 this year. Even other cold weather prospects in the Northeast are ticking up.

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Back in my day this was austin kitchen with huge helium in the spring, but he ended up going to school anyway

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The question was submitted. Your right on the pitcher from Mt Lebo, Miami commit, I think his last name is Shields but I might be wrong, I'll have to look it up, think he used to be a quarterback but is focusing on baseball now.

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Yep, David Shields. Another from the Gettysburg area is Tegan Kuhns (how’d that kid miss out on being from Pittsburgh), and there are a few middle IFs from PA and NY on MLBs top 100. Cold weather prep arms interest me more because they don’t have the miles on the young arm yet, and there’s more to develop (or there is in my mind).

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Jan 4·edited Jan 4

In 2023 they could have got Tyler Smith from Mt Lebo, a lhp that went to Auburn or a SS that's going to WVU that I can't remember his name (maybe Spencer Barnett)

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A big 1st baseman from the same high school as Lonnie White Jr. is someone I'd target. Ben Davis son, Tague Davis I believe. Probably a top 5 rounder, committed to Louisville.

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Just be sure to submit this question ahead of time.

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It's submitted

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I'll submit it, don't think they'll give an honest answer lol.

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sources say Tampa wants Alika back

Montgomery would be an interesting left handed starter to add to the mix

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I feel much different about our offseason if we somehow landed montgomery though we would probably have to outbid other teams by at least 20 mil

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they heard it was the other Mason Montgomery in exchange for Alika

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/rays/mason-montgomery-682254

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Bader off the board for too much money

Would be fun to take Marte for $1mil while the Mets pay his salary

Id rather bet on a Marte bounce back than a blossoming Bae

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Was just going to post about Bader. I would have liked to sign him. $10m may be more than he’s “worth” (although I thought he’d sign for $9) but the Pirates are allowed to spend more than $80m a year. I feel much better about an OF of

LF: Reynolds

CF: Bader

RF: Suwinski/Olivares

than I do for

LF: Reynolds

CF: Suwinski

RF: Olivares/Palacios

Michael A. Taylor is still on the board, I guess.

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Or a Michael Taylor?

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I like centerfield Daulton Varsho at $4.5mil plus whatever else the blue jays would pay for

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I’ve lost all interest in international signings.....

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Both of the picks look pretty good, although it will be at least one or two years before they make some noise in the lower levels of the minors.

Still hoping to see a trade with the Yankees for RH hitting CF Everson Pereira, who they signed out of Ven in 2017 - I think for about $1.5 mil. He played most of 2023 at AA/AAA with a .921 OPS in 300 AB. He played in the Eastern League and the International League so the Pirates should know him well. The Yankees need relievers and the Pirates have MLB quality RP's they can offer to plug that hole in CF.

Newman accepting a minor league contract is more verification of the quality trade made with the Reds to exchange Newman for Dauri Moreta before the 2023 season. Moreta was a major contributor out of the BP for 58 IP, 3.72 ERA, 76K/24BB, 0.8 fWAR

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Im not the sharpest tool in the shed, so just to confirm that the kid from the guerrero lineage that we are linked to wont be in this class since hes so young? Or did i mess up timelines

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He's too young. Can't tell without a birthdate, but it'll either be one or two years before he can sign.

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Yeah, I don’t know why it was really reported.

O’Neill Cruz has spent a lot of time in the vlad Guerrero house. I’m sure that has something to do with it.

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Oneil

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means we are about to pull off a blockbuster trade with the Blue Jays and Mets to land Vlad Jr in Pittsburgh

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Vlady and manoah take on the burgh

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Bellinger signing with the Mets kicks this off

Alonso to the Blue Jays

Vlad Jr, Manoah and Varsho to the Pirates

Endy, Jared Jones, Harrington Suwinski to the Mets

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