Over/under for how many times I check MLBTR before the Pirates make a significant move? Probably something like 210 (~10 times per day over the next three weeks with some hope that the Winter Meetings are in that range, but that will also increase my daily checks) :).
Going 300K over the projected arbitration value isn't a big deal but still implies that they're pretty high on Borucki, and if he maintains his success we could have a pretty good pen.
As an aside, I was glad to see that the A's tendered Andujar. Not a surprise, especially with the announcement of their move to Las Vegas, but still somewhat interesting that a franchise known for low payrolls is willing to pay the projected increase via arb for a player who spent almost all of '23 in the minors.
I like the possible options for Borucki more than most fans and am happy they paid him the 1.6 million. The A's paid Andujar 1.7 million. I was a little surprised to see Thomas Hatch make the cut.
Mackey reported that "the Pirates are optimistic they can bring back both (Bido and Stratton) on minor league deals." That makes me think that they have a handshake agreement, and because of the way teams go through relievers these days we need more relievers than the 40-man can protect. That probably doesn't guarantee that they won't leave for a major league deal, but it seems much more likely these are our first two NRI's for '24. If so, it's a smart move.
The flipside is that if we do lose either Bido or Stratton to a major league deal with another team, it would reinforce concerns about our FO's ability to evaluate value of our players. For having a mediocre roster at best, we seem to lose more than our share of players to waiver claims and last year's Rule 5 Draft (when including the minor league phase).
Nice thought about getting either or both back on MiLB Contracts. However, is losing 11 players in the 2023 Rule 5 a knock on the Pirates ability to evaluate talent or a pat on the back for being able to evaluate and sign talent?
Of those 11, I think 8 were pitchers, one (Del Rosario) was an A ball SP. Did losing those other 7, mostly RP's, have a negative impact on the Pirate System? Not in my opinion. Per FG, the Pirates Relievers were 25th of 30 in 2022, and 11th of 30 in 2023. Very strong improvement. The system is still very deep with Pitching, and I expect that more Pirate farmhands, especially RP's, will be lost again this year in the MiLB portion of the Rule 5, simply because the BP at the MLB level is young and full.
Add Stratton, Bido to the list of guys like Contreras, Ortiz, Bolton, MacGregor, Kranick, Shortridge, Selby, Toribio, Alldred, Dombkowski, Samaniego, etc. to the group looking for SP/RP jobs with the Pirates. I have hope that BRU will be back early, but probably on limited pitch counts. Hoping Kranick, Contreras, and/or Ortiz can show up at ST and establish their abilities to help the Rotation at least through mid-season.
Yeah, the minor league losses weren't a big deal and it wasn't the quality but the quantity that caught my attention. It's not like I ever worried about having lost an impact player but if nothing else, it created more work for someone (or more than one) in the FO because it left them with roster spots to fill. That's not nothing, and may have contributed to what felt like pretty blah seasons at the upper levels.
Not upset, but a little surprised by these 2. They seemed to like Stratton & he did decent in his MLB cameo. Bido I thought would stick around just because they need to fill some innings, especially early in the season.
A little bit of a surprise, but could Stratton have displaced any of Holderman, Moreta, and Mlodzinski as a RH late inning specialist?
BC has done well in creating a solid BP adding Bednar in 2021 (Musgrove Trade), "Hold-Man" from the Mets (Vogelbach) in 2022, Moreta from Cincy (Newman) prior to 2023, Hernandez (2023 Rule 5), Borucki (2023 Waiver from Toronto), and Mlodzinski (2020 Draft).
Probably just leaving room for the incoming yamamoto addition
Over/under for how many times I check MLBTR before the Pirates make a significant move? Probably something like 210 (~10 times per day over the next three weeks with some hope that the Winter Meetings are in that range, but that will also increase my daily checks) :).
Going 300K over the projected arbitration value isn't a big deal but still implies that they're pretty high on Borucki, and if he maintains his success we could have a pretty good pen.
As an aside, I was glad to see that the A's tendered Andujar. Not a surprise, especially with the announcement of their move to Las Vegas, but still somewhat interesting that a franchise known for low payrolls is willing to pay the projected increase via arb for a player who spent almost all of '23 in the minors.
I like the possible options for Borucki more than most fans and am happy they paid him the 1.6 million. The A's paid Andujar 1.7 million. I was a little surprised to see Thomas Hatch make the cut.
Hatch probably shouldn’t rest easy. They’re going to need more than their current three open roster spots.
Mackey reported that "the Pirates are optimistic they can bring back both (Bido and Stratton) on minor league deals." That makes me think that they have a handshake agreement, and because of the way teams go through relievers these days we need more relievers than the 40-man can protect. That probably doesn't guarantee that they won't leave for a major league deal, but it seems much more likely these are our first two NRI's for '24. If so, it's a smart move.
The flipside is that if we do lose either Bido or Stratton to a major league deal with another team, it would reinforce concerns about our FO's ability to evaluate value of our players. For having a mediocre roster at best, we seem to lose more than our share of players to waiver claims and last year's Rule 5 Draft (when including the minor league phase).
Nice thought about getting either or both back on MiLB Contracts. However, is losing 11 players in the 2023 Rule 5 a knock on the Pirates ability to evaluate talent or a pat on the back for being able to evaluate and sign talent?
Of those 11, I think 8 were pitchers, one (Del Rosario) was an A ball SP. Did losing those other 7, mostly RP's, have a negative impact on the Pirate System? Not in my opinion. Per FG, the Pirates Relievers were 25th of 30 in 2022, and 11th of 30 in 2023. Very strong improvement. The system is still very deep with Pitching, and I expect that more Pirate farmhands, especially RP's, will be lost again this year in the MiLB portion of the Rule 5, simply because the BP at the MLB level is young and full.
Add Stratton, Bido to the list of guys like Contreras, Ortiz, Bolton, MacGregor, Kranick, Shortridge, Selby, Toribio, Alldred, Dombkowski, Samaniego, etc. to the group looking for SP/RP jobs with the Pirates. I have hope that BRU will be back early, but probably on limited pitch counts. Hoping Kranick, Contreras, and/or Ortiz can show up at ST and establish their abilities to help the Rotation at least through mid-season.
Nice speaking with you again.
Yeah, the minor league losses weren't a big deal and it wasn't the quality but the quantity that caught my attention. It's not like I ever worried about having lost an impact player but if nothing else, it created more work for someone (or more than one) in the FO because it left them with roster spots to fill. That's not nothing, and may have contributed to what felt like pretty blah seasons at the upper levels.
Not upset, but a little surprised by these 2. They seemed to like Stratton & he did decent in his MLB cameo. Bido I thought would stick around just because they need to fill some innings, especially early in the season.
Stratton was surprising. Probably reflects them figuring they need to add a ton of pitching and the 40-man has to get more heavily oriented to SPs.
Bit surprised about Stratton. Guess BC wasn’t sold on him fixing his control issues. Probably get claimed and turn into another Clay Holmes.
A little bit of a surprise, but could Stratton have displaced any of Holderman, Moreta, and Mlodzinski as a RH late inning specialist?
BC has done well in creating a solid BP adding Bednar in 2021 (Musgrove Trade), "Hold-Man" from the Mets (Vogelbach) in 2022, Moreta from Cincy (Newman) prior to 2023, Hernandez (2023 Rule 5), Borucki (2023 Waiver from Toronto), and Mlodzinski (2020 Draft).
You’re probably right. He’s a luxury, not a mainstay.