Minter and Leclerc signed today. Two guys I was hoping they’d add. At this point with Winker gone and giants pursuing grichuk. Is our last hope a splash for profar?
One year 10 million. If we had that to spend on a reliever, I would have wanted us to get Aroldis back. Especially with Denny Santana saying what a help he was to his recent success.
I also find that question to be scintillating, which means I have a major pirates fandom problem. In reality I think there are about 10 guys you could make a case for.
The only thing that I have seen is that the Pirates were "showing interest" in Grichuk, and then the Giants called and offered him an actual MLB-contract. The Giants need someone to platoon with Yastrzemski, so it is a good fit for them. That pretty much puts the Pirates out on Grichuck if history is any guide, since Cherington's "interest" only extends to players in whom no one else is interested.
It's not that I don't mind Grichuk, but a team like the Dbacks deployed him perfectly (career high wRC+) and let him eat vs lefties and didn't let him get overexposed. He and Joc were a match made in heaven.
I think you alluded to yesterday, if the Pirates sign a guy like Grichuk and Jack goes bust again, you have a problem. They'll overexpose Grichuk like they did with Joe and you're struggling to stay above replacement in RF.
Now, if Jack does his part, you might have a 5-win RF platoon.
I think with all the clickbait garbage out there, a "legit" article like "showing interest" may get regurgitated as something that sounds like they signed the guy.
I don't do social media, so I am not sure what goes on there. I live in a small town where everyone is a gossip and rumors fly daily about who is sleeping with whom and who is doing what. I can only imagine the scale of this sort of thing when it becomes global. I am just going by what I read on baseballtraderumors, which can be a little gossipy itself, but not so much that it is wholly unreliable.
Padres signed a couple of international free agents with large bonuses. That has to be a pretty clear sign that Sasaki is headed to LA. Wonder if the fix was in from the start.
And if it's the Dodgers, that's still better for us than the Padres. The Dodgers are nearly a lock for the postseason but we could end up competing with the Padres for a WC spot.
Wild card spot? That's funny. This offense will be near the bottom in baseball. The team is not any better then how it ended last year......which was pretty bad.
Or the Jays, who just acquired $2MM in pool money from the Guardians. Hoping for the Jays, and if they sign Sasaki they might become my AL team--been looking for one for a while.
No doubt the fix was in? I mean, if Roki goes to LAD, he’s going to hands down the best team with some of his countrymen to help his transition to a new country and culture. Sounds more like common sense rather than tin foil hat territory.
Agree it just makes sense for him. Good team. Great at developing pitching. Lots of endorsement opportunities. Closer to home than an east coast team. And we could go on.
If ballerina struggled with the community in the burgh there is no way in hell he will last in NY. Personally hope he recovers and well for us or who ever ends up trading for him.
I'm a big Key fan, but if the Yankees were willing to trade a top prospect, I'd be okay with moving him and hoping that Triolo or Yorke or Peguero could fill the need at 3B.
Yeah I think Triolo would perform better than him for a full season at this point becuase hayes’ back. Hayes will always miss 40ish games and will struggle for long periods due to the back. Triolo may not have the ceiling but I think he performs very similarly to Hayes over the course of a full year.
I saw that a writer proposed Key for the Martian, O Cabrera, and messinger. I would personally pack Keys possessions and drive him to the airport for that package. As much as I love the player I fear that he will always be battling these chronic back issues.
This franchise has a solid, mature SP in Mitch Keller, two 2024 Rookies in Skenes and Jones who led the Rotation last year, and one of the best SP Prospects in Baseball, Bubba Chandler, who could be up early in 2025. We also have Johan Oviedo (now back from TJ), who gave us 32 Starts, 4.31 ERA in 2023, LHSP Bailey Falter who gave us 28 Starts, 4.43 ERA last year, and another young AAA SP, Thomas Harrington also ready to be up in 2025. Can we get them some help? I just listed 7 SP's and an 8th could be Braxton Ashcraft who managed 14 Starts between AA/AAA with a 2.84 ERA last year.
We need some NOW bats, and there are probably 20 teams out there right now who need Starting Pitching. If we do not have money to spend, then we have to trade the resources we do have to find a way to compete. It's that simple - buy at least one MOTO Hitter, preferably LH or Switch, or try to trade pitching for same.
The true answer is to buy a guy like Santander for 2/$45 and keep the pitching for use later. Paying Santander will take the Pirates all the way up to near teams like the Reds and Brewers (about $103 mil for 2025 player salaries).
Right, you're stating what you think they should do. I wasn't specific. I just don't see this FO/Owner pull the trigger on a trade or FA signing that moves the offensive needle at this time. Hope I'm wrong, but I see the "win from within" narrative to start the season.
https://x.com/BucsBasement/status/1879220477077676509
If the "sell the team" have a couple good lawyers in their group, Bob might have just opened a window for a class action case for price gouging.
Toronto is trying to move some serious international pool space at a bargin.
Minter and Leclerc signed today. Two guys I was hoping they’d add. At this point with Winker gone and giants pursuing grichuk. Is our last hope a splash for profar?
A’s sign Leclerc.
damn. i'm out, bro. these guys...
One year 10 million. If we had that to spend on a reliever, I would have wanted us to get Aroldis back. Especially with Denny Santana saying what a help he was to his recent success.
Griffin got an invite to spring training with the big club.
As a rule, they seem to invite all their top draft picks to camp to get a look.
I hope they invite Sanford as well, sure seems like Griffin looks at himself as an outfielder that can play shortstop.
Pirates snagged another cheap pen arm in chase Shugart from the Red Sox. They seem to be collecting a lot of back of the 40 man fodder.
I believe that puts him at number 41 on the Pirates 40 man roster. Who gets cut by the Pirates, assuming that is their next move?
I also find that question to be scintillating, which means I have a major pirates fandom problem. In reality I think there are about 10 guys you could make a case for.
I will take Tristan Gray for $200 Alec!!!!!
No way!! We're SO close to cornering the market on AAAA middle IFs!!!
Need to add Samad Taylor to the mix.
Hey Yo.
I saw that Grichuk was signing with the Pirates somewhere... a guy from mlb.com had the story.... but that details were not made public.
Have seen nothing else about it. Not any stories about how he fits into our right field conundrum or any such.
So what's up? Did we sign the guy or did we not sign the guy?
Anyone?
Buhler?
PS: posted on the other thread today too, about this lovely article about Armstrong Muhoozie, over in The Athletic:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6064063/2025/01/16/pirates-pittsburgh-uganda-armstrong-muhoozi/
--------------------
“The way I run this thing you’d think I knew something about it.”
-Wabbit
The only thing that I have seen is that the Pirates were "showing interest" in Grichuk, and then the Giants called and offered him an actual MLB-contract. The Giants need someone to platoon with Yastrzemski, so it is a good fit for them. That pretty much puts the Pirates out on Grichuck if history is any guide, since Cherington's "interest" only extends to players in whom no one else is interested.
It's not that I don't mind Grichuk, but a team like the Dbacks deployed him perfectly (career high wRC+) and let him eat vs lefties and didn't let him get overexposed. He and Joc were a match made in heaven.
I think you alluded to yesterday, if the Pirates sign a guy like Grichuk and Jack goes bust again, you have a problem. They'll overexpose Grichuk like they did with Joe and you're struggling to stay above replacement in RF.
Now, if Jack does his part, you might have a 5-win RF platoon.
Big IF.
I think with all the clickbait garbage out there, a "legit" article like "showing interest" may get regurgitated as something that sounds like they signed the guy.
I don't do social media, so I am not sure what goes on there. I live in a small town where everyone is a gossip and rumors fly daily about who is sleeping with whom and who is doing what. I can only imagine the scale of this sort of thing when it becomes global. I am just going by what I read on baseballtraderumors, which can be a little gossipy itself, but not so much that it is wholly unreliable.
Padres signed a couple of international free agents with large bonuses. That has to be a pretty clear sign that Sasaki is headed to LA. Wonder if the fix was in from the start.
And if it's the Dodgers, that's still better for us than the Padres. The Dodgers are nearly a lock for the postseason but we could end up competing with the Padres for a WC spot.
Wild card spot? That's funny. This offense will be near the bottom in baseball. The team is not any better then how it ended last year......which was pretty bad.
Or the Jays, who just acquired $2MM in pool money from the Guardians. Hoping for the Jays, and if they sign Sasaki they might become my AL team--been looking for one for a while.
Plus clear the way for Bubba to win ROY!
No doubt about it.
No doubt the fix was in? I mean, if Roki goes to LAD, he’s going to hands down the best team with some of his countrymen to help his transition to a new country and culture. Sounds more like common sense rather than tin foil hat territory.
Agree it just makes sense for him. Good team. Great at developing pitching. Lots of endorsement opportunities. Closer to home than an east coast team. And we could go on.
Anyone see Yankees writers proposing the Yankees trade for Hayes for top 10 prospect? Let’s do it now if there is real interest!
If ballerina struggled with the community in the burgh there is no way in hell he will last in NY. Personally hope he recovers and well for us or who ever ends up trading for him.
I'm a big Key fan, but if the Yankees were willing to trade a top prospect, I'd be okay with moving him and hoping that Triolo or Yorke or Peguero could fill the need at 3B.
Yeah I think Triolo would perform better than him for a full season at this point becuase hayes’ back. Hayes will always miss 40ish games and will struggle for long periods due to the back. Triolo may not have the ceiling but I think he performs very similarly to Hayes over the course of a full year.
I saw that a writer proposed Key for the Martian, O Cabrera, and messinger. I would personally pack Keys possessions and drive him to the airport for that package. As much as I love the player I fear that he will always be battling these chronic back issues.
LOL
The only way that trade makes sense is if the Pirates include around $50 million. That is one lazy writer!
honestly i just thought joshua was funny with that second line.
He didn’t mentioned he was an Uber driver.
100% agree!
More from "Baseball Wit and Wisdom" as we bundle ourselves and our kids on cloudy dark mornings, counting the days until spring training:
"Tell a ballplayer something a thousand times, then tell him again. Because that might be the time he'll understand something."
-- Paul Richards (manager of White Sox/Orioles, 19551-1961/1976)
J-Ro addresses his laundry situation by opening the hamper and tossing one sock in the direction of the washing machine.
Nickname for DJ Stewart: One Sock
Looks like the Stew is on the other foot.
Not sure we see a true answer for the OF until the trade deadline and that's if the team is somehow contending.
Trade deadline 2025?
This franchise has a solid, mature SP in Mitch Keller, two 2024 Rookies in Skenes and Jones who led the Rotation last year, and one of the best SP Prospects in Baseball, Bubba Chandler, who could be up early in 2025. We also have Johan Oviedo (now back from TJ), who gave us 32 Starts, 4.31 ERA in 2023, LHSP Bailey Falter who gave us 28 Starts, 4.43 ERA last year, and another young AAA SP, Thomas Harrington also ready to be up in 2025. Can we get them some help? I just listed 7 SP's and an 8th could be Braxton Ashcraft who managed 14 Starts between AA/AAA with a 2.84 ERA last year.
We need some NOW bats, and there are probably 20 teams out there right now who need Starting Pitching. If we do not have money to spend, then we have to trade the resources we do have to find a way to compete. It's that simple - buy at least one MOTO Hitter, preferably LH or Switch, or try to trade pitching for same.
The true answer is to buy a guy like Santander for 2/$45 and keep the pitching for use later. Paying Santander will take the Pirates all the way up to near teams like the Reds and Brewers (about $103 mil for 2025 player salaries).
I'll once again remind Pirate fans that the 2024 Reds won exactly a single game more than the 2024 Pirates.
Yinz guys talk like they're the Big Red Machine reincarnate.
All the way up...
Right, you're stating what you think they should do. I wasn't specific. I just don't see this FO/Owner pull the trigger on a trade or FA signing that moves the offensive needle at this time. Hope I'm wrong, but I see the "win from within" narrative to start the season.
Of course we have the money to spend. It's just ripping it out from the miserly grip of our out of touch owner.