50 Comments

That last CBA was, finally, so damn good for younger players. Still adjusting to seeing $750k entry salary.

Expand full comment

Capra just must have a good agent, because it's 720k in 2023

In reality, his rate must he a tad higher because he signed a contract as a MiFA

Expand full comment

Cole Tucker returns! Good for him

Expand full comment

Thought I had already replied, but here goes - 311/419/459/878 OPS. Putting the ball in play - 42 Walks, only 51 K's. Glad to see him in a positive situation.

Expand full comment

.311/419/459/878 OPS and listed as a CF? Sure it's the PCL, but he has 42 Walks to only 51 K. Really glad to see him on what I would call the Plus side.

Expand full comment

Read on Twitter (X?) that when Selby has his control he is unhittable. Unfortunately, one never knows which Selby will appear on a given day.

Expand full comment

That sounds like the Pirates pitching staff as a whole...

Expand full comment

BA site is being poo, but IIRC, they give him three 60 grade pitches, with 40 grade control

Expand full comment

Can we trade a 60 for a 40?

Expand full comment

Ill counter your with international bonus pool money

Expand full comment

We should at least look into it

Expand full comment

Per Mackey, Colin Selby and Thomas Hatch coming up.

So no Jared Jones. 😢😢

Expand full comment

Ethan puts all that work into figuring out current payroll to the last dime, and less than 5 hours later, the Pirates make two moves and it’s outdated. Isn’t that always the way?

Expand full comment

It's a never ending job, and I'm okay with that. It gives me something to do.

I have numbers as far back as 2012 that I still update as I find more out, so it's nothing new.

Expand full comment

A little surprising to see Yerry go. He’s pitched pretty well. Which is odd considering he’s been horrible in AAA.

Expand full comment

He has options?

Expand full comment

His expected stats arent even that far off, puzzling to say the least

Expand full comment

Based on what john was saying, maybe jones will come up for one of them closer to when he could actually start

Expand full comment

If we believe they would promote him, my guess is that it would come some time after August 18th. That'd be around the date when he wouldn't be able to accrue 45 days, therefore he could maintain rookie status going into 2024 (unless he'd somehow miraculously hit 50.1 IP, which I wouldn't see happening). He'd get his cup of coffee, and theoretically be eligible for a PPI pick, assuming he's on at least 2 of the 3 pre-season Top 100 lists (he should be, unless he just got absolutely bombed).

Expand full comment

September days don't count towards rookie of the year status. That was created because a lot of guys used to come up in September multiple times before they were ready to stick. I personally think he should ride out the season in Indianapolis unless he has some miraculous turn around. He has a 4.50 ERA and he just walked five guys in his last game. He doesn't need to be added to the 40-man this off-season, so I see no reason to take up a spot with him over the winter just to get a couple of big league starts. Let him be added next year when he's ready to go

Expand full comment

They do now, since the new CBA

Expand full comment

I did not know that. Interesting decision, but I guess with smaller expansion it makes sense that you'll probably get playing time. I still don't think that they bring him up though, but this FO has done some things odd from the norm

Expand full comment

I realized when I was doing my personal top 100 tracking list and numbers weren't matching up

Expand full comment

Started to think they may even consider Ashcraft, since he's eligible and is showing legit stuff. Or in the least I think there's a good chance they protect him.

Expand full comment

Big brain stuff here

Expand full comment

Some prospect notes:

Tsung-Che Cheng has the longest active hitting streak in the Eastern League, going 19 for 52 with four doubles, one home run, five RBIs and a .393 OBP. The Pirates’ No. 25 prospect, Cheng has made up for a slow start to his time in Altoona and has his batting average up to .281 on the season.

Anthony Solometo leads all Pirates minor leaguers with a 2.73 ERA and ranks second with 104 strikeouts. The Pirates’ No. 4 prospect, Solometo has a 3.48 ERA in seven starts for the Curve.

Bubba Chandler, the Pirates’ No. 8 prospect, has a 0.40 ERA with 24 strikeouts and a 0.62 WHIP in his last four starts

Expand full comment

Great job explaining things non-numbers people, like me, don’t get. Saving money is great if there’s a plan to spend it to buy something worth having. One of the main questions I have, and one I realize no one except BC and the Nutting can answer, is will the Pirates spend this money and more on quality multi-year free agents to actually improve the team or will they keep playing the “rent-a-veteran to trade” game? What they do will be telling as to whether they really want to build a winner or not.

Expand full comment

I know where I’d place my money on, unfortunately.

Expand full comment

So, Suero has the next two years to impress enough to be protected from the Rule V draft? If so, I hope he makes it an easy decision for the Bucs to protect. That’ll mean it was a good trade.

I hope Falter impresses enough to be part of our rotation next year, or at the very least a good lefty reliever.

Expand full comment

If Falter can be a 4 or 5 starter great, or a long middle relief lefty out of the pen 2 or 3 inning guy good.

Expand full comment

ALWAYS good to see an Ethan Hullihen post!

Expand full comment

Yay! Love your work Ethan - great to see you here.

Expand full comment

Is there any idea of how much international pool the pirates have now?

Expand full comment

My understanding is that it's over $1 million

Expand full comment

Thanks

Expand full comment

I thought it was like a mil (if we got the rangers full ~700k), but someone with better info should probably answer lol

Expand full comment

Maybe we can get in a bidding war with the dodgers on the pitcher from Korea.

Expand full comment

You can only get it in increments of 250,000, hopefully they had 750,000.

Expand full comment

Great stuff as always, much appreciated!

Expand full comment

Wow this is absolutely fantastic stuff Ethan! Glad to have your contributions here :)

Expand full comment

Welcome to the BoD squad

Expand full comment

IT'S NOT A CULT.

Expand full comment

JOIN THE FIST

Expand full comment

*Inserts join us gif*

Expand full comment

*Insert one of us (from wolf of wall street) gif"

Expand full comment