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Was listening to Donny Chadrick aka Donny Football hosting prior to the Pitt Pregame driving home from work tonight. Left it on even though pregame was not on yet cause he said was going to talk Pirates for the last segment. Started with Skenes and said totally agreed with sending him down to start the season. Then he almost made me drive off the word when he said word around the clubhouse and Front Office that the Jared Jones has a shot to break camp with the Bucs. Would be surprised if that happened myself but was a “Whoa!” moment.

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I had a random thought about a Jones extension, only if they feel he is ready for the majors. A 7 year deal for $35 million seems reasonable for both sides with 1 or 2 team options to follow. Something like

Year 1) $5 mil, of which $4 mil is a bonus.

Year 2) $2 mil. Year 3) $3 mil.

Year 4) $4 mil. Year 5) $6 mil.

Year 6) $7 mil. Year 7) $8 mil.

Team option $5 mil buyout or

Year 8) $15 million

So 7 year $40 million guaranteed or 8 years and $50 mil.

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Would you want the Pirates to do that extension? I still see a guy that is destined to be a late inning reliever rather than a top of a rotation arm.

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I don't think I would. I actually think it is a bit high with his current pitch mix. Just was thinking what it would take to lock him up if the pirates were very confident that he was at least a mid rotation starter.

Now a 6 year $24mil with a 2 year team option I'd be all for. Something like an average of $3mil a year ($18mil) with a $6mil signing bonus (total $24mil). The option buyouts of $3mil each year ($30mil total if option are declined). Each option year around $15mil, so 8 year $55mil possible. Not sure Jones would do it but it would still be reasonable for both sides.

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Yea, I hear ya on that. Im really curious to see what the Pirates do here in the next few years with extensions if some of these young players prove themselves.

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You either get ALL of 2024 with Skenes or ALL of 2030 with Skenes.

2024 he's on an innings limit and will be 22

2030 he's NOT on an innings limit and will be 28

I think this is such a dumb argument.

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I think I'd prefer they start Skenes in Altoona for 4 or 5 games. Gives him, Solo, Bubba, Harrington and it looks like Wolf a chance to grow and work together. That's a pretty stout group of potential starters.

I'd also like a lineup there to look something like this...

1) Cheng SS

2) Bowen CF

3) Termarr 2nd

4) Brannigan 3rd

5) Sightler 1st

6) Gutierrez C

7) T Gonzalez LF

8) toss up for RF

9) toss up for DH

Pitching rotation

1. Skenes 2. Solo 3. Bubba 4. Wolf

5. Harrington

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I get annoyed when every one of these situations is made out to be 2016 Kris Bryant and literally none of them ever actually come close.

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Who cares about 2030. Besides skenes will be pitching for someone else by then

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So...let's go with this argument. If you believe small markets need to trade players before they hit free agency (I call it the TB model), then the argument would be do they have to trade him in 2029(starts in minors this year) or 2028(starts in the majors). No matter how you predict the future (sans injury) you get an extra year by not starting him in the Majors. No brainer... send him to minors and manage his innings in 2024.

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You don’t think there’s a chance he could be extended like Keller or Hayes… or cutch or marte or Reynolds

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No, I don't think they'll have the budget, but that only further supports your original post. If they're going to do what they should and trade him in his walk year then it's that much more important they get the very best versions out of him.

I could care less about Super 2 but stuffing him on the Opening Day roster is the dumbest thing we've discussed in a winter full of malarkey.

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Yea, if you're gonna eventually trade him who cares about Super Two. Just get that extra year. He should be the next pitcher up after Jones. Hopefully no one breaks for two weeks. If by chance NO ONE breaks bring one or both up at midseason and send Roansy and Ortiz to the pen for a breather.

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If this is how they're looking at it, though, they better not call him up until there's not enough time to win rookie of the year. That might be hard to do if he's dominating and we get off to a good start.

(I agree with you. The new CBA just adds a wrinkle that wasn't there before.)

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Apparently Moreta will be gone a while. They're not saying TJ yet, but it sounds very likely.

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I hated to read that as he was one of my favorites coming out of the pen last year.

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too bad we lost Kranick. I'd like to see what he becomes as a reliever

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I think final OF spot goes to either Palacios, or someone who is capable of handling CF over CSN. Olivares struggling or getting injured I think would've been CSN's path, while also having needed to have a standout spring himself.

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I won’t argue with any of your predictions because after all these are the Pirates and most of us learned long ago not to expect too much. If Smith-Njigba makes the team out of the spring, it won’t last for long. He’ll be back in Indy or someone else’s minor leagues, if anyone wants him this time, by the beginning of May. Connor Joe is nothing more than an average utility player who is a terrible first-baseman and one appearance in CF does not make him a center-fielder.

There are also a couple of other guys listed who do nothing to excite interest nor improve the team, but there is also a mixture of younger guys who could push the team forward if they keep developing assuming BC doesn’t insist on playing veterans who just get in the way and have no chance of contributing much of anything. I hope those times have passed, but you never can tell with this guy.

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My take is I don’t see CSN or Palacios or Celestino making it over Gonzalez or Bae. I think they need another player that is IF capable.

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Gonzalez needs more time in the minors, and he probably never makes it to the bigs

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they will acquire Daulton Varsho before opening day

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My opinion on Williams is he stops infield singles from being singles to the outfield because the balls he gets to in the hole and up that middle while playing short are still singles because he has a very average arm.

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Celestino vs CSN is becoming somewhat of a debate in my mind, agree that palacios is probably dropping down due to injury

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You didn't include pitchers, but Mackey is reporting that Skenes will definitely start the season in the minors. No mention of whether or not that is AA or AAA. But he'll remain in the big league camp for now.

And absolutely no one should be surprised by this. Not even Joe Starkey and Paul Zeise.

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Shockingly, Poni and Mueller kick off the show talking Pens and the trade deadline…..maybe they simply do not know the Skenes to the minors news yet…..

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Are you “hate listening” to sports talk radio?

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Actually….yes. 🤣🤣🤪🤪. They just got done trashing the Pens. Then briefly semi trashed the PItt men’s team. Not a word about Skenes. Gotta quit listening though….my brain hurting…..

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Just was reaching for the phone to turn it off and….a passing mention about Skenes while giving the Pirates score. Surprised no off the deep end comments about sending Skenes down….

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I can't stand Poni & Muller....especially Poni.....I usually only make it about 15 minutes before I turn them off.....

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I used to listen to talk radio, but several years ago TheFAN really just turned me off forever. I now listen to audio books. Much better for my blood pressure.

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Poni and Mueller will be shocked….Shocked I tell ya!

The thing he really needs to do is to learn to pitch every 5 days. How to ramp up then work the off days to be ready to go again in 5. He never has had to do this. He will be back up sooner than later.

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