Off topic but what would a trade for Brandon Lowe and Taylor Ward look like? Get both of those bats and move Gonzales to SS. Then you have yourself a deep solid lineup. Then grab minter and Leclerc for bullpen. You are still around $100M in payroll and you add two 20+ HR guys with two years of control and legit bullpen arms.
I’m just not sure what you would need to give up for Ward and Lowe though.
Two thoughts, first, for some reason it is not a lock Keller and Jones will be around by April. Which is stupid. But God forbid the Pirates improve the team by spending some money. No choice but to trade from their starting pitching to get another hitter or two. Second, when the only other team to do as well as the Pirates with this particular stat is literally one of the worst teams in MLB history then perhaps this stat is not a good correlation to team success.
It’s not a lock because they may get bowled over with an offer. Such as the Jones for Jackson Holliday rumors from last year. Anyway, it doesn’t appear they’re actively shopping either. They also can’t control if other teams ask about the arms, the Bucs respond, and then other teams release that news or their demands to the media. Big markets do that a lot.
Fully agree this org needs to spend more than what they’ve spent so far to make even incremental improvements. But getting preemptively mad about a scenario that hasn’t happened or isn’t likely to happen doesn’t make a lot of sense.
My thought on this subject is both means a lock for good players on the roster come April. Either both are on the roster and if either are moved it would mean another team paid a hefty price and the pitcher moved would bring back quality in the lineup. Neither will be moved for prospects.
Are you sure about that? I can see Keller being moved to save some money and for some lotto type prospects. But you are right on Jones. He is inexpensive now so Pirates will want and would get a good haul for him.
The Pirates need to retain his payroll for the time being so that they do not end up in the situation that the A’s and the Marlins are in right now. I think they keep him for sure until Bubba pushes his way into the rotation unless they get a great deal.
Well I dont care how the Splinker is categorized. It’s the best pitch I’ve seen in years. Could see it ending up there with Gooden’s curve, Ryan’s fastball, Johan’s changeup, Rivera’s cutter, and Halladay’s sinker.
Well for as much into analytics as I am, this is the right way to think about it. Really doesn't matter how it grades out because on the field, it's a dominant pitch
I'll be happy if the first third of 2024 version of Jones shows up more than anything else. Basically the guy who walked 1 batter a game. Any other improvement / new pitches is gravy.
Off topic but what would a trade for Brandon Lowe and Taylor Ward look like? Get both of those bats and move Gonzales to SS. Then you have yourself a deep solid lineup. Then grab minter and Leclerc for bullpen. You are still around $100M in payroll and you add two 20+ HR guys with two years of control and legit bullpen arms.
I’m just not sure what you would need to give up for Ward and Lowe though.
Two thoughts, first, for some reason it is not a lock Keller and Jones will be around by April. Which is stupid. But God forbid the Pirates improve the team by spending some money. No choice but to trade from their starting pitching to get another hitter or two. Second, when the only other team to do as well as the Pirates with this particular stat is literally one of the worst teams in MLB history then perhaps this stat is not a good correlation to team success.
It’s not a lock because they may get bowled over with an offer. Such as the Jones for Jackson Holliday rumors from last year. Anyway, it doesn’t appear they’re actively shopping either. They also can’t control if other teams ask about the arms, the Bucs respond, and then other teams release that news or their demands to the media. Big markets do that a lot.
Fully agree this org needs to spend more than what they’ve spent so far to make even incremental improvements. But getting preemptively mad about a scenario that hasn’t happened or isn’t likely to happen doesn’t make a lot of sense.
My thought on this subject is both means a lock for good players on the roster come April. Either both are on the roster and if either are moved it would mean another team paid a hefty price and the pitcher moved would bring back quality in the lineup. Neither will be moved for prospects.
Are you sure about that? I can see Keller being moved to save some money and for some lotto type prospects. But you are right on Jones. He is inexpensive now so Pirates will want and would get a good haul for him.
The Pirates need to retain his payroll for the time being so that they do not end up in the situation that the A’s and the Marlins are in right now. I think they keep him for sure until Bubba pushes his way into the rotation unless they get a great deal.
Well I dont care how the Splinker is categorized. It’s the best pitch I’ve seen in years. Could see it ending up there with Gooden’s curve, Ryan’s fastball, Johan’s changeup, Rivera’s cutter, and Halladay’s sinker.
Well for as much into analytics as I am, this is the right way to think about it. Really doesn't matter how it grades out because on the field, it's a dominant pitch
Jones is working on adding the splinker to his pitch mix.
I'll be happy if the first third of 2024 version of Jones shows up more than anything else. Basically the guy who walked 1 batter a game. Any other improvement / new pitches is gravy.
That, with his fastball and slider, should really just be a crime.
Seems unfair. (:
That would be a splendid outcome!