42 Comments

Fangraphs DH rankings released today and the Buccos are 28th of 30 teams. Playing Cutch as everyday DH for $5m makes the MAT signing look like we got real bargain.

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Every year since he left the Pirates hes had between 1-2 WAR (except shortened 2020). And that’s usually with negative dWAR.

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With the signing of Rowdy Tellez, the Pirates really have 2 full time DHs.

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Exactly. And that's obviously a very bad thing.

@hoptown - The BBRef numbers are great but check out his Fangraphs profile... yikes.

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Pirates optioned Peguero and Jose Hernández.

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We have the worst mgmt team ever.

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Okay, I give up. WTF is Cherington doing? Option Perguero and keep Williams? I’ve never been impressed with his thinking, but has the guy had a stroke?

I know what he’ll say if asked because it’s so elementary and predictable. Triolo won the 2nd base job and he wants Gonzales and Peguero to play every day. Naturally that means keeping a basically worthless hitter (term used loosely) in Pittsburgh. Face it my friends, this clown has no interest in winning. He’ll keep his job as long as they’re rebuilding and the way he does it that means indefinitely.

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Bae rostered if healthy? I'm rather sick of "no-hit" Williams. I guess we'll see whether Triolo is for real or not.

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That would have been my first thought too, but I read yesterday that Mackey reported Bae will begin his running prgression next week and a trip on the injured list is almost assured.

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Does that mean Alika Williams beat out Peguero and Nick both?

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BC protected Alika all winter long. I guess he earned a roster spot, with his .500 OPS.

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It just means that Peguero is too valuable to have sit on a bench instead of getting daily at bats. It also means that they gonna let Cruz face a lot of lefties!!!

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I think it also means that Alika's bat will be in the line-up more than most people expected. Let's hope it is not another Josh Van Meter. Or it is going to mean that Rowdy Tellez will be in the field more than I would like to see. I was hoping Triolo would be able to spell him there.

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Cherington is a moron

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Correct take.

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He played for about a week in AAA last year. They brought him up far too soon. Better to correct an error than refuse to acknowledge it and bang your head against the wall staying with a bad decision.

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Bae must be ready to go as lefty bench and MIF cover.

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CBS projects Bae back April 15th.

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Who's this Burnes bum with a 9.28 ERA? O's are in trouble.

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I wouldn't trade Alika Williams for him!

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I’m a gambler, as long as the O’s cover most of the salary.

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Wyatt Langford makes TEX opening day roster. 🤔🤔🤔

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Early days but it’s looking like Langford is going to be the guy from among the 2023 draft position player prospects. Crews is batting .133 for the Nationals. Haven’t checked on Jenkins and Clark, but as high school kids they’re still a ways away.

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Not a surprise. Is it possible that Texas would rather have it’s best players on the roster to start the season instead of keeping them in the minors to save service time and money? What a revolutionary idea.

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Well Wyatt got into 44 games and 200 PA in the minors while Paul 5 games and 6 2/3 innings. For a pitcher I would rather he get a couple of months like Strasburg did and hopefully he does not catch the same injury bug that Steve did.

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You just gave reason number 23 I would like the Pirates to lock up Skenes to more than 6 years.

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Looks like the opening day line up!

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That presupposes that Skenes would agree to a deal with the possibility that multiple inflationary pressures could push a prospective free agent contract well over $40m/yr. (I'll look back and laugh when it ends up being $60m.)

He knows Nutting's Wallet isn't here for that. So he has to decide how much he wants to bet on himself. Or does he go full Hayes and basically discount 3.5 WAR production for about 1 WAR worth of pay.

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I don't see other top prospects Forest Whitley, Michael Kopech, Mackenzie Gore, Grayson Rodriguez or Nate Pearson locking up any long term deals yeat. I would like to think Skenes is better than that group, but in a worst case scenario he might only make 2 or 3 more million dollars. If Skenes is a stud from the start and doesn't sign a long term contract, his best case scenario might be a little over 60 million for the next 6 years. I think Skenes might take an 8 year $120 million or 9 year 140 million, if Bob ponies up right away. If he waits until year 3 or 4 to negotiate, you can color Skenes gone.

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Many of the stud type players like to bet on themselves and head through their Arb years and hit the market at the earliest possible time. See Gerrit Cole. He would not even talk to the Astros who were willing to pay huge money.

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That's why I think it is important to get to him early. Otherwise, it is Gerrit Cole all over again.

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Mar 22Edited

Blowout, blowout, failure to translate, actually good, bust

Nobody is signing pitchers to these deals period because the risk is absurd. Skenes is no better prospect than Gore or Pearson before they busted and the chances of 100mph arms making it through 8 healthy seasons is effectively zero.

Dumb money.

Deep breathe, we'll see Skenes soon enough.

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Thinking Skenes will be healthy for 8 years is almost impossible. Skenes is smart enough to know that and is why I think he might sign if the Pirates gamble now. Gore, Pearson and the pitchers I mentioned were rated the top prospects each year, while Skenes is rated better than those guys were. If you don't believe that, don't lock him up then. If you do believe he is better, I say try to get a few extra years out of him. If he is good and you wait, keeping him after year 6 will be also be impossible for the Pirates. $60m for 6 years is a drop in the bucket. Hopefully, my suggested number is way too hiigh and he would take a Jackson Chourio contract for 8 years 82 million.

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Yes. Teams, in general, do not sign pitchers to long-term deals until they have shown a track-record of success in the majors. Pitching is just too touch-and-go to be certain of a prospect until he has a decent sample size against MLB hitters. It is not the same as position-player prospects. That being said, Skenes is a better prospect than Gore or Pearson... still no guarantee though.

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LFJ

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