42 Comments

Off thread,

Is Dewey Robinson still with the Pirates?

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Kind of off the thread

Heading to Bradenton for the Breakout game March 14th

They release rosters on March 7th

Any one care to take a stab at starting position players?

Unsure if adding more NRI

Is there any chance i see

Brannigan

Cheng

Johnson

Sightler

Trey Gonzalez

Lonnie White

Abe Gutierrez

De los Santos

Jebb

Terrerro

Gorski?

Will he feel like me, I was almost 11 yo making my 1st Holy Communion,

12 was confirmation

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The Diego Castillo saga has calmed down. The O’s DFAd him and was not claimed this time. He has been outrighted.

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Those guys on the cusp of a 40 man roster should probably never unpack their bags. I think it was Lewin Diaz that was picked up and DFAd by like 4 different teams last year.

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Sources saying Keller heading to Arizona for Druw Jones and Brandon Pfaadt

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just like Cabrera was coming to Pittsburgh?

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I heard it was Eury

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I don’t think the Cabrera deal is necessarily dead. Thinking it hinges on Anderson sayin yay or nay ta the deal offered to him by the Fish.

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I think it's more likely that it depends on how serious Braxton Garrett's shoulder soreness is. If he's expected to miss significant time, they'd be smart to hold on to Cabrera until the trade deadline or next offseason. Of course they'd be assuming some risk that he could lose value in that time.

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Yes, that on top of the Anderson offer. The deal was being talked about and getting close before Garrett came in with the shoulder and about the time they made the Anderson offer.

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then we should make the same proposal for Garrett

arent´ all Marlins starters damaged goods anyways?

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What I struggle with re: Cabrera deal, is that the Fish need a starting MLB shortstop and want to contend now. What it appears Pirates can offer are players who may not even win the Pirates starting 2B job. Peggy I still think could play short, but I don't see any of the Pirate players appearing ready to slide into a playoff hopeful teams starting SS job. It doesn't mean they can't make the trade and Fish like their future value, I just don't think it fixes their current hole with the certainty they would want.

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I've wondered about this too, but perhaps they'd take Williams as someone with a floor of a solid defensive SS, Peguero or Triolo as someone with upside, and then one of our better pitching prospects to backfill for trading Cabrera.

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I am surprised that they are not on the horn with San Diego for Bogerts

Bogerts to Florida

Musgrove to Pittsburgh

Suwinski and Eduardo to San Diego

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they´d probably want Capusano too

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and Gary Sheffield for Trevor Hoffman

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Nunez just a non-prospect now?

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He didn't get an NRI, so that suggests the Pirates aren't impressed.

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We'll never have a real 1b, will we?

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In an org that thinks hitting isn’t important? No.

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Apparently they don't think hitting, fielding (Suwinski, Reynolds, Grandal, Cruz, etc) or starting pitching are important and especially not winning. Really, the only important things in baseball are batters box passivity, positional flexibility, and cheap salaries according to Cherington and by extension Nutting.

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If the three starting pitchers listed have a snowballs chance in hell of making a roster it would be with the Pirates.

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Sign Skenes to a 7 or 8 year deal now and skip the service time crap. He may not be ready for opening day (or maybe he is), but he shouldn't wait until mid-June.

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I'll bet a mortgage payment they don't hold him down til June if he's healthy and dominating.

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Bold bet.....unless you're a renter.

Cole got called up June 11. I'll bet

two mortgage payments they hold him down til Super 2 date.

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there's 3 times to bring him up. Opening day, after two weeks into season (guaranteeing 2024 won't count as one of his 6 full season) and after super two deadline. I think with the right injury he could come up before super two deadline... but a framework of an extension would need to be agreed upon.

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Calling him up just after full year eligibility would be malpractice, as it would just increase his chances of finishing Top 2 in ROY and getting a full year anyways. But they wouldn't get the PPI pick.

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Is that because you know the days I will going to Indy this year are from May 27th to June 5th? If the PIrates are 15 games out of first, do you think that could keep him in the minors longer?

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On May 27 last year, Pgh lost to Seattle to drop to 26-25. If they’re 15 out on May 27 in 2024, means they’ve probably won 12-15 games total. You think this group is that bad?

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Nothing surprises me with the Pirates. I do think where the Pirates are at in the standings has something to do with when Skenes gets called up.

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Totally disagree that Jared Jones will not make the final 26 or not be called up before mid-season. Jones had 10 starts at AA, 44 IP, 9.5/3.2 K/BB/9, 2.23 ERA. He earned the promotion where he had 15 Starts at AAA, 82 IP, 10.9/3.7 K/BB/9, 4.72 ERA.

I thought the higher ERA might be due to fatigue so I went to check his last 3 games pitched - A Win for 7IP, 4H, 0 ER, 4K/1 BB. His next start was a No Decision where he threw 6 IP, 1H, 0 ER, 8K/1BB. In his last game pitched in 2023 he took a Loss for 4.2 IP, 6H, 2ER, 6K/2BB. So, after his first 12 Starts and 65 IP at AAA, in his final 3 Starts of 2023 he threw 17.2 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 1.02 ERA, 18K/4BB. Definitely enough in my eyes to earn him a promotion to the next level.

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He's not on the 40 man. Braxton Ashcraft is. He'll get a shot first.

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The comment was - "Totally disagree that Jared Jones will not make the final 26 or not be called up before mid-season." I like Ashcraft, but I doubt he will be ready before mid-season - only 26 IP at A+ and 20 IP at AA last year. I hope they continue to be careful with him and give him enough time at AAA in 2024 to prep for MLB. I think if Jones does not make the final 26, he will still be called up before mid-season. Possibly as a RP getting acclimated and prepped to be an MLB SP.

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He’ll only make the final 26 if there are injuries.

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We are conducting MLB SP "tryouts" in ST that could continue through May. I expect Jones could be a part of that, or be used as a RP to get him acclimated to the speed at MLB. His numbers are too good to leave him at AAA.

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That’s not the final 26 now, is it Mel? You’ll twist yourself into any kind of pretzel logic to convince yourself Jones will be on the OD roster. Injuries to others is the only way it happens.

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What I took away from those last 3 starts was his use of pitches. Instead of using his 4 pitch mix, he was fastball/slider. I know he can get those by guys a couple times through the order but needs to use the full bag to reach his ceiling.

His control is definitely getting better but he still can get better command.

I think more time in Indy is needed unless his command and 4 pitch mix are ready. Fingers crossed 🤞

Apparently he was fairly dominant today in live batting practice. His strikeout game was strong.

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Thanks for the update on his work at ST 2024. I think in most cases, a team should expect a SP to have at least 3 pitches he can throw effectively. But, his numbers are strong even though he is primarily using only 2 pitches. Possibly be used as an MLB RP while he develops that 3rd Pitch, or other?

Other would be a valuable trade piece. We have possibly 10 excellent prospects that are SP's so it could be a situation where 2 or 3 could be excellent trade pieces for needed position players. CENTER FIELD!!!!! I keep mentioning CF Prospects Ceddanne Rafaela of Boston and Everson Pereira of the NYY. Rafaela was voted the Best Baserunner in the AA EL, and Best OF in the AAA IL. Pereira is probably more available based on the veteran OF's the Yankees have going into 2024. The Yankees need some bullpen help, and the Pirates are loaded with RP's. Both Rafaela and Pereira are RH hitters.

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I like Rafaela, not so much Pereira in center, think he's more of a corner outfielder. I personally like Jorge Barrosa as a centerfield target and he shouldn't cost much to aquire.

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Do you really trust him to do better than Ro, Ortiz, and QP? I don’t.

I think Jones would benefit from more time in Indy, and Pirates would benefit from seeing what at least one of those other 3 guys bring to the rotation to start the year.

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If the Pirates floated a rumor that they were willing to trade one of Ro, Ortiz, QP, or JJ, who do you think would get the most attention?

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If you’re saying Jones has more trade value than those other 3, than my response is maybe marginally at best.

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