2014 Pirates

[thecrow124]

Well i'm in favor of trading a few of our regulars now. I thought we'd be taking advantage of walker and alvarez's cheap years, but since we're apparently planning to go after bad regulars to fill out a mediocre roster i would prefer that we just explore trades now so that we can get maximum value. Considering the return Smoak got it makes more sense than putting a guy like Loney opposite Walker and Alvarez and hoping for the best.

What return did Smoak get? I didn't even realize he got traded.

 

[Illinest]

What return did Smoak get? I didn't even realize he got traded.

Nm i thought i typed trumbo. I didn't mean to say smoak.
Trumbo plus two prospects for santiago and skaggs in a 3 team deal apparently. I barely even paid attention.

I don't see how you could rationally think that we're better off. We exceeded our pythagorean record for one thing, so we actually need to have more talent than last year if we're to have any hope of matching our win total.
Locke has never pitched like he did in the first half and probably never will again. Burnett is gone. Liriano was a huge question mark that most of us weren't particularly thrilled to acquire and even after an excellent 2013 campaign there should still be concerns about repeating that. Jones didn't have such a great season but he at least seemed to be a decent candidate for the strong half of a platoon.

In spite of his reputation Loney isn't a great defender if you dig through the advanced metrics, and even if he were, what good is excellent defense at 1B anyways? Loney's batting stats are so bad that everyone seems to have forgotten that even one of his best seasons is not very good. He supposedly wants 30 mill over 3 years. Wtf? I would've rather paid Jones in arbitration than commit to something like that.

Wilson is supposedly attracting heavy interest from other teams. I'd jump all over a decent trade. I like Wilson a lot but if someone offers a position player at a position of need then i'm ready to send him.

Supposedly looking at eric chavez and jason hammels now?

Let's just see what kind of interest we can drum up for Pedro.

 

[Darkstone42]

Corey Hart is still on the market. I wonder what it would take to get him. If he's healthy (a big if, I suppose), he could be a very solid bat.

 

[element1286]

Nm i thought i typed trumbo. I didn't mean to say smoak.
Trumbo plus two prospects for santiago and skaggs in a 3 team deal apparently. I barely even paid attention.

I don't see how you could rationally think that we're better off. We exceeded our pythagorean record for one thing, so we actually need to have more talent than last year if we're to have any hope of matching our win total.
Locke has never pitched like he did in the first half and probably never will again. Burnett is gone. Liriano was a huge question mark that most of us weren't particularly thrilled to acquire and even after an excellent 2013 campaign there should still be concerns about repeating that. Jones didn't have such a great season but he at least seemed to be a decent candidate for the strong half of a platoon.

In spite of his reputation Loney isn't a great defender if you dig through the advanced metrics, and even if he were, what good is excellent defense at 1B anyways? Loney's batting stats are so bad that everyone seems to have forgotten that even one of his best seasons is not very good. He supposedly wants 30 mill over 3 years. Wtf? I would've rather paid Jones in arbitration than commit to something like that.

Wilson is supposedly attracting heavy interest from other teams. I'd jump all over a decent trade. I like Wilson a lot but if someone offers a position player at a position of need then i'm ready to send him.

Supposedly looking at eric chavez and jason hammels now?

Let's just see what kind of interest we can drum up for Pedro.

You could interpret Pythag that way, but that's not how statistics work.

Obviously that is a hilarious ask by Loney, if the Pirates won't spend 14 million on AJ, I'd put the chances of them spending 30 only Loney at 0.0.

 

[element1286]

Also, Pedro sounds like a Jack Z kind of guy, I do like Pedro, but if they could swindle the M's, it would be well worth it.

 

[element1286]

Corey Hart is still on the market. I wonder what it would take to get him. If he's healthy (a big if, I suppose), he could be a very solid bat.

Agreed, only thing is they have the right handed first base option, and I doubt he can play OF anymore.

Good upside play, not sure he fits the roster.

 

[Darkstone42]

Agreed, only thing is they have the right handed first base option, and I doubt he can play OF anymore.

Good upside play, not sure he fits the roster.

True, unless you think he can play everyday at first, which makes Gaby just a bench bat. But that's a big chance to take on a guy, especially if he can't play the outfield.

I do think most of our best options will be in the trade market, though. Howard was mentioned, we were rumored to be in talks concerning Lind. I wouldn't mind either bat as the left-handed side of a platoon with Gaby, but both are pretty bad defensively at first.

 

[element1286]

True, unless you think he can play everyday at first, which makes Gaby just a bench bat. But that's a big chance to take on a guy, especially if he can't play the outfield.

I do think most of our best options will be in the trade market, though. Howard was mentioned, we were rumored to be in talks concerning Lind. I wouldn't mind either bat as the left-handed side of a platoon with Gaby, but both are pretty bad defensively at first.

New rumor is Logan Morrison from the Marlins.

I'm thinking roster construction is about the only way the Pirates are going to make an upgrade in the starting lineup at this point, ie having complimentary players who's strengths are the weaknesses of the current roster.

In that case, I'd say they need a LH first basemen (Loney, Barton, LoMo, Lind, Lambo), a backup glove man at short (Barmes, Paul Janish), and a super utility guy (Hairston, Infante, Harrison).

 

[Darkstone42]

New rumor is Logan Morrison from the Marlins.

I'm thinking roster construction is about the only way the Pirates are going to make an upgrade in the starting lineup at this point, ie having complimentary players who's strengths are the weaknesses of the current roster.

In that case, I'd say they need a LH first basemen (Loney, Barton, LoMo, Lind, Lambo), a backup glove man at short (Barmes, Paul Janish), and a super utility guy (Hairston, Infante, Harrison).

Unfortunately, I fear Infante will cost a great deal more than he's worth. I could see the Yankees shelling out about $10 million for him in a desperation move after losing Cano. Maybe years, too.

I do like Logan Morrison, though. He makes good contact and is largely pretty steady when he's healthy.

 

[element1286]

Unfortunately, I fear Infante will cost a great deal more than he's worth. I could see the Yankees shelling out about $10 million for him in a desperation move after losing Cano. Maybe years, too.

I do like Logan Morrison, though. He makes good contact and is largely pretty steady when he's healthy.

Agree about Infante, not sure the Yanks though since they just signed Kelly Johnson. But yea, who knows with the way the market is shaping up right now, Rajai Davis just got 10 million, only difference is Infante's skill is versatility, not sure that is worth as much as elite defense, but that's just me.

I'd sign up for LoMo of 2010 and 2011, not the LoMo of 2012 and 2013.

 

[Darkstone42]

Agree about Infante, not sure the Yanks though since they just signed Kelly Johnson. But yea, who knows with the way the market is shaping up right now, Rajai Davis just got 10 million, only difference is Infante's skill is versatility, not sure that is worth as much as elite defense, but that's just me.

I'd sign up for LoMo of 2010 and 2011, not the LoMo of 2012 and 2013.

He's had a pretty bad BABIP the last three years despite a decent batted ball profile. And his walk rate has been rising and his K rate falling over those three years.

I think he's a much better player than his 2012 and 2013 number indicate. Steamer and Oliver both project him to have a decent season this year, too.

Definite platoon candidate, though. His splits are kind of big.

 

[thedddd]

I hope the Jason Hammel rumors are nothing more than that. That is one pitcher I think they don't need.

Now NH is shopping Justin Wilson, young hard throwing lefty I bet if he gets a great offer he will bite with the bullpen depth they have.

Not a fan of Logan Morrison not sure he would be an upgrade over Jones, Loney would be fine with the glove and the OBP. Now there were rumors of the Red Sox willing to listen on Mike Carp but I heard his glove and baserunning are horrible. I never paid enough attention to him playing to know if he would be a nice complement to Sanchez at first? Too bad the Jays wanted the world for Lind, not that I consider Walker the world but why create a hole to fill a platoon?

 

[sychmd]

with ground ball pitchers and arms like pedro and mercer (guns but are erratic), i definitely want a 1B who can
1. scoop and save 1-2 errors per game from low or off the bag throws and not only save bases but get outs.
2. can start the double play and at least get the lead runner 95% of the time and turn 2 80% on balls hit in his zone.

this encourages our infielders, really boosts morale and save extra pitches from our staff, and alleviates pressure from the offense having to make up for free runs and lost momentum we give up.

obviously catcher and SS are important, but 1B isn't a throw away position. that big fat guy for stL made some great plays in the playoffs to keep them in games.

 

[steelparrot]

Morton gets a 3 yr 21 million dollar extension.


A better gamble than alot of the free agents imho.

 

[Darkstone42]

Morton gets a 3 yr 21 million dollar extension.


A better gamble than alot of the free agents imho.

Man, if he keeps pitching at anything resembling the level he showed this past season, that will be an absolute steal of a deal. Good signing.

Now bring back AJ, and at least our rotation will be set for this year.

 

[Illinest]

Well at least we signed Morton. I guess we are gambling that he'll be healthy and he must be willing to trade potential dollars for guaranteed dollars.

I think he could've waited and gotten paid twice that. I think we could easily regret this deal too, but it's a good risk to take in isolation so i can't complain.

 

[steelparrot]

Man, if he keeps pitching at anything resembling the level he showed this past season, that will be an absolute steal of a deal. Good signing.

Now bring back AJ, and at least our rotation will be set for this year.

Yep, its a team friendly deal for sure, especially considering 2015 and beyond. We needed some medium term depth for the rotation.

In 1st base news, Corey Hart signs with the M's no terms as of this post.

 

[thecrow124]

Yep, its a team friendly deal for sure, especially considering 2015 and beyond. We needed some medium term depth for the rotation.

In 1st base news, Corey Hart signs with the M's no terms as of this post.

And now the M's trade for Morrison? What the heck is mad Jack doing out there?

 

[sychmd]

great signing of morton,
shows they are willing to spend as that is 30M. nice value compared to other recent around the league signings.

santana, would have to be the 1M + incentives for starts and ERA.
didn't realize he is 35 already. just seems quite unlikely he has anything to get excited about.
hopefully, if his mound sessions are good, he leans the pirates way given their success with similar reclamation projects burnett and liriano.

too bad locke such a wild card and hopefully not a left-handed james mcdonald.

regarding middle IF.
- mercer lhp 1.152 rhp .654
- harison lhp .981 rhp .466
- walker lhp .518 rhp .805
- barmes lhp .529 rhp .565

mercer/harrison vs LHP and mercer/walker against rhp. is harrison that bad(have never seen him live or TV) that we are considering barmes and spending money there when we have d'arnaud/harrison/and even dejesus in house. barnes is getting older and more limited in the field it appears, but still reliable. how many starts will he really get.

bench: C (stewart), MIF (harrison also 3B), CIF (Gabby-also 3B assuming LH is the weightier platoon player), OF (tabata/snider), a bat (lamb- OF and 1B)

i like the platoons as it usually leaves us a better bench and gets people involved with starts to keep them in the game and invested as a bigger part of the winning and movement forward.

 

[Darkstone42]

Yep, its a team friendly deal for sure, especially considering 2015 and beyond. We needed some medium term depth for the rotation.

In 1st base news, Corey Hart signs with the M's no terms as of this post.

I did not expect him to go there. Hm.

I wonder if the risk involved will be reflected in the dollars.