2014 Pirates

[element1286]

Pittsburgh Pirates 2013-14 Off-Season Contract Situations | Pirates Prospects

options/ arbitration/free agent info on the 40 man roster

Out of Options

Jeanmar Gomez

Bryan Morris

Kyle McPherson

Stolmy Pimentel

Jerry Sands

Andy Oliver

Travis Snider

Vin Mazzaro

Felix Pie

I'm interested to see how the Pirates feel about Mazzaro, Gomez, Pimentel, and Morris, since they would probably be vying for the same spot(s) in the bullpen. I'd go Gomez, Pimentel, Mazzaro, and Morris, but I'm guessing the Pirates don't share that belief.

 

[sychmd]

I'm interested to see how the Pirates feel about Mazzaro, Gomez, Pimentel, and Morris, since they would probably be vying for the same spot(s) in the bullpen. I'd go Gomez, Pimentel, Mazzaro, and Morris, but I'm guessing the Pirates don't share that belief.

i would see if wilson or pimentel can be the 5th starter.

liriano, cole, morton, wandy, wilson/pimentel

grilli, melancon, watson, wilson/pimentel, mazzaro, gomez, morris

locke, cumpton, mcP can start in AAA with taillon and be ready for when we need re-enforcements.

i would like to keep them and sign the cuban.

a wildcard, do we trade high on melancon or grilli, and package them for a 1B or 2B stud. throw in walker or harrison as well as a low minor prospect if you have to.

 

[element1286]

i would see if wilson or pimentel can be the 5th starter.

liriano, cole, morton, wandy, wilson/pimentel

grilli, melancon, watson, wilson/pimentel, mazzaro, gomez, morris

locke, cumpton, mcP can start in AAA with taillon and be ready for when we need re-enforcements.

i would like to keep them and sign the cuban.

a wildcard, do we trade high on melancon or grilli, and package them for a 1B or 2B stud. throw in walker or harrison as well as a low minor prospect if you have to.

Kinda pointless without names, I'd do it for the right player, although I don't subscribe to creating a hole (or two) to fill another one.

 

[sychmd]

Kinda pointless without names, I'd do it for the right player, although I don't subscribe to creating a hole (or two) to fill another one.

we have people to man the BP, so wouldnt be creating a hole.
walker is a platoon 2B, so not creating a real hole if we can fill the bigger hole of his more adequate replacement, or more important, a 1B.

grilli is due to fade anyways, at his age, doubtful he will have mariano staying power.

melancon has better potential over the next several years, just not sure of the mental makeup to be closer instead of 8th inning man.

 

[element1286]

we have people to man the BP, so wouldnt be creating a hole.
walker is a platoon 2B, so not creating a real hole if we can fill the bigger hole of his more adequate replacement, or more important, a 1B.

grilli is due to fade anyways, at his age, doubtful he will have mariano staying power.

melancon has better potential over the next several years, just not sure of the mental makeup to be closer instead of 8th inning man.

I don't agree we have people to step up in the bullpen, guys who strike out 1.5 batters per inning don't grow on trees, and platoon or not, NW is a quality player who we have no replacement for internally.

 

[Darkstone42]

Abreu's off the market, it seems. The White Sox inked him to a 6-year, $68 million deal.

Chicago White Sox agree to record deal for Cuban free-agent 1B Jose Abreu - ESPN Chicago

That's a pretty hefty term at a pretty hefty price for a guy who's pretty unknown, but the upside is absurd if he works out.

This will either be great or terrible for the White Sox. We'll need to look into another option, though.

 

[thedddd]

^ Yeah I was amazed he got that much. Per reports his bat speed is questionable, non athletic and probably more of a DH due to questionable defense even at first.

Anyway with Taillon's injury in the AFL I wonder how much that will hurt his development of playing in the majors next year? It helped Cole a lot and it is shame he couldn't use that time for development.

 

[thecrow124]

^ Yeah I was amazed he got that much. Per reports his bat speed is questionable, non athletic and probably more of a DH due to questionable defense even at first.

Anyway with Taillon's injury in the AFL I wonder how much that will hurt his development of playing in the majors next year? It helped Cole a lot and it is shame he couldn't use that time for development.

I wouldn't expect it to hurt his development any, the AFL was more than likely just a stop to get him 15-20 more innings this year. The good bats that are there are of the A level variety, so I don't think he was sent there specifically to develop anything, or work on working hitters. I have been wrong before though.

 

[thehobocop]

I think Choo is definitely out of our price range. Remember he is a Boras client, and I've heard speculation that he will get close to 100 mil, which I don't see us paying. I personally would like to see Byrd brought back for one year if possible, to provide a stop-gap for Polanco.

 

[thehobocop]

Sorry for the double post, but I'm also not sure if I agree with the 10-15 million for Burnett either. He was very inconsistent this year. I would personally like to see the Pirates pursue Ervin Santana. I think he could be a solid #3 behind Cole and Liriano.

 

[element1286]

Sorry for the double post, but I'm also not sure if I agree with the 10-15 million for Burnett either. He was very inconsistent this year. I would personally like to see the Pirates pursue Ervin Santana. I think he could be a solid #3 behind Cole and Liriano.

Santana is definitely a downgrade though, will probably require multiple years, and he's pretty inconsistent in his own right. If I had to choose it would be AJ not even close.

 

[element1286]

I wouldn't expect it to hurt his development any, the AFL was more than likely just a stop to get him 15-20 more innings this year. The good bats that are there are of the A level variety, so I don't think he was sent there specifically to develop anything, or work on working hitters. I have been wrong before though.

Yeah, unless it bleeds into next year, can't see how it hurts him any.

 

[thecrow124]

Sorry for the double post, but I'm also not sure if I agree with the 10-15 million for Burnett either. He was very inconsistent this year. I would personally like to see the Pirates pursue Ervin Santana. I think he could be a solid #3 behind Cole and Liriano.

I would gladly take Burnett at a qualifying offer of $14.1 million. Burnett was more consistent that Liriano late in the year and thinking Liriano is going to repeat last season is just crazy. If we don't bring back AJ, I am ok going with internal options more so than spending money on free agents. If we are to spend money on free agents i would look at first base on the open market and try to bring Byrd back on a 1 year deal. I would employ the same strategy as last offseason as well, go early with a strong offer and basically force the players hand. I don't want us to pay huge sums of money to a firstbaseman though, just someone that is better than a platoon. I would also be happy with Barmes coming back to be the chemistry bench guy.

 

[Darkstone42]

I would gladly take Burnett at a qualifying offer of $14.1 million. Burnett was more consistent that Liriano late in the year and thinking Liriano is going to repeat last season is just crazy. If we don't bring back AJ, I am ok going with internal options more so than spending money on free agents. If we are to spend money on free agents i would look at first base on the open market and try to bring Byrd back on a 1 year deal. I would employ the same strategy as last offseason as well, go early with a strong offer and basically force the players hand. I don't want us to pay huge sums of money to a firstbaseman though, just someone that is better than a platoon. I would also be happy with Barmes coming back to be the chemistry bench guy.

I also think Mercer benefited a great deal from having Barmes around. Mercer's only average defensively, but he has the tools to be better than that. I think Barmes can help him get to above average or better by helping him grow into the role.

 

[sychmd]

i would bring burnett back for 8M.
he likes it here, he is not after the money. he's made bazillions
14.1 is just to get a draft pick, but you know before the offer whether he will sign or not, so the number is inconsequential if he was being honest about pirates or retire statement.

liriano was better than burnett,
burnett is fiery, but also a hothead.
liriano, more stable and can be the veteran presence that is needed.
burnett at best is a 3. also burnett has been injured each of the last 2 seasons. i am too lazy to see his track record for the yanks healthewise.

the difference in the playoffs was they had their ace wainright for 2 games and we had ours liriano for 1. we win the diviison, they burn wainright in the playin game, we save liriano, and it works out the opposite.

i would rather let internal options play out before giving big money to possibilities as no real stud on the FA market that has a reliable track record of ROI.

the cards have an awesome pitching staff and will be a tough adversary this next year. we will need more offense to stay with wainright, wacha, lynn, miller, kelly and their young pen.

 

[element1286]

I would gladly take Burnett at a qualifying offer of $14.1 million. Burnett was more consistent that Liriano late in the year and thinking Liriano is going to repeat last season is just crazy. If we don't bring back AJ, I am ok going with internal options more so than spending money on free agents. If we are to spend money on free agents i would look at first base on the open market and try to bring Byrd back on a 1 year deal. I would employ the same strategy as last offseason as well, go early with a strong offer and basically force the players hand. I don't want us to pay huge sums of money to a firstbaseman though, just someone that is better than a platoon. I would also be happy with Barmes coming back to be the chemistry bench guy.

Yep, sign me up for that. And if he signs elsewhere you get a pick.

I agree about Barmes too, I'm fine with him on a one year deal to spot start and as a late inning defensive replacement, and his veteranousity too.

 

[thedddd]

Same here I would be fine with a tender of Burnett and Barmes. Both add value to this team.
Truly Walker, Mercer and Barmes in the middle was more than adequate.

What is amazing that Tabata had a 1.2 WAR this season. Good 4th OF or a split with a Left handed bat but would rather see Byrd again or another RF play every day.

 

[thecrow124]

i would bring burnett back for 8M.
he likes it here, he is not after the money. he's made bazillions
14.1 is just to get a draft pick, but you know before the offer whether he will sign or not, so the number is inconsequential if he was being honest about pirates or retire statement.

liriano was better than burnett,
burnett is fiery, but also a hothead.
liriano, more stable and can be the veteran presence that is needed.
burnett at best is a 3. also burnett has been injured each of the last 2 seasons. i am too lazy to see his track record for the yanks healthewise.

the difference in the playoffs was they had their ace wainright for 2 games and we had ours liriano for 1. we win the diviison, they burn wainright in the playin game, we save liriano, and it works out the opposite.

i would rather let internal options play out before giving big money to possibilities as no real stud on the FA market that has a reliable track record of ROI.

the cards have an awesome pitching staff and will be a tough adversary this next year. we will need more offense to stay with wainright, wacha, lynn, miller, kelly and their young pen.

Burnett has no reason to sign for $8 million, and would probably be insulted by that offer. If I were the owner I would be embarrassed to offer that to him. $14.1 million is probably a bit more than it would take to sign him, but I think it is also the safe and intelligent way to go.

I also am to lazy to look up Burnett's Yankee stats, but I am pretty positive he was a 185-205 inning pitcher there, meanwhile Liriano's 161 this season are a career high. So IMO, Burnett is the safer bet to repeat his performance next season which would be a strong #2. Liriano could be anywhere from a #1 to a #5 starter.

 

[element1286]

Burnett has no reason to sign for $8 million, and would probably be insulted by that offer. If I were the owner I would be embarrassed to offer that to him. $14.1 million is probably a bit more than it would take to sign him, but I think it is also the safe and intelligent way to go.

I also am to lazy to look up Burnett's Yankee stats, but I am pretty positive he was a 185-205 inning pitcher there, meanwhile Liriano's 161 this season are a career high. So IMO, Burnett is the safer bet to repeat his performance next season which would be a strong #2. Liriano could be anywhere from a #1 to a #5 starter.

Spot on 186-207, also let's not forget he lead the NL in K/9. I agree, the 'inconsistent' tag is squarely on Liriano's back, moreso than Burnett.

 

[steelparrot]

From everything I've read, AJ wants to stay close to Maryland. That kind of limits his options, I wouldnt mind a 2/30 deal for him, real early in free agency. Starting pitchers and power hitters get crazy cash in free agency, especially with the new tv contracts.