2014 Pirates

[thecrow124]

burnett might not be bad if we gave 2 very suspect prospects and ate this years salary,
but being on the hook for next years puts us in the same position we were let winter that we didn't want an old pitcher, 500 for his career with good teams, paid like an ace (by pirate standards) and not sure if we would get that. He couldn't even pitch our biggest game at the end of 2013.

not willing to pay him next year. if he would waive that, i would consider (or guarantees he would actually retire so we are out of the contract next year)

I agree......but is Philly going to take marginal prospects in return for Burnett? Would they be willing to eat half of any money he earns on the ridiculess contract they signed him to?

The more I think about it though, I would actually prefer to trade for Ian Kennedy, we would have to give up more in prospects, but he would also cost less and he is in the prime of his career with another year of control.

 

[pixburgher66]

burnett might not be bad if we gave 2 very suspect prospects and ate this years salary,
but being on the hook for next years puts us in the same position we were let winter that we didn't want an old pitcher, 500 for his career with good teams, paid like an ace (by pirate standards) and not sure if we would get that. He couldn't even pitch our biggest game at the end of 2013.

not willing to pay him next year. if he would waive that, i would consider (or guarantees he would actually retire so we are out of the contract next year)

This is more my thinking...he's been marginally less effective this year than last, and if we're looking to upgrade the rotation for a postseason run, why get a guy like AJ? Do we somehow trust him all the sudden, a year older? No. If you're going to upgrade the rotation, and spend the assets it takes to do so, get someone you can trust. Otherwise, spend those assets beefing up the bullpen (which is probably a better move anyway, even though adding to the rotation would probably trickle down to the pen).

 

[sychmd]

i would be interested in kennedy. don't like older pitchers like burnett or lee.

 

[thedddd]

Yeah at this point I really don't want to see them give up any prospects for Burnett for one reason they could have had him all season.

 

[thedddd]

I see they are scouting Andrew Miller heavy. I have a feeling it will be a bidding war with Atlanta on his services for the remainder of the year.

 

[element1286]

Yeah, not sure a right handed flyball pitcher is the best fit for PNC Park. I don't think the Padres trade Kennedy anyway, they have expressed interest in extending him.

 

[Darkstone42]

Miller would be a nice pickup. He, Watson, and Melancon would be pretty automatic at the back end of the bullpen. Games would be effectively six innings for the opposition, and with our starters recently going pretty deep in ball games pretty consistently, if we hit at all, we would win often.

How close do folks think Kingham is? He's limiting runs and baserunners (barely walking anyone), but he only has 8 starts in AAA, and his BABIP allowed seems pretty low. Could he be an option to deepen the rotation?

Even so, I would really prefer to have another front-end starter. Though, if Liriano keeps pitching like he has since the break, and Cole comes back healthy and strong, maybe that would be enough.

 

[Darkstone42]

Apparently, the Pirates have opened actual talks for Lester. Hopefully, they don't make any ridiculous offer, especially since this would likely be a true rental.

 

[sychmd]

cole, liriano, worley, locke, morton - as rotation when starters all back
then volquez, cumpton (with volquez being tried in pen when all 6 starters are healthy)
kingham gets a sept call up and so does sadler.

we ride these horses out unless we can get someone that is more than just a rental, meaning that will be with us for 1-2 more years past this.

we need the trade chips to fill in the holes we have.

what is the possibility of moving pedro to 1B and using walker at 3B (where he was in the minors) and harrison at 2B.
walker isn't that good at 2B (altho that twin kill last nite was beautiful) and alvarez seems great at picking at 3B (only one fielding error and great plays when doesn't have time to think about the throw)

2015 lineup of (defense, not batting order)
marte, cutch, polanco,walker, mercer, harrison, alvarez/sanchez platoon, martin/tsanchez
should be good d, and gets our optimal bats in.
bench: snider, stewart, hanson, martinez/d'arnaud

 

[Darkstone42]

The Pirates are also apparently interested in LaTroy Hawkins. He's been pretty good to very good over the past decade or so, and is doing a good job of preventing runs in Coors Field this season, though he's been helped by a pretty low BABIP allowed and one of his lowest career HR%. He wouldn't be a bad fit in the middle relief role, though, and shouldn't cost too much. The low K% is alarming, though.

Also, the Pirates are apparently emerging in the Lester sweepstakes, talks centering around Josh Bell. I would prefer not to give up a guy like Bell for a rental, but it would be dealing from a position of depth, with lots of solid outfielders in the system, and Lester would give us a more-than-reasonable shot at the division, as well as a pretty good corps of starting pitchers for the playoffs.

 

[Darkstone42]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...acquire-red-sox-ace-jon-lester-191243193.html

 

[element1286]

No thanks on Bell for a two month rental that they have no chance to sign long term.

 

[Darkstone42]

No thanks on Bell for a two month rental that they have no chance to sign long term.

For Bell, I think we'd also need to get other pieces.

Do you think Harold Ramirez would be a good enough starting point, at least after the Sox realize they're not going to get what they want for Lester? I think it would take more, of course, than just Ramirez, but he might be the prospect just below Bell among our outfielders, which is likely what the Sox will want. Maybe add a high upside arm in the low minors or someone in AAA who doesn't project especially well (or both) to even out the value a bit.

 

[Darkstone42]

Looks like Bell is off the table.

Pirates have their own deadline for Lester deal « Trade Buzz

Hanson, Jones, and Tabata are now being mentioned, and the Bucs remain interested in the entire Red Sox bullpen and Mike Carp.

 

[Darkstone42]

More Lester stuff.

Jon Lester Makes Sense for the Pirates | FanGraphs Baseball

 

[element1286]

For Bell, I think we'd also need to get other pieces.

Do you think Harold Ramirez would be a good enough starting point, at least after the Sox realize they're not going to get what they want for Lester? I think it would take more, of course, than just Ramirez, but he might be the prospect just below Bell among our outfielders, which is likely what the Sox will want. Maybe add a high upside arm in the low minors or someone in AAA who doesn't project especially well (or both) to even out the value a bit.

Harold Ramirez is interesting. The Red Sox have a really good system so I really don't know if they would be looking for lottery tickets like Ramirez, or guys who are elite prospects, ie the entire top 5, or just the best package.

Jacoby Jones name was thrown around. I think Barrett Barnes and Orlando Castro have some decent outside trade value. Of course Alen Hanson. I'm sure there are some high upside guys who scouts know about that the general public doesn't.

It's interesting since the Red Sox have a lot of pieces the Pirates could use.

 

[Darkstone42]

Harold Ramirez is interesting. The Red Sox have a really good system so I really don't know if they would be looking for lottery tickets like Ramirez, or guys who are elite prospects, ie the entire top 5, or just the best package.

Jacoby Jones name was thrown around. I think Barrett Barnes and Orlando Castro have some decent outside trade value. Of course Alen Hanson. I'm sure there are some high upside guys who scouts know about that the general public doesn't.

It's interesting since the Red Sox have a lot of pieces the Pirates could use.

Yeah, Carp, Middlebrooks, Miller, Gomes, and various other names have come up. It could be one-stop shopping for starting pitcher, bench bat, and bullpen help all wrapped into one deal.

 

[Darkstone42]

Snider has been really excellent off the bench lately, not just pinch-hitting but in his spot starts. Maybe he's starting to figure it out and tap into his potential. There were signs as early as spring training of just that this year.

 

[element1286]

Snider has been really excellent off the bench lately, not just pinch-hitting but in his spot starts. Maybe he's starting to figure it out and tap into his potential. There were signs as early as spring training of just that this year.

.851 OPS as a pinch hitter this, not sure if that's luck or he's just good at it.

 

[Darkstone42]

.851 OPS as a pinch hitter this, not sure if that's luck or he's just good at it.

It could just be results, but his swing looks shorter this year, and he doesn't seem to be chasing as often, at least to me.