2015 Pirates

[steelparrot]

Pirates Sign Corey Hart ? MLB Trade Rumors

Yep, one more year removed from double knee surgery, he could be a steal or the pirates just flushed 2.5 down the toilet.

Its a gamble that I would take though, bench is almost set now, Stewart,Snider,Rodriguez and Hart, only question is the SS now.

 

[element1286]

Pretty meh about Hart, don't think he's anywhere close to the same player as two years ago, I like him more than Gaby though, so I guess there is that.

 

[thedddd]

My thought exactly it is better than Gabby Sanchez.

I guess if the worst case scenarios of Harrison regressing and Polanco isn't ready they can always have Alvarez at 3B and Hart can fill in at 1B or RF? Defensively scary as can be but better than nothing.

 

[element1286]

Unfortunately for Lambo, that is his spot Hart is taking. I think there is a 50/50 chance Hart is bad enough he gets DFA'd during the season though, so there is still a chance for Lambo.

 

[thedddd]

Oh yeah didn't think about Lambo that does suck for him.

I guess on a positive note going into this season I feel better about 1B than going into last season with Ishikawa/Davis/Sanchez. I know it isn't hard to do better than that but at least it is better.

 

[thedddd]

And if Hart was an precursor to an Alvarez move for Eovaldi, well that isn't happening. Looks like he is going to the Yankees with Garrett Jones for Martin Prado.

 

[element1286]

I guess the Marlins are going to play Prado at first, which doesn't seem ideal.

Wonder if FC's big mouth about the Stanton deal last week had something to do with not getting a deal done?

 

[thecrow124]

I guess the Marlins are going to play Prado at first, which doesn't seem ideal.

Wonder if FC's big mouth about the Stanton deal last week had something to do with not getting a deal done?

I would say that the chances are pretty good. Actually it could be the other way around as well, FC flapped his gums because Miami was high balling him in the Pedro/Eovaldi deal and asking for other pieces as well.

 

[ramburgh]

Maybe Hart has shown the Pirates' FO something and they acquired Hart to ship Alvarez out?

The Phillies want to get younger and don't have the best GM so maybe a package of Pedro, Tabata, Lambo and prospect for Hamels? The money the Pirates would pay those players would cover about 60% of Hamels 2015 salary (Burnett's salary in 2016/Morton's salary in 2017 will be gone) so financially it could work for the Pirates and Amaro might be willing to do it as it adds 3 young major leaguers. Maybe include Locke or send Worley back? Pedro would have to play third unless the Phillies can find a taker for Howard. I really don't feel the FO is making the move to push the team into serious contention while they have the McCutchen/Walker window. It is time to be bold on top of the tinkering.

2015 - Hamels, Cole, Liriano, Burnett, Morton/Worley/Locke
2016 - Hamels, Cole, Liriano, Morton, Worley/Locke/Kingham/Taillon
2017- Hamels, Cole, Liriano, Taillon/Kingham, Worley/Locke/Glasnow

 

[Illinest]

I don't understand how any rational person could think that Hart is a reasonable option to be the everyday 1B.

I'm okay with signing Hart but there's no way in hell any GM, even cheap or dumb ones, would assume that he's going to be capable of being an everyday player at this point in his career.
In the best case - yeah - he might be good for a comeback season.
But if anyone really thought that he could realistically be counted on for a .750-ish OPS, a full season's worth of at-bats and passable defense at first then he wouldn't have had to sign with us for 2.5 million.

 

[element1286]

Pretty sure Hart is gonna platoon with Pedro, so he won't be an everyday player.

 

[steelparrot]

Ya we didnt sign Hart to trade Pedro.

Plays vs lefties, combines with Snider for a decent L/R ph combo vs rhsp.

He could bounce back, he could get DFAed/DLed in May, who knows how it plays out.

Like i said its before, its a 2.5 million dollar gamble, it doesnt make Pedro more tradeable in the least.

 

[thedddd]

I don't understand how any rational person could think that Hart is a reasonable option to be the everyday 1B.

I'm okay with signing Hart but there's no way in hell any GM, even cheap or dumb ones, would assume that he's going to be capable of being an everyday player at this point in his career.
In the best case - yeah - he might be good for a comeback season.
But if anyone really thought that he could realistically be counted on for a .750-ish OPS, a full season's worth of at-bats and passable defense at first then he wouldn't have had to sign with us for 2.5 million.

Doubt anyone would think that. For instance my comment was more for a deal for Eovaldi than it was Hart playing every day and I would cringe if that were the case. To be honest if all goes to crap (meaning certain players are hurt or have bad years) and Hart is at 1B, Alvarez is back at 3B and Snider is in RF as their starters this team could be in trouble.

 

[Illinest]

Hart doesn't bug me but he's not in any way a starter or even platoon candidate. He's just an affordable gamble.

DL maybe would've tried to pass him off as a starting 1B.
This is potentially one of NHs better moves. 2.5 million isn't bad. If we need to cut him loose then it won't suck too much, but if hart has one more good season in him then we have an extra middle-of-order bat. If harrison turns back into a pumpkin then it might be okay to have hart at 1st and alvarez at 3rd.

 

[element1286]

Hart doesn't bug me but he's not in any way a starter or even platoon candidate. He's just an affordable gamble.

DL maybe would've tried to pass him off as a starting 1B.
This is potentially one of NHs better moves. 2.5 million isn't bad. If we need to cut him loose then it won't suck too much, but if hart has one more good season in him then we have an extra middle-of-order bat. If harrison turns back into a pumpkin then it might be okay to have hart at 1st and alvarez at 3rd.

Yeah, affordable gamble is about as perfect as you could put it.

 

[pixburgher66]

Pirates Win Bidding For Jung-ho Kang ? MLB Trade Rumors

Wow.

 

[element1286]

Wow, that's an interesting development, I like the gamble. Not sure where he fits on the IF.

 

[pixburgher66]

Wow, that's an interesting development, I like the gamble. Not sure where he fits on the IF.

I don't know how to handle this sort of money being thrown around. I mean, he still has to agree to a deal or he stays in Korea, but looks like his demands aren't too crazy. His stats, even in Korea, are...dang.
Getting ready to gamble on Jung-Ho Kang | FOX Sports
Great article. I'm really intrigued as to what this means though, from a roster standpoint.

 

[element1286]

Jeong-ho Kang Minor League Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

His strikeouts worry me a bit, 106 in 500 PA's is high, and considering the uptick in competition could be a problem. But definitely worth the risk for that price though.

 

[pixburgher66]

Jeong-ho Kang Minor League Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

His strikeouts worry me a bit, 106 in 500 PA's is high, and considering the uptick in competition could be a problem. But definitely worth the risk for that price though.

To counter that is the .356 BA. That's pretty solid. Bunch of good stuff on him I've seen this afternoon:


All his homers from last year. Pretty swing. He's a pretty big guy. Meat on those bones.

MLB Trade Rumors Podcast: Episode 11 ? MLB Trade Rumors

Podcast that discusses him quite a bit.