2019 Pirates

[thedddd]

Granted another minor league deal but not sure I get the JB Shuck signing? Yet another left handed OF bat, they really need to look at right handed bats on the other side of Chisenhall.

There are rumors that could be Guyer or Maybin.

 

[Darkstone42]

Granted another minor league deal but not sure I get the JB Shuck signing? Yet another left handed OF bat, they really need to look at right handed bats on the other side of Chisenhall.

There are rumors that could be Guyer or Maybin.

Guyer can mash lefties and Maybin can handle center. Both are good early-season fourth-OF options.

 

[thedddd]

Guyer can mash lefties and Maybin can handle center. Both are good early-season fourth-OF options.

Totally agree both would add value to this team.

This was another guy I wish they took a minor league flyer on due to the power capabilities.
Rangers Sign Matt Davidson

Side note about Maybin I look back and wonder "what if" the Tigers drafted McCutchen instead of Maybin and if the Pirates would ever have had that run?

 

[thedddd]

Liriano back on a minor league deal. I guess that is their additional Bullpen lefty.

 

[navamind]

2019 ZiPS Projections – Pittsburgh Pirates

 

[Darkstone42]

2019 ZiPS Projections – Pittsburgh Pirates

Looks like a winning season again, carried by the pitching, but not likely more than 85 wins.

Any solid addition makes them a playoff contender. I know they said they're not going to make a big free agent splash, but I do hope they're at least exploring the trade market or something.

 

[thedddd]

Looks like a winning season again, carried by the pitching, but not likely more than 85 wins.

Any solid addition makes them a playoff contender. I know they said they're not going to make a big free agent splash, but I do hope they're at least exploring the trade market or something.

I have a feeling if Kingham or Keller pitch well into the season I expect a starter moved for an additional bat. That at least is my hope.

 

[thedddd]

Just signed Nick Franklin on a minor league deal. I hope this "insurance" never cracks the major league roster on a daily basis, if so they are in trouble.

 

[thedddd]

Signed Tom Koehler which, when healthy, could be a good bullpen arm.

 

[Darkstone42]

Signed Tom Koehler which, when healthy, could be a good bullpen arm.

Agreed, maybe even veteran rotation depth. He was a pretty decent starter for a number of years with Miami not that long ago.

I've really liked their minor league deals this off season. I've just been underwhelmed by what they've done at the Major League level. Nick Franklin wasn't a bad get, either. Decent player when he's been healthy, but too many injuries to catch and keep any kind of rhythm. Big bullpen upside on both Liriano and Lyons. Couple interesting hard-throwing relievers, of course.

And Chisenhal was also a good get, love him for the bench when Polanco gets back, and think he'll be a fine stand-in until then. But why they haven't bothered to sign a single starting-caliber infielder is beyond me. They have tons of options, sure, but all of them have question marks. Moran, Kang, Newman, Frazier, Kramer, and Gonzalez are all reasonably talented players with some upside for each, but they also all have significant flaws and limited track records. They need a whole three of them to work out as starters. The rest will likely be on the bench at various points in the season. Why not relax that need by getting a bonafide starter?

 

[thedddd]

Agreed, maybe even veteran rotation depth. He was a pretty decent starter for a number of years with Miami not that long ago.

I've really liked their minor league deals this off season. I've just been underwhelmed by what they've done at the Major League level. Nick Franklin wasn't a bad get, either. Decent player when he's been healthy, but too many injuries to catch and keep any kind of rhythm. Big bullpen upside on both Liriano and Lyons. Couple interesting hard-throwing relievers, of course.

And Chisenhal was also a good get, love him for the bench when Polanco gets back, and think he'll be a fine stand-in until then. But why they haven't bothered to sign a single starting-caliber infielder is beyond me. They have tons of options, sure, but all of them have question marks. Moran, Kang, Newman, Frazier, Kramer, and Gonzalez are all reasonably talented players with some upside for each, but they also all have significant flaws and limited track records. They need a whole three of them to work out as starters. The rest will likely be on the bench at various points in the season. Why not relax that need by getting a bonafide starter?

Yeah I guess that is the issue. They had some great minor league deals and Chisenhal was a good option but there is too many question marks with the players in front of them. If there wasn't this would have been a pretty good off season for them in terms of their off seasons. With Liriano, Koehler (long relief/spot starter) and Lyons they filled their bullpen out nicely but as it looks now a good left handed starter will handle the bats on this team.

Finally Franklin it is not that I have an issue with him but if they have to rely on him everyday they will be in trouble. I just don't see him turning it around, if healthy.

 

[ramburgh]

Liriano dominates the first time through the lineup. Maybe he could be an opener for Lyles/Kingham and a lefty specialist out of the pen?

There was a time a few years ago when Freese was the only free agent signee on the 25-man. This year they could have 5 or 6 (Kang, Chisenhall, Lyles, Liriano, Maurer, maybe Koehler later in the season) with a combined salary of about $10M. Not sure if this is a new strategy or just how things played out.

 

[Darkstone42]

Liriano dominates the first time through the lineup. Maybe he could be an opener for Lyles/Kingham and a lefty specialist out of the pen?

There was a time a few years ago when Freese was the only free agent signee on the 25-man. This year they could have 5 or 6 (Kang, Chisenhall, Lyles, Liriano, Maurer, maybe Koehler later in the season) with a combined salary of about $10M. Not sure if this is a new strategy or just how things played out.

I still want a big add. Or at least a big-ish add. Or at least a reliable add. There's so much payroll room and the market is so depressed, it would feel like a massive missed opportunity to not add one more infielder at least.

 

[ramburgh]

Add Melky Cabrera to the mix. Could be 6-7 FA on the team this year. I think that has to be a record for the Pirates.

It will be interesting to see if the Pirates are just waiting the market out to see if they can sign someone below what they believe is a good value. Marwin Gonzalez? Gio Gonzalez? Jose Iglesias? Dallas Keuchel?

I don't think Gio or Jose are significant upgrades. Wouldn't mind seeing Marwin or Dallas. Maybe a 1-year deal for Keuchel and then he can re-enter the FA market. Throw a big number ($15-$20M) at him and he can help mentor the staff and bring Keller along. Maybe Marwin Gonzalez would take a 1-year deal (see if he can get his value back up to where it was after the 2017 season) and help bring Cole Tucker along.

It would be awesome to see a huge number ($25-$30M) thrown at Manny on a one year deal and then he could re-enter free agency next year when Harper is off the market. It will never happen, but the Pirates should have the "payroll flexibility" to allow it to be a possibility for this season. Even if they gave him $30M for a year, it wouldn't be the highest payroll they've had. They could even trade Cervelli to free up money. The Cervelli maket should open back up with Realmuto now being on the Phillies.

With the right moves, the Pirates could have a really nice window (Keller, Hayes, Tucker added to Taillon, Williams, Bell, Diaz with several more years of control for Archer, Polanco and Marte) starting in 2019-2025ish. If this season goes south, trade Machado at the deadline. The market should be huge especially if he is on a one-year deal.

 

[thedddd]

Add Melky Cabrera to the mix. Could be 6-7 FA on the team this year. I think that has to be a record for the Pirates.

It will be interesting to see if the Pirates are just waiting the market out to see if they can sign someone below what they believe is a good value. Marwin Gonzalez? Gio Gonzalez? Jose Iglesias? Dallas Keuchel?

I don't think Gio or Jose are significant upgrades. Wouldn't mind seeing Marwin or Dallas. Maybe a 1-year deal for Keuchel and then he can re-enter the FA market. Throw a big number ($15-$20M) at him and he can help mentor the staff and bring Keller along. Maybe Marwin Gonzalez would take a 1-year deal (see if he can get his value back up to where it was after the 2017 season) and help bring Cole Tucker along.

It would be awesome to see a huge number ($25-$30M) thrown at Manny on a one year deal and then he could re-enter free agency next year when Harper is off the market. It will never happen, but the Pirates should have the "payroll flexibility" to allow it to be a possibility for this season. Even if they gave him $30M for a year, it wouldn't be the highest payroll they've had. They could even trade Cervelli to free up money. The Cervelli maket should open back up with Realmuto now being on the Phillies.

With the right moves, the Pirates could have a really nice window (Keller, Hayes, Tucker added to Taillon, Williams, Bell, Diaz with several more years of control for Archer, Polanco and Marte) starting in 2019-2025ish. If this season goes south, trade Machado at the deadline. The market should be huge especially if he is on a one-year deal.

The one guy I hoped they would NEVER sign or trade for over the past few years finally made it to the Pirates. At least it is only a minor league deal but come on this is really just throwing s**t at the wall and hoping something sticks.
Even though he is a switch hitter he is better against Righties, when are they going to address a hitter that can hit lefties or someone that can hit and play the middle infield.

 

[Darkstone42]

The one guy I hoped they would NEVER sign or trade for over the past few years finally made it to the Pirates. At least it is only a minor league deal but come on this is really just throwing s**t at the wall and hoping something sticks.
Even though he is a switch hitter he is better against Righties, when are they going to address a hitter that can hit lefties or someone that can hit and play the middle infield.

He had a 127 wRC+ against lefties last season.

 

[thedddd]

He had a 127 wRC+ against lefties last season.

I was looking at his career since he only had 73 plate appearances last season against lefties.
If he can hit that well again this season then there is some positive. It also seems to have been trending better over the last few years.

 

[ramburgh]

I would like to see a few BP arms added to the spring training mix. Maybe bringing Neftali Feliz back as a NRI? He had a rough 2017 and didn't make it to the majors in 2018 but is only 30.

 

[ramburgh]

Since the Pirates organization tries to stay ahead of the curve with signings, it would be interesting to see their take on the approach that signing someone like Machado makes sense because what is he asking for could eventually be a bargain with increased television revenue coming in, new stadium naming rights coming up, new local television deal and they the increase in tickets/merchandise, etc that a big name would bring. Plus the potential to make a serious post season run and the money that would bring in. Maybe a 10-year/$300M deal makes sense for a small market organization with a strike looming and salaries lower now than they will be in the near future. He is only 26 so he could be expected to produce at high levels for the next 6-8 years and then he could transition to a DH role with the likelihood of the DH coming to the NL. Maybe even have some of the money deferred. Not that I expect the Pirates to think like this, but I hope they at least think somewhat longterm with where baseball is heading, the money they are spending and if there are ways to capitalize on the future by potentially investing in a long-term contract with a star that could prove beneficial even to low budget owners. Maybe signing a star to what appears to be a huge contract makes more sense now that it ever will, especially for a team that could be a star away from being a serious contender for the next few years.

 

[Darkstone42]

Since the Pirates organization tries to stay ahead of the curve with signings, it would be interesting to see their take on the approach that signing someone like Machado makes sense because what is he asking for could eventually be a bargain with increased television revenue coming in, new stadium naming rights coming up, new local television deal and they the increase in tickets/merchandise, etc that a big name would bring. Plus the potential to make a serious post season run and the money that would bring in. Maybe a 10-year/$300M deal makes sense for a small market organization with a strike looming and salaries lower now than they will be in the near future. He is only 26 so he could be expected to produce at high levels for the next 6-8 years and then he could transition to a DH role with the likelihood of the DH coming to the NL. Maybe even have some of the money deferred. Not that I expect the Pirates to think like this, but I hope they at least think somewhat longterm with where baseball is heading, the money they are spending and if there are ways to capitalize on the future by potentially investing in a long-term contract with a star that could prove beneficial even to low budget owners. Maybe signing a star to what appears to be a huge contract makes more sense now that it ever will, especially for a team that could be a star away from being a serious contender for the next few years.

Machado will never need to DH. He'll always be at least an average defender at least at 3B. There's not much reason to expect otherwise.

Signing him for 10 years, $300 million makes an enormous amount of sense. Even if the Pirates' best prospects work out in Hayes and Tucker, they'd just have the best infield in baseball after that signing and those two add their value. Tucker would be an elite defensive 2B if Machado was there to move him off short (Tucker will likely have an above-average glove at SS, too), and Hayes with gold glove defense at 3B, plus all three with their own offensive tools.

Put opt-outs in after 4, 6, 8, and 9 years. He'll likely take the first one and the team won't be on the hook for the whole contract if they're worried about that.

It's a truly great opportunity for the Bucs to pursue a market which has been closed to them for years and make the most of Archer, Kela, Marte, and Polanco.