2024 Pirates

[thedddd]

Well if they bring in either Tellez or Smith to play first you might as well stick a fork in them as they are done.

MLB Insider: What I'm hearing on Guardians, Noah Syndergaard, Twins and Pirates

While the Thanksgiving break did not come with any MLB free-agent or trade activity, the market remained active. There are numerous players who are drawing wide

fansided.com

 

[thedddd]

What’s the point in even caring.

Pirates Sign Ali Sánchez To Major League Deal

The Pirates announced that they have signed catcher Ali Sánchez to a major league deal. They also announced their claim …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[Diamondeye]

I have to say that I'm feeling more optimistic about the Pirates than I have in awhile, which is not saying a lot, I know.

Based on how he hit the second half of last season (.500 slugging) in conjunction with his glove, Ke'Bryan Hayes might compete for NL MVP this year.

Reynolds will likely continue to do what he does, with the offense hinging a lot on how Oneil Cruz and Henry Davis progress/develop. If they do, the Pirates might score a lot of runs in 2024.

The pitching is another matter. I like the extension of Keller, but he needs to show that he can anchor a rotation and Quinn Priester needs to show he is worth the hype he had as a prospect. There is not a lot behind them in the rotation, though I think Roansy Contreres could still develop into something.

Paul Skenes is basically the Pirates Gerrit Cole of this decade. Barring injury, there is about a 90% chance he'll be really good, but there is also a less than 10% chance of him ever agreeing to a second contract with the Pirates.

The "experts" say we will see him in the majors this year, but that is generally not how the Pirates roll, given he was just drafted less than a year ago. Cole had to wait two years.

 

[psaboy]

Off to a great start!!

 

[psaboy]

Anyone liking chances for a possible shot at wild card? Pitching staff looking like they may have something good going in future??

 

[thedddd]

Anyone liking chances for a possible shot at wild card? Pitching staff looking like they may have something good going in future??

I am worried they will shut down Skenes and Jones early and give up. Also they need to fix that OF it is awful outside of Reynolds.
Granted, they will be fun to watch in the second half.

 

[psaboy]

I am worried they will shut down Skenes and Jones early and give up. Also they need to fix that OF it is awful outside of Reynolds.
Granted, they will be fun to watch in the second half.

Well, looks like the hopes of a wildcard spot is getting slimmer every day. Bullpen giving up W's

 

[thedddd]

Well, looks like the hopes of a wildcard spot is getting slimmer every day. Bullpen giving up W's

Yep like every year they give some glimmer of hope only to be destroyed. This season just took a little longer.

 

[Etrius24]

Hey Guys... Long time.

This team is still cursed... So much pitching talent on the club and in the farm system.

And no bats.

Only a few guys on the MLB roster-worthy... and the pipeline is not overflowing with stud hitters.

And the owner is cheeeeeeap cheeeeeeap cheeeeeap

To think what this season would look like with a 30 homerun bat at first base

I know it is a pipe dream... Maybe they go after Alonso this offseason and he hits 40 jacks next year in a bucs uni.

With Skeenes, Jones, Keller, Ortiz, (Chandler Ashcraft Harrington will all be ready at some point in 2025) There is plenty of starting pitching.

That could be a team that got to 90 wins and ekes into the post-season.

The Bucs hung around for a while this season... But the bullpen started to fall apart.. and the lack of offence caught up to them

I would go ink Santander also... I hate that he is having a monster year... His price tag will go up accordingly

He may not hit 40 next year like he did this year... but even hitting 30 and having an OPS of 800-850 would be massive for this team.

Reynolds, Cruz, and Santander in the outfield.
Alonso at first
Gonzo at second
Hayes at third
Bart behind the dish

Suwinski, a super sub at first and in the outfield.
Davis, Role much like Suwinski

It is not perfect... But with the pitching this team has it would be enough to get to the post-season.

Sadly Termarr Johnson is a couple of years away from being ready for MLB pitching.

It would be interesting to look at a cost analysis of the money needed to sign Santander and Alonso... Then they could look at the benefit of being at the top of the standings next season and making the post-season. (To see if it is money well spent)

As fans we want them to spend the money..

Is there a compelling argument or some math that shows it is money well spent?

Okay, that is a bit of a tangent, I will say adieu.

Go Bucs.

 

[redskinsfan1963]

cubbies owned them last night.

 

[Etrius24]

And then the Pirates exploded offensively.... Things happen man

 

[Diamondeye]

Hey Guys... Long time.

This team is still cursed... So much pitching talent on the club and in the farm system.

And no bats.

Only a few guys on the MLB roster-worthy... and the pipeline is not overflowing with stud hitters.

And the owner is cheeeeeeap cheeeeeeap cheeeeeap

To think what this season would look like with a 30 homerun bat at first base

I know it is a pipe dream... Maybe they go after Alonso this offseason and he hits 40 jacks next year in a bucs uni.

With Skeenes, Jones, Keller, Ortiz, (Chandler Ashcraft Harrington will all be ready at some point in 2025) There is plenty of starting pitching.

That could be a team that got to 90 wins and ekes into the post-season.

The Bucs hung around for a while this season... But the bullpen started to fall apart.. and the lack of offence caught up to them

I would go ink Santander also... I hate that he is having a monster year... His price tag will go up accordingly

He may not hit 40 next year like he did this year... but even hitting 30 and having an OPS of 800-850 would be massive for this team.

Reynolds, Cruz, and Santander in the outfield.
Alonso at first
Gonzo at second
Hayes at third
Bart behind the dish

Suwinski, a super sub at first and in the outfield.
Davis, Role much like Suwinski

It is not perfect... But with the pitching this team has it would be enough to get to the post-season.

Sadly Termarr Johnson is a couple of years away from being ready for MLB pitching.

It would be interesting to look at a cost analysis of the money needed to sign Santander and Alonso... Then they could look at the benefit of being at the top of the standings next season and making the post-season. (To see if it is money well spent)

As fans we want them to spend the money..

Is there a compelling argument or some math that shows it is money well spent?

Okay, that is a bit of a tangent, I will say adieu.

Go Bucs.

They definitely have a strong foundation with the starting pitching.

Even with the lousy offense, they'd probably have a winning record this season with a stronger bullpen.

That's something they can conceivably fix over the winter.

Adding one or two legitimate bats to go with Reynolds and Cruz would help tremendously, but we know damned well that they won't. Alonso is pure fantasy.

I don't think we've seen Cruz's ceiling yet. This is his first full season, and he's been getting better offensively as the season has progressed, hitting over .300 since the break. It's a great sign.

His future is probably in the outfield, though.

Hayes just isn't a major league 3B, regardless of his glove. His OPS is a joke, but they're stuck with him due to that contract.

Small market clubs like the Pirates cannot afford to either commit a lot of money to or spend first round picks on unproductive players. As it pertains to the first round picks, Henry Davis and Nick Gonzalez have not exactly been lighting the world on fire.

It might be time for another change in the front office, to be honest. Ben Cherrington has had five years now with little to show for it.

It's time for Shelton to go as well, but managers really don't have the impact that coaches do in other sports.

 

[Etrius24]

Diamond...

I did not say it was likely... LOL...

I was merely stating what needs to happen to have a shot at the post season.

And as much as it might be Blasphemy... I would trade one of the young arms that are ready for the Majors.

There are three sitting there (Axelrod, Chandler, Harrington.) Trade one of them for a top hitting prospect or hell even a hitter that can step in and contribute...

I would call the Tigers up and kick the Tires or Torkelson.... Maybe a switch to a new team is what he needs... He has a monster bat... He had a sophomore slump this year after tearing the cover off the baseball a season ago.

Tork has legit 40 hr pop in his bat and he is only 24 years old . To get a bat that is young and cheap like that we would have to give up one of the three prized arms at AAA

 

[thedddd]

Well Shelton is expected to return next year. Status quo. I really hope they prove me wrong but I have a feeling it will be wasted year of Skenes.

@Etrius24 - Welcome back.

 

[Darkstone42]

They have such a correctable roster heading into the off-season. If they're aggressive FA, the team will be good. Go get two of Walker, Santander, and Adames if they don't get extended, add a bullpen arm or two, bring back Cutch, and the team should be pretty solid. They've got the rotation and starting pitching depth already, they just need to score runs and protect leads now.