Hump Day Pirates Q&A

10-11-23 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on Twitter

Wow, yinz didn’t disappoint, that’s a ton of questions.

Question 1

Who are the best trade chips to acquire a SP or 1B that is not a dumpster dive? – Brian Croasman

It’s funny Brian, I could make a pretty strong case that when acquired, both Jose Quintana and Tyler Anderson were dumpster dives. Hell I could go back even farther and say JA Happ was actually a dumpster dive way back in 2015. Lord knows everyone thought Vince Velasquez was trash as a starting option.

What acquisitions become is often not what they’re perceived to be when the deal is struck. A team sees something in a guy they think they can help bring to the forefront and sometimes they’re right, sometimes they aren’t.

For first base, there isn’t much that really piques my interest. Max Muncy has a 14 million dollar club option for 2024 and becomes a free agent in 2025, I suppose it’s possible the Dodgers might feel they can move on from him, but I’m not sure how plausible it would be to extend him beyond next year. The other flyer I’d take here is Seth Brown from Oakland. He’s entering his first year of arb, which likely puts him out of the A’s target window for this build. He can play the outfield, or first base. He’s still a bit of a project though, even as he’s shown some good pop. The glove is questionable and so are the contact numbers.

Again, define dumpster dive. Cause if they were to get a guy like Brown, it would assuredly be seen as such by more than a few.

Michael Wacha has a 16 million dollar club option in San Diego, and they’re vocally trying to cut payroll, that might be someone who you could target, but again, you’d want to be confident you could potentially extend him I’d imagine. All of these option eligible players though, those decisions must be made 5 days after the World Series and flatly, it’s easier to just move on in many cases.

Dylan Cease is probably the sexiest with 2 years of control remaining, but Trevor Rogers from the pitching rich Marlins who was injured much of 2023 with various arm ailments and is entering arbitration for the first time might be affordable for a team looking to add talent offensively. Might have to give up something that hurts to pull either of these off.

Question 2

If you work Saturdays does that make Thursday hump day? Can we end the post season early and start the offseason? Also Yariel Rodriguez would be awesome right? – Adam Yarkovsky

You mean Yariel Rodriguez the Cuban Star pitcher that every MLB team flocked to see throw in a tryout setting?

He was a starter in Cuba, then a bullpen arm in Japan, last year, he didn’t pitch and just last week he was released from his Japanese contract. I’ve seen estimates of 5 years 50-70 million, which if he’s a starter is a bargain, if he’s a bullpen arm, not so much.

That said, the stuff appears to be there, still hitting almost 97 on the gun, still spinning it up there at elite levels. It’s a risk, but it could be a worthy one and nothing to dislike about having another Cuban around for Oviedo to pal with.

Question 3

Who will get his shot 1st Skenes or Jones? – Casey Hurcula

Oh, so much has to happen to understand this fully. Let’s say the Pirates go get 2 starters, I personally think that’s what they need, it would leave 1 open spot in the rotation. Now that open spot will likely go to a Contreras, Ortiz, Priester type, and from there it really becomes about who impresses the most in the minors, who stays healthy, all that jazz.

Jones is probably closer, but let’s just be real, Skenes has superior stuff to everyone in the system. That doesn’t mean Skenes is the best or most developed “pitcher”, but it does mean if the team is betting on a rookie, I bet they choose Jones if only because he MUST be protected from the rule 5 in 2025, so might as well just get the ball rolling with him.

Question 4

If we trade young players for veterans who would you make available? – Mike Teti

Honestly, Termarr and Skenes might be my only untouchables. I mean, if you truly felt Henry and Endy were interchangeable behind the dish (I don’t) I’d suggest one of them. I just don’t think anyone else really rises to the level of an absolutely not designation.

Question 5

Best guess on 2024 catcher starts: – Robert Bishop

I hear what the Pirates have said about Henry, frankly I just don’t buy it. I think this is a passionate kid, who’s passionate about his want to be a catcher. Thing is he’s more passionate about winning baseball games and they’ll all come to figure it out together. Endy will carry the starting workload and Delay will carry the rest is where I’ll sit until proven wrong. Endy showed me enough in 2023 back there to not believe Henry can jump him.

Question 6

You have watched soooo many bad baseball games over the last 4 seasons. How excited are you for the next season? – Shaun Conley

I’m very excited Shaun. It’ll be the first time I’ve written/talked about/covered, whatever you believe me to be doing, where I don’t have to constantly say losing was expected. Honestly, I don’t even know how I’ll do it.

I’ll approach it from the same mindset I always have. Try to be fair, try to make people understand why trading the farm for Juan Soto at the deadline probably isn’t smart, you know.

First and foremost though, I’m a fan, and I’ve been watching this team since 1986 with any level of understanding. I’m just excited to see some good ball, and know that next time the Steelers kickoff, my Buccos should still be a worthy topic of conversation.

I love this team, and this city. A winning baseball team is good for everyone, and I can’t wait to cover it, watch it, talk to other fans in the seats or on my show all year long. I can’t tell you how many times Craig and I talked about this time in the future since we launched this site.

Question 7

I often hear the saying, “The Pirates have to get it right”. While that’s true, even if no one at 2B is stepping up in our eyes, shouldn’t the coaches have a decent idea after 4 years who they prefer going forward? I sense a reluctance to make trades. That concerns me more. – KG_55VFTG Graves

I’m not sure who you sense that from Graves. It probably wasn’t Ben Cherington, he was pretty clear he was open to it as a method of getting more talent in here. Up until now, I’m not sure they really had enough information to make a decision.

Now, they probably do have that 4 years you speak of. But can you say right now Peguero, Gonzales, Triolo or Bae have won? Knowing you, of course not, because you can’t say yes honestly. Balance that with the value of any one of them is limited because of that knowledge base being thin.

I kinda go back to basics. They need arms and bats. Take the positions away for a minute, do they have 9 bats we’re sure about? Man, I don’t know, but I can honestly say I’m not sure I can get to feeling they’ve been reluctant quite yet.

Bluntly, we fans are frustrated because there are too many options and we see it as tradable. I can see why they want to be sure before they decide which ones they can live without.

Question 8

Looks like Andujar and Brubaker are gone? – Mark Graham

Somebody was listening to Bucs in the Basement. Andujar I personally felt was going to be non-tendered long before he was called back up in 2023. It’s pretty simple, there just isn’t a roster spot for 2 DH only players, and try as you might, that’s what the Pirates see him as. Brubaker though, I dunno, he’ll be cheap and at some point in 2024 he’ll recover and pitch. I think he’ll survive.

Question 9

Will the Pirates be able to land any of the incoming Foreign FA? – MZylinski

I can say they’re more involved than they have been in recent years. Internationally the Pirates tend to scout well and we’ll see how it shakes out but at least they’re going to the dance. This question could have been about any free agent and my answer would largely be the same. Until you get to the point where you understand all the needs of the other clubs, it’s really hard to start forecasting this stuff out.

Question 10

Any idea what the Pirates could use the rest of their allocated International money on? – James Littleton

According to John Dreker at Pirates Prospects they are in on a couple outfielders and should have no trouble spending their remaining 900K.

Question 11

With expectations that the Pirates will at least contend for a Wildcard playoff berth next year, do you think Manager Derek Shelton will have a short leash if the team gets off to a bad start? – Zach Williams

Honestly, no.

I just don’t see them making coaching moves in season, at least not in 2024. Now, I will say his expectations should be raised drastically but none that are going to cause an execution mid-season.

2024 should be the first time Shelton was handed a roster his bosses believe SHOULD be a playoff team, and if he fails to accomplish that goal, then I think we can talk about moving on. The threshold for fans to be ready and team executives don’t often lineup.

Question 12

Seems like there was at least rumors of interest from both sides of brining back Carlos Santana. Is this the right move for the club or do they need to spend up a bit to get more of a true power bat at first? – 412_Sports_Guy

This to me boils down to whether they feel they have an internal option coming. For instance, lets say they believe the answer in 2025 could be Triolo, Gorski, or Nunez. If that’s the case, sure, a one year stopgap is fine. If they don’t see anyone, and won’t move anyone, then honestly, I hate it. Fix the position for a few years instead would be my preferred path, problem is, that’s just not there on the free agency board. I’ve recently heard Santana described as “The Cutch for the Latin players” and I think that makes some sense, but he has to have something left in the tank too.

Question 13

What’s your most reasonable prediction and what’s your most outlandish, pie in the sky prediction for this team and its players? – PGHPirateQueen

Reasonable prediction is that they crack open the window and make a wild card appearance in 2024. Pie in the sky, Skenes and Termarr both get here and this team arrives early and threatens the division.

Question 14

According to Ben Cherington, the plan for Henry Davis is for him to concentrate on catching this off-season. That’s all well and good, but his defense in RF remains an issue too. Should we be prepared for Davis to start ’24 in AAA? – KG_55VFTG Graves

This question is a perfect reflection of my biggest concern with stringing Henry along as a catcher. It’s certainly possible Graves, but I legitimately wonder how long they could do it. The bat is likely beyond AAA, and it feels like they need to have that understanding going into it. His bat is likely to force itself into the lineup, so it stands to reason you should have a realistic position for him to play. Nailed this one Graves, I’m more worried about this situation than any other of the young position players.

Question 15

Do you think Cutch will be back with the Pirates? – Nicole Chewning

Yes. I always did, and as soon as they decided to open this door it was clear both sides knew what screwing this up would do to this fanbase and his relationship to the club. Cutch is a media savvy player, so when he puts up on Instagram “see you next year” it’s not an accident. This will get done, and as I wrote last week, it should probably be his last.

Question 16

Sure, many of us have read whatever hubris there is about the Pirates interest in Yamamoto. I think the Bucs will get priced out even if interest is legit. In a dart toss in back of my mind, what are your thoughts on a possible one year offer to say…. Trevor Bauer? 

To me, he’s in that gray area. Not a certain POS like Vazquez. Not an apparent POS like Julio Urias. He’s more of an individual case by case basis where someone truly would have to meander thru he said/she said leaks to the media and make their own individual decision.

Almost the entire fanbase loathes/dislikes Nutting already. So the PR hit would not be as strong as in many cities. I “think” many may fall in line w/my opinions. Nutting hasn’t shown me anything and Bauer “may” be a POS. But…. it’d show us Nutting willing to take chances TO WIN and Bauer very well could help the cause. He still hasn’t reached his mid-30’s.

Long as nothing illegal occurs, I don’t care what someone does in their sexcapades. And this….this is a gray area case IMO. – Brian Altman

First of all Brian, thanks for asking and putting yourself out there. We live in a day and age where even asking the question for some will label you some kind of way.

I too saw all the debunking of one of his accusers, and as I understand it there are more out there. I’m not deciding what he is or trying him here, just noting I don’t believe the book is closed on all of it.

We also can’t forget, he was always kinda of an asshole. Stirring up crap all over the league and being a general thorn in the side of MLB.

If indeed he is poised for a comeback, I guess I’d be fine with the Pirates tossing a chip in the pot.

As to all the Bob and PR stuff, man Brian all I can say is it can always get worse. For instance, you probably never liked Vladimir Putin, but today I’d bet you dislike him a bit more.

Signings are very rarely for PR purposes, especially costly or risky ones.