Casey McGehee and Garrett Jones haven’t teamed up on the field yet, but they’re already linked through the arbitration process. McGehee and Jones, the Pirates’ two remaining unsigned arbitration eligible players, would have been comparables for one another this offseason even if Pittsburgh hadn’t traded for McGehee in December.
To this point, they have similar career arcs: a cameo appearances in the big leagues followed by a change of teams, a strong first full season, votes in the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year balloting and solid but unspectacular production from corner positions ever since. Parallels like that don’t have to exist for the players to be relevant to one other in arbitration, but the similarities extend to their statistical production.
McGehee has a .265/.320/.426 career line with 52 home runs and 242 RBI in 1689 plate appearances across 437 games. Jones has a .254/.323/.450 career line with 60 home runs and 193 RBI in 1573 plate appearances across 419 games. McGehee's platform year included 13 home runs, 67 RBI and a .223 average, while Jones' platform season featured 16 home runs, 58 RBI and a .243 average.
Not surprisingly, the first-time arbitration eligible teammates are positioned for similar 2012 salaries. McGehee and his representatives at Meister Sports Management asked for $2.725MM, while the Pirates offered $2.35MM (midpoint of $2.538MM). Meanwhile, Jones (pictured) and his representatives at SFX asked for $2.5MM, while the Pirates offered $2.25MM (midpoint of $2.375MM).
McGehee, who is one year younger than Jones, has 49 more RBI for his career, including one season with 100-plus driven in (like it or not, RBI matter). Jones, a super two player, had a stronger platform season, with more home runs and doubles than McGehee and a considerably better battling line.
The Pirates teammates are obvious comparables, but many other players are also relevant to the discussion. Should a hearing or two take place, recent first-time eligible position players such as Seth Smith ($2.415MM), Colby Rasmus ($2.7MM), Ian Stewart ($2.229MM) and David Murphy ($2.4MM) could figure in to discussions as well.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
Anyone who’s anyone knows that they’re secretly the same person. Why do you think they’re on the same team now? Makes it easier to cover it up.
So trading for McGehee (who is one in the same as jones) was just a ploy devised by management to dupe the fans for their hard earned cash? What else is new.
So trading for McGehee (who is one in the same as jones) was just a ploy devised by management to dupe the fans for their hard earned cash? What else is new.
Pirates are cheap, fighting for 600k
It’s the business of baseball, my friend.
Funny how baseball has desensitized us into thinking 600k is cheap. More than most of us will make in a decade 🙁
“Funny” as in “seriously messed up!”
🙁
I agree but it’s the owners to blame as much as the players.
Not cheap, reality. The Bucs need the 1.2MM in the event that D.Lee and his agent realize that no one else is going to make offer.
Lee IS NOT going to sign with the Pirates. It was more realistic to say Jaromir Jagr was going to sign with the Penguins.
If that’s true , it’s unlikely he’ll sign with anyone, unless he asks for less money.
Lee IS NOT going to sign with the Pirates. It was more realistic to say Jaromir Jagr was going to sign with the Penguins.
Pirates should feel pretty good. This is the first year in awhile that they may be able to contend in the Central.
contend for third place?
Not this year, but maybe in 2013 they’ll have both Cole and Taillon in the rotation. Having those two guys pan out is their only shot.
the same cole and taillon who have yet to throw one pitch in high a yet? is bell going to be starting in right field too with Stetson Allie closing?? wow 2013 will be a great year….
Cole was drafted out of college and has better raw stuff than anyone in the Pirates’ rotation. How long do you think he needs in the minors? 4 years? He’ll be up by September most likely.
If Taillon lights it up in the minors, not too far-fetched to think he’ll start 2013 in the majors, IMO.
I’d say there is a decent chance cole starts this year in AA but it’s more likely that both of them will start out in Bradenton. I just don’t see anyway that cole progresses from there to a September call up it’s just not going to happen and the chances of taillon starting his age 21 season in the majors are slim and none. best case we see cole at the end of 2013 and taillon sometime in 2014 and thats beig optimistic… which is hard for pirates fans
The Bucs have too many holes to contend.
Nah, this IS THE YEAR they break.500 after contending all year. They’ll play that 1 wild card game and choke like they did in the 2nd half last year.
Not this year still too much dead wood. Next year when Sanchez and Hernandez join Bucs along side of Cole and Taillon.
I’m not convinces Hernandez is going to be anything more than a Tike Redman/Adrian Brown type player. As for Sanchez, he’s struggled so far at every level so what makes you think he’ll be any better in the majors?
I think the Pirates would be better off trading players such as Sanchez or Marte for pitching, and perhaps going after Brian McCann in free agency next season.
If they can’t play for the Bucs, how much are they worth? As for McCann the Bucs don’t need more aging players. They would be better off with youth.
I’m not convinces Hernandez is going to be anything more than a Tike Redman/Adrian Brown type player. As for Sanchez, he’s struggled so far at every level so what makes you think he’ll be any better in the majors?
I think the Pirates would be better off trading players such as Sanchez or Marte for pitching, and perhaps going after Brian McCann in free agency next season.
wow you are extremely delusional if think cole and taillon will be in the bugs next year. cole may get a late season call up but as I posted above neither has pitched in high a yet.. and why hernandez over marte? hernandez is known for his great defense which we already have in cf with mccutchen, and marte is no slouch in the department either and marte might actually provide some offense
Narte would get more than Hernandez in a trade. Your probably right about the pitchers.
marte would bring more in a trade that’s pretty obvious.. so why do you think hernandez will be coming up with Sanchez and not him?
Because we’re talking about the Bucs. 😉
Not this year still too much dead wood. Next year when Sanchez and Hernandez join Bucs along side of Cole and Taillon.
They are taking the same path as the Brewers so this year will be .500 and contend next year
Except the Brewers went out and got Grienke and Marcum because they knew it would put them over the top. The Pirates went out and got Erik Bedard (1/2 season at the most).
Except the Brewers went out and got Grienke and Marcum because they knew it would put them over the top. The Pirates went out and got Erik Bedard (1/2 season at the most).
If Jones and Alvarez are able to play to their potential, the Pirates could have quite a potent line up. I think it will look something like this.
vs RHP
LF-Presley
2B-Walker
CF-McCutchen
1B-Jones
RF-Tabata
3B-Alvarez
C-Barajas
SS-Barmes
vs LHP
Presley-LF
Tabata-RF
McCutchen-CF
Walker-2B
McGehee-1B
3B-Alvarez
C-Barajas
SS-Barmes
That’s a big IF, Jones is a defensive liability and Alvarez a never-was.
I am old enough when the said the same things about Willie “Strike-Out” Stargell. Alvarez needs some time before he is written off as a never-was.
Stargell was hitting homers and hidden in left field when he was called that. Alvarez’s real weakness is his defense.
I am old enough when the said the same things about Willie “Strike-Out” Stargell. Alvarez needs some time before he is written off as a never-was.
I think that having Derrek Lee in the clean-up spot would make either line up a lot more credible.
Derek Lee is not coming to Pittsburgh. In fact, I think he’ll retire. The Pirates are not going to add anymore offensive pieces unless its for a bench spot or AAA depth. These are the players they’ll have to work with.
If Derrick Lee really wanted to come back to the Pirates he would of signed by now, unless he’s decided on whether to retire or not. The Pirates and these two need to reach a midpoint and just get the deals done.
I am not arguing your point, but I think that the bottom line to Derrek Lee’s possible retirement is the money. He is a guy with a ton of pride who is used to annual paychecks closer to 10 million than the probable 2 million that he will be offered this year. If the money is right (even at maybe at 3 million a year for the right ball club), he will unretire quickly. Sorry to say, though, that club is not going to be of the caliber of the Pirates.
If Derrick Lee really wanted to come back to the Pirates he would of signed by now, unless he’s decided on whether to retire or not. The Pirates and these two need to reach a midpoint and just get the deals done.
I can’t see either player going to arbitration hearings, given how close they are… the differences are less than the MLB minimum, FFS.