Here’s the latest on the Pirates, via Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
- The team plans to add a veteran starting pitcher this winter, manager Clint Hurdle says. Retaining Ivan Nova is a possibility, although, as Biertempfel suggests, Nova seems likely to hit the free agent market. “It’s definitely one of the conversations we’ve already initiated, whether it be Nova or somebody else of that ilk,” Hurdle says. The Pirates don’t have much in the way of veteran starting pitching beyond Gerrit Cole, with a variety of 2016 rookies, including Jameson Taillon, Chad Kuhl, Tyler Glasnow, Steven Brault and Trevor Williams, lined up behind him. One veteran, Jeff Locke, lost his rotation spot this year and looks like a non-tender candidate, while another, Drew Hutchison, spent most of the year in the minors.
- The Pirates do not plan any coaching changes this winter despite a losing season in 2016, GM Neal Huntington says. Hurdle is signed through 2017 with a team option for 2018.
- The Bucs placed outfielder Starling Marte on the 15-day DL with back trouble this weekend, a seemingly unnecessary move that did not clear roster space for another player and was not tied to any clauses in Marte’s long-term deal. Huntington’s explanation for the move was vague. “He’s missed a large majority of (September), unlike some of the other guys like (Francisco) Cervelli, who are banged up,” said Huntington. “We felt it was useful for a variety of reasons to note that he went on the DL.” Biertempfel suggests that the move might have been intended to send a message to Marte that the Pirates were unhappy he didn’t play more in September. “I was still working on my back,” says Marte. “I was working to get back into the lineup, but it still hurt.”
If I were Huntington I would trade Meadows, Frazier, Glasnow, and Kuhl to the Twins for Tommy Milone.. That way people can stop talking about the Francisco Liriano trade.
Before getting TJ Surgery Kingham was a top 100 prospect started throwing in minors late this year. Assuming he makes it back all the way in time for spring throw him in the mix for young starters
Also working his way back is Cumpton who could provide some depth.
IMO: Locke and Drew should probably be both Non-tendered. But one or both probably will be. :-/
Fister should be available again and again at a reasonable price, probably under 10M. If i was the pirates I’d make him a two year + option year. with 15-18 Guaranteed. With his decent GB% and improving defensive infield for the most part.. should work well. But i’d also be fine with just a one year deal.
They also waited weeks before they placed Harrison on the DL last month…and that was when they still had a slight outside chance of making the playoffs…
Not hard for me to see the Pirates move Andrew McCutcheon this off season for pitching and prospects:
McCutcheon and P Chad Kuhl: to the Rangers for 3B/OF Joey Gallo, P Yohander Mendez and Martin Perez
or McCutcheon and Kuhl to the Nationals for P Lucas Giolito, OF Victor Robles amd Joe Ross
or McCutcheon and Kuhl to the Dodgers for P Julio Urias, 1B/OF Cody Bellinger and Alex Wood
You’re crazy if you think any of those teams will do that.
McCutcheon was horrible this year and a huge salary) and Kuhl is a decent #4.
LA has plenty of pitching and some great young OF talent.
Those are the Nationals two top prospects and the top pitching prospect in baseball.
Rangers would more likely resign Desmond at a cheaper price and keep their talent.
Gallo isn’t going anywhere. He can DH/3b when beltran is gone.
That’s just wow that’s crazy. To assume that McCutchen is worth that much after the season he had and declining defense. No team on that list is in dire need for McCutchen especially when all three can play at the top of the FA market which will include Desmond and Cespedes. Especially when LA can obtain Braun for much lesser of a package. It’s sincerely is wishful thinking. With pitching being at a premium and their injuries at the top such a trade isn’t happening for 2 years of McCutchen.
Crazy is somewhere but not with me. The Nats are all in now with a geriatric owner. They had their chance with Desmond and that ship has sailed. Tre Turner is not really a center fielder and Cespedes is not a candidate to leave NYC. They’re in the market for a center fielder and, in a year where the alternative is Dexter Fowler, so don’t let a trade catch you by surprise.
The Rangers are not a young team and are playing for now. If they re-sign Desmond, then that will take care of that. McCutcheon is an off-year has a better BA than Gallo has averaged in his pro career. It would be hard to find an objective fan saying Gallo is too high a price for McCutcheon.
The Dodgers have pitching depth and the money to acquire more in free agency. If McCutcheon is on their radar, giving up pitching is the price. Their top position talent is already on the big team.
All 3 of these teams have the ability to extend McCutcheon. In contrast, Pittsburgh wants to get out from under contracts before losing a player in free agency. Teams know that so Pirate fans thinking teams will back up the truck are no better than those who value a 29 yo McCutcheon on the basis of one down year.
None of this is wishful thinking on my part. I don’t support any of these teams.
I think the ship has sailed on McCutchen being considered a true cf. Turner may not be a true cf but his make up speed enables him to pick it and his routes have gotten a lot better. So they can leave him there without a drop off and let their young players develop.
It’s clear they weren’t giving up Giolito or Lopez at the deadline. The Nats don’t have to tear it down plus they still have a year left with Werth (who btw has a no trade clause) were it is entirely plausible they can easily find a platoon partner.
In terms of the Dodgers Braun is an easier target and isn’t going to cost the fraction of Bellinger and Urias. Especially considering Bellinger is slated to be Gonzo’s replacement. Their top position talent also includes the big three who appeared in AA last year. If you think they are giving up Urias for two years of McCutchen that’s just not happening. They have three guys next year that can play cf. There need is on a corner. Add onto that their aversion to hand out huge contracts to aging pitchers and that doesn’t correlate.
The rangers don’t need to splurge for an of. They can easily resign Desmond and 2/3 of their OF is intact. They aren’t hurting for power. They still have an huge contract in Choo on the books so look for them to still look for pitching.
Everyone needs pitching plain and simple. So to give up such a haul for a guy who was injury riddled and underperformed just doesn’t seem likely. Could McCutchen be traded?Sure I think eventually he will. Will he be traded for a huge price? No I don’t think he will.
Im a huge fan of McCutchen but this is the second year in a row he’s been trending down. He also is no longer a passible CF making his power numbers less impactful unless your in a bandbox. Just wait until FA to see what Cespedes does because in my opinion he’s just paying lip service which is what you would expect. All in all McCutchen isn’t worth the huge overpay you are suggesting for teams who already have viable cf options.
Kuhl and Cutch are not going any where with out a big over pay and even if, it would have to be MLB ready pitcher heaving coming back.
The pirates are pretty much set at every position besides pitcher even if they trade cutch. (not counting any other moves they might make)
Sure that’s expected but the teams mentioned don’t necessarily make sense especially considering those three teams have their own pitching issues themselves.
Right on, even if they didn’t have the pitching issues i doubt they would come close to overpaying for a player coming of the year cutch has had even if the last couple months where stronger.
Maybe closer to the deadline if Cutch is closer the the MVP levels he was just a couple years ago.
Which is entirely possible. Now I still think teams will kick the tires on McCutchen in the offseason, but the pirates have a ton of talent and still have an opportunity to compete next year. If they trade him I see them trading at the deadline.
At the deadline is to late to trade McCutchen as we have no pitching.We need to concentrate on getting a couple good SP’s before anything.Personally I don’t see McCutchen going anywhere as he can bounce back to being the player he was. I could see him working his butt off to make it back and prove everyone wrong,but we need pitching bad and if they are to cheap to go out and get them,then we will be back to being bottom feeders
That liriano trade keeps looking worse and worse. Not only has hutch been bad in Pittsburgh, but liriano has been great in Toronto. Add in the prospects, and Huntington might’ve made the second worst trade of the year
Cutch isn’t going anywhere. No team is going to offer anything to the pirates liking after the year he had. He’ll be healthy next year and everything will be fine