New Pirates GM Ben Cherington told reporters yesterday that he’s fielding interest in loads of players, as Rob Biertempfel writes for The Athletic (subscription link). Cherington indicated that he isn’t rebuffing inquiries on any segments of the Pittsburgh roster.
“We wouldn’t want to stop any conversation about any player,” Cherington explains. Right now, he’s gathering information in anticipation of opportunities that haven’t quite presented themselves. “The more information you have, the more clearly you can think about what makes sense for the Pirates when you’re kind of pushed to make a decision,” says Cherington.
The player the Bucs seem likeliest to end up moving is center fielder Starling Marte. It was already known that he was available. He’s in a position of demand and would surely be of greater utility to another team that’s seeking to contend. But the market situation is still taking shape.
There are some new data points to consider with respect to Marte. The Diamondbacks are among the teams showing interest in the veteran, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter links). That creates another potential landing spot to help generate offers. The full scope of interested teams isn’t clear.
If Marte is to be moved, the Pirates hope to land a controllable backstop in return, per Heyman. Of course, that sort of desire isn’t always attainable. It stands to reason that the organization will focus first and foremost on value rather than worrying too much about filling a specific need.
For that same reason, the Pirates won’t insist upon receiving high-end, far-away prospects in trade talks. Young MLB pieces could also be of interest to the Bucs, Biertempfel tweets. That’s particularly sensible since the organization does have a solid amount of young talent at or near the MLB level. While the results have obviously been disappointing of late, the roster is at the moment in much better shape than those of teams undergoing full-blown rebuilds.
Though much of the focus remains on Marte, the versatile Adam Frazier is said to be getting the most hits, per Heyman (Twitter link). Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had noted yesterday that Frazier was drawing interest. He’s a capable hitter who’d provide function to most any roster at a reasonable price.
HarveyD82
good luck, ben…
PiratesFan1981
Frazier would be the cheapest player to sell to any team compared to Marte. Frazier can play almost any position on the field and doesn’t have a huge upside to him offensively. He is a .260-.280 average hitter with OPS of .400-.430. He is limited in the power department even with juiced baseballs. The Pirates might get a mid-tier prospect for Frazier. I don’t expect a whole lot in return.
h0wmyd0ing
Frazier is just a guy. If they can get something for him, go!
KermitJagger
I don’t don’t know, a super utility guy with his bat, control, and salary is super valuable. His defense has really improved as well. His return won’t be anything crazy but I wouldn’t be surprised if he returned something useful and near ML ready.
spinach
“OPS of .400 to .430”… he could not make a little league team with those numbers…
joew
error in the ops. he’s an average+ bat that has hit decently at every level. he also provided plus defense once he got settled into one position.
bigdaddyt
Don’t know if it’s smart to essentially say “hey I don’t like this team anyone want anybody”
graysondecker
That’s not what he’s saying. He’s just open to trading anybody, even if he likes those players. It’s hard not to like young players like Bryan Reynolds and Kevin Newman, each of which performed well last year and have four or more years of control, so they’re likely staying no matter what, but it’s good to make any player available
The Ghost of Bobby Bonilla
…..”as long as payroll goes down, because that is my only mandate from Nutting”.
bigbadjohnny
Pirates will be 50-112 in 2010 !
PiratesFan1981
50 wins? Giving them the benefit of a doubt, I see. I saw worst team in the league and first round pick for 2021 season once Marte is moved. I will also go with 38 wins for the Pirates once all major pieces are traded. Those pieces include, Marte, Archer, Bell, Polanco, and/or Frazier. I see at least 2 being moved and bringing the Pirates pretty close to 38-43 wins. There is a huge lack of power for HRs or OF gap power.
CrewBrew
Hoping our GM comes in and robs another rebuilding club blind again.
Mendoza Line 215
SW-The worst relatively recent team was the NewYork Mets of their first year in 1962.They were 40-120.They were bad,very,very,very bad.
The Astros before their rejuvenation were almost as bad.
Do you really really think that the Pirates will be anywhere near that bad?Do you think that BC would let that happen in his first year?
I cannot see them being any worse than the 69 win team of last year.
nymetsking
I’ll lay any amount of money the 2010 Pirates go 57-105.
army123456
I say worse than that if you give away your core players. Bob is such a let down for Pittsburgh.
phenomenalajs
Correct, because that was their record in 2010. Pretty certain he’s betting on them getting into Tigers and Orioles territory in 2020.
braves25
@nymetsking
You beat me to it! The 2010 Pirates go 57-105 without a doubt!
wattsup
History shows you would make a lot of money. Now try predicting 2020!
kidaplus
Like Marte sliding it to RF for the White Sox more than any of the FA out there… Pirates want a catcher Wsox have depth there with Collins, Savala & Mercedes… (dont think theyd want McCann)… still questions on those guys, but its a start on package that includes what they’re looking for…
Gwynning
Give you Austin Hedges and Nick Margevicius for Marte. Starting catcher and #5 rotation piece
vtadave
Lol
bobveale
Already have lots of No. 5 SPs.
wkkortas
To which the entirety of Pirate fandom says “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Michael Chaney
I’m assuming you mean Jefry Marte because that isn’t coming anywhere close to getting Starling Marte
GoAwayRod
Damaso Marte was a Pirate once. He could work in that trade.
kevro2139
Would probably need to be Campusano plus more.
Jaysthoughts
dont need a #5 starter. Thats why huntington is gone. Trading quality players for backend starters. New regime. Gotta give quality to receive now.
wilbertmatthews
Anybody but Reynolds is available
Frisco500
Reynolds fell back down to earth in a huge way last year. It will be interesting to see how he performs in 2020.
Robertowannabe
He fell back down to earth in a big way???? He finished tied for 9th highest BA in all of baseball….. Most players would love to fall back to earth that way….. smh….
Dice 66
Fell back ? Stupid statement ! You must be thinking of RJ Reynolds ?
Mendoza Line 215
Dice-Do you think that Frisco is a little frustrated that the Giants basically gave Reynolds to the Pirates for three months of McCutcheon?
Another bad deal by NH.
GoAwayRod
If the no-pop, sub-league-average-in-a-juiced-ball-year, 28-year old utility player is drawing the most interest on your entire roster, I think that says more about the team you’ve inherited than anything else.
graysondecker
He’s above league average, even with no pop. He has the 13th-highest WAR when compared with other second basemen of the 40 that qualified. Pair that with his ability to play five positions on the field, and he’s decent trade bait.
Jrmomo1000
He’s had some good games against the Cards I’d like too see them in on him and Marte
Dice 66
Where is this no pop coming from ? He very capable of 15 hrs .
Jrmomo1000
Kizner deleon and Oniell for Matte.
CrewBrew
Id like to see the Brewers get Josh Bell
beyou02215
Like the fit. If I was a 1B needy team, I’d try hard for Bell. The Twins also makes sense.
stubby66
I think Moran would flourish at third in that ballpark too
angelsinthetroutfield
Varsho for Marte would be a steal for Cherrington. I’d assume he’d have to include some more MLB ready pieces
army123456
Why are we trading? We need to building a winner with out wiping our base. We are going to have another year to five years of sub basement ball again. The owner won’t spend any money. How are you going to contend with out adding payroll. It defines logic. Example- Cincinnati. We are going to be majors minor league team.
PiratesFan1981
Your logic of thinking is why Pittsburgh Pirates went bankrupt in the mid 90s. I hate being a farm system to the league again, but the Pirates need to retool the system and become competitive by 2022. Yes, that is a couple more losing seasons, but the farm system is very weak and why pay for a free agent for 5-8 years who may not even live up to the contract? Any baseball mind knows that the Pirates organization is in trouble from the farm system and up. This is the year the Pirates need to rebuild and keep what little fan base they have left.
army123456
If the payroll falls below 40 million we need to have the pirates and nuts investigated. That’s bs.
Benklasner
I think the cards should take a stab at a bounce back polanco
Robertowannabe
Who the heck is polamci?????? 🙂 I assume you mean Polanco. What you want to give up to get him?
Benklasner
Dont think it would take too much to take on his contract for 18mil plus two options. Adolis Garcia and connor jones?
PiratesFan1981
I think it’s crazy that in-division trades are heavy amongst Cards and Brewers fans. You realize that the Pirates will want more from a in-division rival compared to out of the division team? That is why teams hardly trade in-division. The the exception of Jordan Lyles being traded from the Pirates to Brewers last season, trades of importance never happens against rival clubs, let alone in-division.
Benklasner
At this point I would hardly call the pirates a rival club.
Robertowannabe
Pretty much every GM is open to trading any player that they have. The thing is, if a team is going to land some of the better players on some teams, they better be prepared to give up a kings ransom……the queens ransom too……..and maybe a prince and princess ransom. Just depends what a team is willing to offer to get a specific player and if it is enough for a GM to let them go. I would expect that Ben will not dump players just to dump. I expect that any player that is moved it will be for appropriate value.
miltpappas
Cherington should take another stab at Sandoval.
californiaangels
what would it take from the Angel’s to get Musgrove or Archer??
KermitJagger
Don’t know but Musgrove >> Archer
MetsFanaticDanny
Mets get: Starling Marte & Chris Archer
Pirates get: J.D. Davis, Andres Gimenez, Francisco Alvarez, Shervyen Newton & Jordan Humphries
Steve
That’s kinda interesting
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Keep: Reynolds, Newman, Hayes, Keller, Cruz and Musgrove
Trade: Marte, Bell, Frazier, Kela and Archer.
Listen: On everyone else.
Chris Giarraputo
Marte to Yankees. Give them Hicks (cheap contract) and Frazier plus some minor leaguers.
PiratesFan1981
I wish they had the thumbs down still. This comment deserves a BIG thumbs down.
That trade wouldn’t make one bit of sense for a rebuilding Pirates. They would hang up the phone with that offer and keep a close watch on the caller ID just in case the Yankees tried calling again. This isn’t Derek Jeter Miami Marlins
tiredolddude
Typical Yankees fan. Used to raping teams like the Pirates so why not keep the blather rolling?
damon389
Frazier at 2B would be an obvious fit for Oakland. They could look to deal one of Neuse/Mateo/Barreto as well as someone like Holmes or Kaprielian as an SP in ’21 (and quite possibly a ’20 mid-season call up).
66TheNumberOfTheBest
The Pirates should tell fans that if they sell 1,000 season tickets, they’ll sign a free agent.
Put a big sign in front of PNC Park, counting down every day how many more season tickets they need to sell in order to sign that free agent.
If that works, they could promise future free agent signings as long as the fans are willing and able to pay up directly.
jmw1975
I like this. Cherington and Shelton are trying to create a new culture in the Burgh. I say trade Bell and Archer. Bell is always hurt and a huge defensive liability. Archer has done squat since he got here. Just like with Mc Cutchen we have gotten the better years out of Marte. He will be 32 this season. Polonco is also always hurt. I say move all these guys for some more players like Reynolds, Newman and Osuna.