February 13: The Pirates have officially announced the signing via press release. To create space for Dyson on the 40-man roster, the Bucs placed righty Jameson Taillon on the 60-day injured list. Taillon is expected to miss most, if not all of the 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last August.
February 12: The Pirates have a deal in place with veteran outfielder Jarrod Dyson, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). It’s a one-year, big-league contract, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Dyson will earn $2MM, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. (Twitter link. Heyman also first reported the sides were close to a deal.)
Dyson will help the Bucs cover for the departure of center fielder Starling Marte — who was dealt to Dyson’s most recent team, the Diamondbacks. It’s likely that the Pirates will utilize others up the middle as well, though we’ll know more when the club gathers up its position players in camp.
Now 35 years of age, Dyson is no longer quite the player he once was. He remains an excellent defender and elite baserunner, so the Bucs can feel confident they’ll get value in those areas. Those attributes also make Dyson an easy player to trade to a contender in need of a mid-season roster boost in anticipation of the postseason, as Dyson is a tailor-made late-inning bench asset.
Trouble is, the bat has lagged noticeably of late. From 2013-17, he carried a .262/.326/.361 slash line — hardly a standout mark, but within 12% or so of league-average productivity. It was easily enough to make Dyson a valuable player given his other high-grade tools. But over his two seasons with the Diamondbacks, Dyson has slumped to a meager .216/.302/.299 batting line.
There’s really not much to love about Dyson’s profile at the plate. He has boosted his walk rate of late but has consistently failed to make hard contact — though that was true also when he was turning in better outcomes. Whether due to his approach or those of opposing pitchers, Dyson’s launch angle has also headed northward. He has not gained any pop but has seen his batting average (and batting average on balls in play) dive.
It’s still easy to see the appeal of this move for the Bucs. There is some value to be found here and Dyson does keep the door open somewhat to competitiveness. Perhaps there is even a bit of overall upside, if the club can help him find a way to reduce the number of harmless fly balls he’s hitting while maintaining his plate-discipline improvements.
Pretty solid signing for a last place team.
Nice pickup for center.
Now just need Tim Beckum to play 3B and got a decent set of 8.
Freddy, kebryan hayes is the third baseman, if not now at midseason. I wish people would quit suggesting signings like over the hill Beckham. I didn’t like the signing of Dyson. Rebuild and watch the kids play and grow. Not older guys on thier last leg.
I’d rather see Beckham playing 3B than Moran. Hayes will still need supplemented or likely be the supplement himself… in which case I’d hope to see Moran long gone by that point.
Beckham can hit way better than Moran, if this team is to succeed in any capacity its going to need production from 1-8
Freddy-If you check out Tim Beckham’s stats he is not as good of a hitter as Moran who is a fairly good hitter against right handed pitchers.Moran is also a fairly good clutch hitter but he is not very good against left handed pitchers.
Beckham is not going to get any better after this many years in the ML.
Honestly I just thought Beckham would’ve been a great fit last season.
Although I should probably move on, as mentioned, hes not much of an upgrade. But always tempting when a potential upgrade is avail for league min.
The harsh spot is if Hayes is not ready or comes up super late in the season. Pirates dont have real depth or competition for Moran other than some intriguing middle infielders who dont play 3B
You never know when a guy like Beckham will break out as he was highly prized as a youngster but there is almost always a good reason why these guys are available for near the league minimum this late in their careers.
Don’t forget about Osuna too as he has paid his dues.Remember that they are placeholders though until Hayes learns to hit with some power.
Crucial situations to monitor in 2020 are:
1. Bell – David Ortiz or Edwin Encarnacion?
2. Archer – retain some value or salary dump ?
3. Polanco – next in line or more disappoints?
4. Reynolds – next level talent or 2019 gimmick?
5. Newman – full season at short stop ?
6. Keller – expect some bumps, but progress?
7. Williams – top half or bottom 2 ?
8. Musgrove – can you stay healthy at all?
9. Ke’Bryan – replace Moran midway or not?
10.Closer – Kela or Crick? Wade Davis? Who cares?
Sleepers: Brault, Kuhl, Swaggerty
Boom or bust: Polanco, Archer, Bell
Make or break: Moran, Stallings, Williams
Cornerstone: Reynolds, Keller, Newman
Near ML-Ready: Hayes, Swaggerty, Craig
I like this assessment, 2020 is definitely a year of evaluation and seeing who establishes themselves as part of the future. The biggest disappointment of the offseason to me was not taking shots on one year deals for relievers to try to flip at the deadline. I doubt this is a make or break year for Stallings though, he’s clearly capable of being a MLB backup catcher and there’s nobody on the roster or in the system to push him off the roster.
Not much of a drop from Ortiz to Encarnacion. If Bell can be either guy that’s huge.
no Tucker or Frazier in your list.
both have note worthy situations.
Ya Tucker and Frazier both worthy.
Just didnt crack the top 10 of most intriguing situations but were next in line.
Musgrove is a very reliable horse in the rotation. Had abdominal injury two years ago. But has been healthy.
You do realize Travis Swaggerty hasnt played above A ball, yet..
Swaggerty has a chance to be playing CF in PNC in August.
We could see him on the fast track for sure.
.265/9/40 in 457 AB’s for Bradenton aren’t exactly fast track numbers. Unless he completely tears the cover off the ball, I think he’ll be in the minors all year.
I’ll bet you anything he doesn’t get the call this year
Freddy-Swaggerty will not be ready until 2022 or 2023.
Really good breakdown. Nice job Freddy!
Not a bad addition for a rebuilding club. Speed and good defense. Bell, Reynolds and Newman need someone to drive in, right?
You have to be able to get on base, first.
Pirates World Series Champs 2020.
ROTFL….not. Come up with something more creative next time.
It’s a joke. Chill.
We all know it is a joke…..It is just old and tired. Same joke that shows up on any signing announcement board for about 15 teams in the league. It is just boring anymore………
Exactly
Bro did you just use a “not” joke and tell someone else to be more creative?
So Pirates it ain’t even funny
At least we can all agree that Neal Huntington should not ever have a job in baseball again, other than ticket taker in the Frontier League.
Ghost-Not sure that you are the spokesperson for everyone.
Another minor league signing. Come on bob.. can you afford better? Shopping in the close out section does not get you any where.
They are rebuilding. This was not the time to try to add a high priced long term outfielder when one would not help right now any more than Dyson will. at the moment. They will need to get better on the mound before they add higher priced field players.
It’s a majors contract. And besides, he’s a veteran presence that can be flipped for something at the deadline.
Flipped for what? Not much, about as much as Polanco is worth right now.
If Dyson is playing well at the deadline, a contending team would most likely will have interest in him as a defensive replacement or pinch running option. If playing well he will at least get prospects, international money or a comp pick in the next draft.
They didnt bring Dyson in to flip (as his FA market proved no value)
They brought in Dyson to play CF
He only is signed for this season. If he plays well and a miracle happens and the Bucs are actually in the playoff hunt, he stays the season. If he is playing well and the Pirates are out of it and someone else wants him at the deadline he will be flipped. They are building and he is the CF going into the season and that is about all that can be assured of happening with Dyson
They could have just made Brault a two-way player as he’s probably the best overall CF bat and glove not named Reynolds.
Army do you smoke crack? They arent going to sign a big name. They are rebuilding. This has been stated in all the pirate postings. Are you trolling or just illerate?
The rich man’s Billy Hamilton, if there is such a thing.
Better than Hamilton.
I agree with you.
Dyson and Heredia your CF duo in Pittsburgh this season.
Wonder if we actually see Polanco building some value in CF with Heredia in RF ?
Lot of people are sleeping on Polanco, but he has every tool at his disposal. If he can handle a light load in center this year while being healthy, his value could sky rocket.
Musgrove is a very reliable horse in the rotation. Had abdominal injury two years ago. But has been healthy.
Musgrove is a very reliable horse in the rotation. Had abdominal injury two years ago. But has been healthy.
Musgrove is a very reliable horse in the rotation. Had abdominal injury two years ago. But has been healthy.
I hear that Musgrove is a very reliable horse in the rotation. I think he had an abdominal injury two years ago. Does anyone know if he has been healthy?
Lol
I actually heard that he does not draw rave reviews for his defense…or maybe that was that someone else?
Hahahaha dude polanco In center would be an absolute circus. The dude runs like he’s on stilts
good signing better than nothing
Have to keep that payroll down. Nutting is only the 14th richest owner in MLB.
illiterate? When are you yinzers going to get it through your meatheads.THEY ARENT GOING TO SIGN A BIG NAME, WHEN THEY ARE REBUILDING.
Or when they’re “done” rebuilding either. Liriano at 3yrs/39 million is the franchise’s largest free agent deal and Russell Martin’s 2 yr/17 mil deal ranks third. Let that sink in for a minute that the third largest free agent contract the club has ever given out was below the current qualifying offer and spread out over two years.
They aren’t going to sign any big names, winning or losing.
Solid signing. Speed, defense, baserunning and a veteran leader for a restless team. You can’t expect much better than this from the Pirates.
A reminder. Each team gets $40 million for the national television contract.
The idea that this is beneficial for the rebuild is nonsense. They can certainly spend more money on some better options, especially ones that could be flipped.
Exactly who., pray tell is a better option on the FA market??
they could have kept marte instead of trading him
He would be gone in 2 years and the Pirates would receive nothing in return. They would not be competing for anything in those 2 years anyway.
they would have two years of an above average cf, signed to a reasonable contract. they would also be that much closer to competing with marte than a guy they hope will be productive enough so they can trade him to round out some other teams bench.
note that I’m a firm believer that the pirates team cherington inherited was much better than their 2019 record. it will be a huge step forward just letting a guy like archer pitch to his strengths rather than forcing him to throw a bunch of sinkers because of some organizational philosophy that worked well in 2014
Mike-Please stop.You make too much sense.
Marte was clearly a salary drop and there is no shame in trying to win.I find it hard to believe that BC could not have received better prospects either now or in the future.
Hurdle was a good manager for five years but started to lose his energy especially for the last two years.
Trading away your best player tells everyone else that management does not think that they can win.
It is one thing to get decent ML players in return,but not the future coin flips that they received.
Oh I don’t know Kevin Pillar was a better option. But they only offered him a minor league deal. And he turned it down for a major league deal. That’s just one example
I don’t buy this rebuilding talk anymore from small market teams. It is just a way of blindsiding the fans who take their family of 4 to beautiful PNC Park & spend too much of their hard earned money to watch this product. 1st of all you should try to win THIS YEAR. The Pirates hit very well last year considering everyone in their bullpen & outfield was hurt for most of year. But, their gave us this b.s. instead of adding 1 starting pitcher, a couple bullpen arms & should have kept Melky. Just another excuse for Nutting to pocket more $$$, he got $50 mil from Fox TV deal & spent NUTTING!
Blah blah blah…They need at least 2 quality starters and a catcher to go along with adding to the bullpen and depth in the minors. Melky was out of gas in the 2nd half This team is young and needs more that what you think it needs to compete. They are an ok team and not as bad as what is being projected but not near as close as you are thinking they are.
there were a number of solid mid rotation starters available in free agency this winter and the pirates didn’t even remotely consider any of them.
regardless, the pirates certainly aren’t any worse off than the reds were a few seasons ago and yet cincy has managed to turn over their roster without going through years of “rebuilding”.
How do you know that the Pirates considered anyone? No team ever comes out and says who they are looking at. The only teams you really hear about on sites like this one are usually contending teams unless they sign someone. As for the Reds, Their GM just took over in 2018. Can you give Cherrington 2 years to see what he can do? The previous GM’s did little to improve the Reds.
oh please. the pirates were not making competitive offers to any serious FA starters. you don’t need to have any behind the scenes info to make that assertion
regardless, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for pirates fans to look at the reds or even the brewers recent ability to bring in league average or better guys in trades or free agency. the bucs have some nice young hitters, enough to start building around if they would spend more money and stop trading away the players they already had
and stop trading away the players they already had—You do realize that in order to make a trade to bring in league average or better players you have to have prospects to offer, don’t you? If they want good players in a trade they have to have quality prospects to give up. Who would you like to give up that is quality in the minors to bring anyone in? When they were making offers to get Quintana, the Sox were demanding Bell and Glasnow to start and wanted more. Hew was just better than league average. then., That was the going rate then, Who in the minors are you willing to give up for a Quintana like pitcher now? Keep in mind you said that you wanted them to ” and stop trading away the players they already had.”
So, for weeks, since the Bucs traded Marte, the local talking heads have been beating the same drum. They Bucs must sign a real veteran CF and not use Heredia as the starter. The Pirates sign a real major league CF and of course the talking heads are complaining about the exact signing that they were clambering for and the fans are are posting here complain as well. That is so typical Pittsburgh
Losing baseball games because money isn’t invested in payroll is very typical Pittsburgh too. Cynicism abounds when none of the fans trust ownership.
it’s hard to get excited about a guy that’s upside is “potential trade asset for a contender needing bench help”
It’s time they leave mom’s basement and check out the real world, like get a job!
gozerman-Unfortunately,you do not have to be a Yinzer to realize that the Marte trade was a pure salary dump and nothing more.
Still think this team could surprise some people this year and hit the mid 70’s in wins. We do have a solid core. If Moran can take a step forward and guys like Williams and Brault can capitalize on the flashes they’ve shown in the past. We need a catcher and another starter.
Sounds like Lou Brown: ” The veterans are starting to play back to form and the rookies are developing faster than I thought. There’s two or three potential all-stars in there. I think we’re a contender, right now.”
There’s only one thing left to do then. Win the whole F’n thing
Too bad this isn’t a movie, I would really like that.
More like the guys they signed this year. I havnt heard of half these guys and the ones I do know are well past their prime.
Always like Dyson though. Thought he should of gotten more bad or traded when he was younger. Don’t give him any abs and he is a 1 or 2 WAR player. Pinch Run in the 6th or 7th and stay in for defense. Pillar and Hamilton seem to be declining and even though Dyson is older he stays the same. They couldn’t get him a tad bit cheaper though?
They need to go with hayes at 3rd base. Tucker at short. Neuman to second. Try a combo in left field. With Reynolds in center. Polanco, who knows. Jim Craig should be given a shot in right field or first base. If you trade bell. Sad part of Huntington is he kept guys down on the farm too long. And when called up hurdle wouldnt play them. Sounds like sean rodriguez????? Give this team a chance I have a feeling they can win 70 games
Will Craig*
Like your ideas and it makes the fact that there is no one on the horizon in the minors —pitchers, catchers, outfielders —even more depressing. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the FO strategy of getting rid of vets salaries AND their top minor league prospects.
Thank god hes no longer in the NL West. This guy is a lead off walk nightmare.
Good signing for the Pirates.
Tell me, why did Peter Bourjos retire? It’s always recycling day in MLB. Anyone can get signed.
Watch out Dodgers!
On a related note, the bright side of all of this is that Nutting will be forced to bring back SkyBlast nights in order to get more than 3,000 in the ballpark.
Dyson is quite the vacuum out there in the outfield. He really does suck
Bring in Beltran and Cora as “advisors” and we could cheat our way to 75 to 80 wins this year while we rebuild. Maybe that will keep the whiners happy for awhile!
How many of you yinzer complainers are still upset about losing Reese McGuire?
I’m not! He hasn’t accomplished anything yet.
He did accomplish getting arrested in Florida. I was with you prior to reading the article about him on this site today., Now I am darn happy he is gone.
kid made a stupid mistake. given his comments i think he’s learned his lesson. certainly nowhere near Vazquez levels of vileness.
Stupid is as stupid does.If he was dumb enough to do this how good is he at running a game?
Yinzer complainers. Guess you’re still sticking to the idea that dealing Meadows, Glasnow and Baz made perfect sense and denigrating fans with this kind of gibberish.
35 yr old vet washed up at end of his career? yep nutting M.O.
Well, they did sign the best of the 5th outfielder types with Dyson, so there’s one positive you can take out of this!
That’s what speed do, good luck jarrod
I asked my most trusted Fortune Telling 8 ball, “When will the Pittsburgh Pirates become contenders again?”
I shook it once and waited for the message to appear. Nothing appeared. So I thought, it could be the question.
I then asked my trusted 8 Ball another question, “When will the Pittsburgh Pirates become a .500 club again?”. I waited for the message to appear once again after I gave it a really good shake. Nothing appeared again! I am thinking I broke this thing.
I sat down the magic 8 ball and said, “This thing is junk and doesn’t work anyways. How can I trust this Magic 8 Ball?”
I picked it back up one last time and asked, “Will the Mets win a World Series before the Pirates have a winning season?” And give it a good shake. To my amusement I read, “The Future looks bright”.
I have nothing against the Pirates fans, but is there any reason to spend time and money as a fan on this team?
Not unless you’re a huge fan of a picturesque ballpark, pierogi races, bobble head nights and fireworks. That stuff got old 20 years ago. But when the owner is enjoying nice profits despite losing and declining attendance, nothing is likely to change
Some of us are fans of baseball. Yes the Pirates have stunk but not as bad as they did for the 20 years in between winning seasons. Have lived in minor league cities and would go to games just so see the game.
Dyson still seems like a nice role player, but you really have to give him a ML deal pirates? more things change, more things stay the same…@Cherington
30sb’s in ’19. Only caught 4 times. That’s pretty impressive.
This and good defensive metrics in an otherwise unimpressive stat line.
Freddy, kebryan hayes is the third baseman, if not now at midseason. I wish people would quit suggesting signings like over the hill Beckham. I didn’t like the signing of Dyson. Rebuild and watch the kids play and grow. Not older guys on thier last leg.
Like the deal actually. He will have value in july if he can play good until then.
Dumpster diving
Wish he came back to KC