The Pirates traded their best player (again) and appeared more intent on cutting payroll than giving the appearance of trying.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Jarrod Dyson, OF: One year, $2MM
- Guillermo Heredia: One year, $1MM
- Luke Maile, C: One year, $900K
- JT Riddle, SS/OF: One year, $850K
- Total Spend: $4.75MM
Option Decisions
- Exercised $11.5MM club option over OF Starling Marte
- Exercised $9MM club option over RHP Chris Archer
Trades and Claims
- Traded OF Starling Marte to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league SS Liover Peguero and minor league RHP Brennan Malone
- Traded RHP Dario Agrazal to the Tigers in exchange for cash
- Traded RHP Parker Markel to the Angels in exchange for cash
- Claimed LHP Sam Howard off waivers from Rockies
Notable Minor League Signings
- Derek Holland, Robbie Erlin, John Ryan Murphy, Andrew Susac, Charlie Tilson, Socrates Brito, Tom Koehler (since retired), Jake Elmore, Hector Noesi, Phillip Evans
Notable Losses
- Starling Marte, Melky Cabrera, Elias Diaz (non-tendered), Francisco Liriano, Dario Agrazal, Parker Markel, Steven Baron, Corban Joseph
The Pirates offseason kicked off in bizarre fashion, with former manager Clint Hurdle telling The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt that he’d received assurances that he’d be retained into 2020 — only to be fired days later. General manager Neal Huntington headed up the search for a new skipper … until owner Bob Nutting canned Huntington nearly a month into that effort. A month after the regular season ended, the Pirates had no manager or general manager and weren’t close to making a hire for either vacancy. They were represented by interim GM Kevan Graves at the annual General Managers Meetings and, shortly after that event’s conclusion, hired former Red Sox GM Ben Cherington to replace Huntington. Another 10 days later, Pittsburgh hired Twins bench coach Derek Shelton as their new manager.
By the time the Pirates had both their GM and manager in place, the likes of Yasmani Grandal, Travis d’Arnaud, Chris Martin, Will Smith and Kyle Gibson had each already signed as free agents. The Brewers had traded Chase Anderson to the Blue Jays and orchestrated an interesting four-player swap with the Padres. But getting a late start to the offseason ultimately didn’t impact the Bucs much, because as the winter wore on, it became clear that the team wasn’t planning on making any notable additions.
Rather, the largest move the Pirates made this winter was shipping their best player, Starling Marte, to the Diamondbacks in a trade that trimmed payroll and added some high-upside but very young talent to the farm ranks. Liover Peguero and Brennan Malone didn’t shoot to the top of the club’s prospect rankings but are both ranked inside the Pirates’ top 10 farmhands by FanGraphs, Baseball America, MLB.com and The Athletic.
Some fans felt that the Pirates didn’t get enough in return, but the market for Marte was a bit quieter than anticipated. The Phillies never appeared to get seriously involved — perhaps due to sitting narrowly south of the luxury tax threshold. The Indians had interest but were clearly more interested in cutting payroll than adding MLB talent themselves. The Padres were tied to Marte but more focused on Mookie Betts. Ultimately, the Bucs got a pair of quality prospects that wouldn’t have been guaranteed had they held Marte in hopes of extracting a greater return this summer.
Immediately after trading Marte, Cherington made clear that he hoped to bring in a serviceable replacement (of course, at a lower cost than Marte’s $11.5MM salary). The market for center fielders was thin to begin the winter and largely picked over by that point, but Pittsburgh wound up adding a trio of center-field-capable options at minimal costs. Jarrod Dyson ($2MM), Guillermo Heredia ($1MM) and JT Riddle ($850K) were all signed to one-year, Major League deals. Heredia projects as the club’s fourth outfielder and can be controlled via arbitration through the 2022 season if the organization sees fit. Riddle should be a backup infielder/outfielder and is controllable through 2023.
Dyson is a straight one-year pickup — a blistering runner with high-end glovework and, frankly, a pretty tidy bargain for the Pirates at a $2MM price point. He’s a nice value addition, but it’s worth noting that in going with Dyson, the Bucs apparently deemed even Kevin Pillar’s $4.25MM price tag with the Red Sox to be too expensive. It’s not as if Pillar spurned the Pirates to sign with a surefire contender, so either the front office believes Dyson to be a better asset — a defensible take but not a decisive fact by any means — or ownership simply didn’t want to spend the extra dollars to bring in the younger Pillar.
Luke Maile is the only other player who inked a big league deal with the Bucs this winter, although he still has minor league options remaining and, as such, inked a split contract. He’s the presumptive backup to 30-year-old Jacob Stallings, who’ll be getting his first opportunity as a starting catcher in 2020. Light-hitting framing savant John Ryan Murphy was brought in on a minor league deal as a depth piece, but the catching corps in Pittsburgh is a collectively underwhelming unit, to put things mildly.
It’s a different story around the infield, for the most part. Josh Bell will look to shake off a second-half slump and build on a generally strong 2019 campaign, while Adam Frazier has settled in as a quality, underrated second baseman. Kevin Newman showed off plenty of upside in a strong rookie effort last year, and the Bucs have reportedly initiated talks on an extension with one of the game’s top third base prospects (and top overall prospects): Ke’Bryan Hayes. If Hayes agrees to a deal, he’d likely open the year in the Majors … whenever, exactly, Opening Day actually happens. In the outfield, sophomore Bryan Reynolds and longtime Bucco Gregory Polanco will flank the newly signed Dyson.
Turning to the pitching staff, the Pirates have had their fair share of misfortune recently. Jameson Taillon had Tommy John surgery last summer, and righty Chad Kuhl is still working back from his own Tommy John procedure at the end of the 2018 season. Lefty Steven Brault has been slowed by shoulder woes this spring. Closer Felipe Vazquez, of course, is out of the picture entirely after being arrested on a series of abhorrent statutory sexual assault charges.
The Pirates did little to bolster their waning pitching depth this winter, however, bringing Derek Holland, Robbie Erlin and Hector Noesi aboard on minor league deals but eschewing any big league additions. Holland appears the likely fifth starter behind Chris Archer, Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams and Mitch Keller.
Perhaps even more glaringly, Pittsburgh opted not to add a single reliever to the big league staff — with the possible exception of claiming lefty Sam Howard from the Rockies. Keone Kela should close down games in 2020, but he’s the only reliever with any real track record in the Pirates’ relief corps. There’s enough flotsam on the 40-man roster that the Pirates could’ve added some veteran arms or at least speculated on the waiver wire. Instead, they’ll rely on the same group of relievers that ranked 23rd in the Majors in ERA, 22nd in FIP and 20th in xFIP as a collective bunch in 2019 — and that was with Vazquez dominating for the first several months.
Not including Vazquez’s salary — he’ll be on the restricted list — the Pirates are set to open the season with under $54MM in payroll on the books. It’s an astonishingly low number in today’s game — one so small that no one should be surprised to see yet another grievance brought forth against the organization by the MLBPA. The collective bargaining agreement has rules in place about the manner in which a team must allocate its revenue-sharing funds, and it’s easy to understand why the union has questions about the Pirates’ claims that their use of said resources is compliant.
Cherington declined to use the word “rebuild” this offseason, instead claiming that the Pirates are merely “building.” Semantics aside, the Pirates’ roster is extraordinarily porous, and the front office effectively did nothing to stop the ship from taking on water. Pittsburgh didn’t even select a player in December’s Rule 5 Draft. If the Pirates weren’t even going to feign an attempt at improving, it’s surprising that they didn’t aggressively shop the likes of Kela, Bell, Frazier, Musgrove and basically anyone else who’s controlled for three or fewer seasons.
2020 Season Outlook
If the manner in which owner Bob Nutting bumbled through the first month of the offseason — allowing a GM to conduct a hunt for a manager before firing that GM and starting over a month into the process — didn’t illustrate the organization’s lack of a plan, the end result of their winter should spell it out. This roster isn’t any better than the one that lost 93 games in 2019. It’s very arguably worse. And yet the Pirates only made one future-oriented trade, did next to nothing to add short-term free agents who could emerge as trade chips, sat out the Rule 5 Draft and engaged in virtually no activity on the waiver wire.
Players like Reynolds, Newman and Hayes at least give fans some exciting young talent to watch, but this is a weak roster that the club barely tried to improve. It’ll be an upset if the Pirates don’t finish in last place, and fans can expect to see some combination of Archer, Mugrove, Kela, Frazier and Bell circulating the rumor mill this summer.
Cherington deserves some benefit of the doubt, given a track record of quality player development in Boston and Toronto. Perhaps the plan was to use 2020 as a year of pure evaluation for what was already in house, but it sure seems like the Pirates passed on countless opportunities to pursue upside deals, further stock the farm or at least give the fans some reason to care. It’s going to be a long year in Pittsburgh.
How would you grade the Pirates’ offseason? (Link to poll for Trade Rumors mobile app users)
fred-3
Pirates off-season review: pain
8
There best player is Vazquez and well…
The Human Rain Delay
A silver lining is Brewers Cubs Reds all have depleted farm systems at the moment- Stl is probably more in the middle-
They need to use the next 3 years for a full re-build imo and that starts Now
clepto
Cards81 disagree with you. “unbelievable depth”
There are no facts to support this, but he will still disagree because, in his world, hope=fact.
nasrd
I love the Cardinals organization but I worry about there depth of solid players. They seem to have many expensive players over the hill. If some of them don’t perform Carpenter, Fowler, etc it’s 4th place for Cards.
8
Sign Puig so they are watchable
joew
please god no… not unless they get Prince back in there to hold Puig at bay.
baseball wise not the worst they could do… but everything else i think i’d rather have Brault in the outfield if he is medically able.
8
Puig would fit in great
Goku the Knowledgable One
Signing Puig doesn’t make them watchable
8
It wouldn’t be baseball but it would be some of the best reality TV
JohhnyBets67
Maybe just maybe. Cherington being a new General Manager wants to see what he has in his players, Steve. You know do some internal scouting before deciding who he wants to get rid of. Pretty big negative slant on this piece.
You can’t tell me that Archer, Kela, Frazier and the like are definitely at their peak value to trade right now…..
its_happening
Kela is, and the article did not suggest the Pirates should have actively shopped Archer so there’s no reason to mention him.
“…it’s surprising that they didn’t aggressively shop the likes of Kela, Bell, Frazier, Musgrove and basically anyone else who’s controlled for three or fewer seasons.”
Archer isn’t part of that. Whatever helps your narrative.
JohhnyBets67
Thin skin.
Kela pitched 29 innings last year and was suspended for being a locker room issue. I wouldn’t call that peak value. Musgrove—-probably not at peak value either.
its_happening
With the exception of 2016 he’s been very good to great since 2015. The suspension last season stemmed from an alleged battle with Vazquez, who’s not returning anytime soon thanks to some off-field issues. Since arriving in Pittsburgh Kela has been nothing but dominant.
You did not mention Musgrove in your comment but despite your weak attempt to deflect I’ll be your huckleberry; last two seasons as a starter he’s kept his WHIP 1.18 and 1.215 respectively. Not spectacular but a back end 3rd or 4th starter. Numbers are much better on the road than at home.
But please, feel free to drop more soft insults my way.
Goku the Knowledgable One
Obviously he will have a lot more value as a successful closer this year than he is after the worst season of his career and untested in a longterm closer role.
C’mon man.
Goku the Knowledgable One
The suspension was from arguing with coaches.
Crick was the one who fought Vazquez.
Get out of here dude. U know nothing.
nasrd
I’ve been a Bucs fan all my life and I appreciated Steve telling the truth as he and I see it. The local media seldom offers a critical critique. It’s so disappointing year after year. It all comes down to money. MLB needs a minimum yearly payroll.
tigw
for a last place team mlbtr spends too much time on the pirates
Keithyim
It is a baseball website. Presumably they are previewing every team and not skipping the bad ones.
HarveyD82
well at least the agony of watching my beloved buccos will be delayed…
Keithyim
That’s the spirit!
oscar gamble
I gave them a “D”. The only reason I didn’t give them an “F” was that I think Shelton was a good hire.
Lovinmlb
F’s and D’s? I give them a A. They got rid of bad management. Only had one trade available to make and Ben nailed it. Two 1st round talents for a 31 year old former ped user with declining defense that still needed paid 20 some million ( aka their best player ). Why would they spend any money, they are trash. If season is ever played they have 4 more guys to trade if possible. Load up on prospects and compete in 2024 2025. Cherington took over a terrible team with a weak farm. He has done all that he could which wasn’t much.
Black_Pearl
Agreed. They never really dip into the free agency much so any expectations to do so are misguided IMO.
Would I like to see more notable signings, sure who wouldn’t, but the cleanse of the organization’s upper and dugout management is enough for an A in my book.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Fangraphs has the Pirates farm ranked 9th.
And the odds of Cherington achieving half of the success that Huntingdon did are slim.
This offseason was just window dressing to cut payroll even further by blaming the hamstrung former regime while changing nothing.
Lovinmlb
I have my eyes and own opinions so I don’t worry about what some websites opinion of things are. Keller still qualifies as a prospect but to me he isn’t part of the farm system anymore. And now thanks to the return from the Marte trade the farm is looking better. Those 2 kids are 2 of their 5 best prospects. Huntington done a great job on trades until last few years. Unfortunately those trades shown how bad the organization was at player development.
The Human Rain Delay
That some website is the Mecca for prospect rankings……but….if they go down at least we know we still got you!
JoeBrady
He has done all that he could which wasn’t much.
—————————————————–
I was hoping that he’d trade one of their ‘okay’ regulars to a team like the NYMs, for Lowrie & Familia, plus a couple of decent (not premium) prospects. I think that’s going to become bigger and bigger as some teams tank, and others hit the payroll cap.
Lovinmlb
What okay regulars.? They have 2 of those Frazier Bell. I am sure they would have loved to trade them but what contenders need a 2b or DH bad enough to give up a nice return? That’s the problem. Kela and especially Archer can improve and increase value. Musgrove wasn’t on the block either. They are talking about extension with him aka they something in him that he can be better.
joew
I agree the talent return was good. but imo not what they needed. in a few years one or both of those players could be stars, or just as likely out of the MLB.
I would’ve liked at least one person more of a nearer term ‘sure’ thing with a lower ceiling.
Of course they could always hope their prospect status increases to flip one or both of them later when they’re ready to make a push
Lovinmlb
Its either get one maybe two guys who are like a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick and could be ready in 2021. Or get 2 1st round draft picks who if they make it won’t be ready until 2025.
Trade market has changed in past year, teams will no longer part with a near MLB ready blue chip prospect for a player like Marte.
I want the best talent. You can have a rotation full of Musgroves and 3 Morans. Not gonna win you anything. I want elite potential. I want a chance at a Yelich not a Brantley Reynolds.
joew
these two prospects have a fairly high ceiling but not near a Yelich or Kershaw type they are more in line with bryan than either one of those… as far as prospect quality… though SS and SP bumps their value a bit.
Now with the season up in the air and who knows what happens to contracts.. it was a great move getting players this young
nasrd
My concern is that even if prospects arrive you need to augment any Mlb roster with some mid and top tier veterans. Trades or Free agents. Bucs have not done that. Even in 2015
its_happening
Had Huntington stood pat and not traded for Archer at the 2018 deadline he’d probably still be the GM of the Pirates.
BFFLR
That staff were ruining Glasnow and refused to make Meadows a fulltime starter. Wouldn’t have mattered because we never would have seen their ability under those morons!
its_happening
You might be right, except that still doesn’t change the fact that the Archer traded ended Huntington’s run as GM.
Goku the Knowledgable One
Doesn’t mean they could’ve traded Glasnow in a different fashion and still kept Meadows and Baz.
Meadows would’ve seen plenty of field last year with Gregory out. Would be the heir to Marte this year…. instead of well, Jerod Dyson age 39
joew
Meadows was hurt.. otherwise he probably would’ve been full time.
nasrd
I agree. Meadows and Reynolds in outfield plus Glasnow, Tallion and Keller
esaskgd2
I give them a F- until they get rid of Nutting and find an owner that wants to have a winner and not a income
BFFLR
Unfortunately that is out of our control!
nasrd
I agree. I knew the owner and mgmt was suspect in fall of 2015
BFFLR
It amazes me that fans want the Pirates to throw money at free agents that in a year or two these same fans will be complaining that they wasted their money. We are not the Yankees, we connote miss on big money free agents and survive. I think this new management team is approaching this the right way, see what you got internally and then add from there. I agree with the Marte trade but I would give this new coaching staff a chance with our pitchers to see if they can undo the damage the Searge led staff did. Keep the faith!
JoeBrady
these same fans will be complaining that they wasted their money.
———————————————————-
One of the worst convcieved trades I have ever seen, and it still bugs me to this day, was Matt Morris for Rajai Davis.
It wasn’t so much that the value was wrong. Had a contender needing a #4 SP, made the trade, it would have made some sense. But PT was a 67-win team. Was the idea behind giving up a young, and adding payroll, to climb from 67 wins to 69 wins? And $10M was kind of expensive 12 years ago.
Mendoza Line 215
I really think that that trade was made with the idea of pushing the Pirates into at least a respectable team.I may be wrong but I think that that one was made by NH’s predecessor who was basically incompetent.I also do not think that Morris,nor many players,wanted to play for the Pirates at that time.
Goku the Knowledgable One
It was a ploy to try to sell tickets and it failed miserably.
They had 1 yr of Cutch and 2 years of Cole left that offseason, so they had their chance to be a respectable team..
Could’ve had Cole last year too if the owner wasn’t such a cheapskate…
The moron GM saw 4 years of Marte remaining so saw Meadows as expendable.. 2 years later, we have neither. Its discerning to say the least
Mendoza Line 215
Freddy-I was talking about the Matt Morris trade.
The moron traded McCutcheon for one of the best young outfielders in the game.It fit their small market philosophy of trading soon to be free agents.Cole would have had to go also since they were not going to resign him.The moron got the best that he could and all four players will be with the Pirates this year.
They had a good outfield in 2018 with no room at the time.Polanco had been a workhorse and Dickerson played at an all star level.NH jumped the gun on a pitcher who was not nearly as good as he thought.The other trades had to be made.
Hindsight is always 20 20.
nasrd
Agree. Good teams develop prospects then trade for veterans, sign free agents and resign there own established stars
nasrd
Disagree. Archer trade was ridiculed from day 1 and not only by fans. Many sports writers…. some even laughed!
nasrd
At least they did something, anything for heaven sake regarding spending some money
nasrd
Some veterans are needed even on a rebuilding team. A balance of trades, free agents, draft picks and minor league free agents creates a solid team. And payroll at least in the top 20 of MLB teams.
smrtbusnisman04a
Quite easily the WORST team in the national league. Hoping Mitch Keller is as good as advertised.
Goku the Knowledgable One
At least they have a planned direction now even if Ben won’t come out and say it.
Rebuild. The word is rebuild.
keysox
Live in Sarasota, saw some of the Pirates games this spring.
The players love the manager and coaches. They are hustling and playing hard.
Big change in attitude.
Might surprise some people,granted short on talent in bullpen.
Lovinmlb
Burdi Kela Crick Rodriguez aren’t good enough for you? They have a few other guys with great stuff that just need to put it together. I think pen is a strength.
brucenewton
They fired the president on down and made a good trade. Easy A+
Goku the Knowledgable One
They were also beyond sloppy about it.
Huntington: Hurdle is here to stay… fired.
Nutting: Huntington is our guy.. fired.
Cherington: we’re not rebuilding were building… sign no one, dump marte for mediocre prospects.
Goku the Knowledgable One
And who could forget
Huntington: Vazquez will be the closer on the next Pirates playoff team… well we all know what hpnd.
Could’ve at least got Ruiz+ from Dodgers , but the one and only time the Pirates didnt dump someone it just turned out too ironic
joew
Here is what went wrong in the off season.
Firing the front office with out having a replacement near ready to go.
Filling the front office positions way too late in the off season to make any meaning full free agent signings or even know the team well enough to be sure what you need to fill. More time and Ben possibly could have made moves that “could” make a serious run at the post season (wild card)
Trading Marte for Prospects that are many years out that won’t help the team for quite a while UNLESS they are being flipped.
Here is what went right: Pretty much everything else.
The biggest problem the past since the last postseason birth has been the coaching staff (i like them but they just don’t work now). They cleaned that out and replaced with people who really cannot do much worse.
The next biggest problem is the front office, scouting and development. Ben being a pretty good scout should be able to find the right people for these jobs.
They didn’t ship off Archer Bell or Frazier (yet). Given their limited market/value return would have been low. At the break revisit it.
Bob made a very good move this off season, but he should have done it a year or two sooner.
Pittsburgh off season grade: B+ They didn’t break up the young core and “may have” cut the chains that have been holding them back. The MLB Franchise is almost assuredly improved.
BFFLR
I agree they should have cleaned out the front office plus Hurdle sooner. They had been treading water and had become nothing but yes men for Nutting for awhile now..
Lovinmlb
I am sure if they hired a gm sooner they would have tore up the free agency market. They love to sign free agents normally.
Yes they could of signed a wild card team. Forget Rendon, Donaldson would of worked. Cole and Strasburg would be nice but let’s not go for world series just a wild card so ryu and wheeler will work. Gotta get Grandal. That could do the trick. Another outfielder would be a good idea too. Just gotta hope all those guys want to come to Pittsburgh. Try to convince them that you are serious and trying to contend and make them believe you are serious about signing the other guys. If not you have to over pay them compared to what they got. Some of them are old or have injury history so let’s hope they all stay healthy. I think it will work though. I like it.
joew
No one is talking the top of the market ‘elite’ free agents.. though financially they could have probably been able to afford a couple of them lol.
pre marte trade they didn’t need much that could put them in stones throw of the post season. and it wouldn’t cost them “much”
Castro for catcher.
T.Frazier for third.
A rotation arm (like tehran or there bouts)
what ever pen help you can find.
All of that would’ve cost less than 30M/year.
Along with the front office and coaching changes.. could have made them pretty good. not out of the box series contenders or anything. but post season a strong possibility.
and heck if it didn’t work.. you have more talent to trade to fill the farm
Lovinmlb
So Castro, Todd Frasier, and couple of bargain bin gambles at pitcher, they are going to get a wild card or even be in the running for it? Fair enough but I will disagree and doubt your assessment. Sure they were in contention pre all star while the rest of the nl central was 500 or below with Tailon and Vasquez. Smart GMs who just started their job don’t spend money in free agency when they don’t have a pitcher who is better than a number 4 starter. Some of these guys could be. A lineup with 1 legit though very inconsistent home run hitter doesn’t suggest a team should say hey this our window, Todd Frasier puts us over the top!
I will agree that they can and should sign cheaper free agents, but this isn’t the year to that. And they have in the past Martin, Burnett, Liriano, Freese etc. Problem was there was never a good 1st baseman available. Should of resigned Happ, NH liked to gamble his prospects would step in and be good and fill mutiple holes. Cerveli was questionable, Nova was dumb. All and all they did a decent job.
joew
Keller is a #1/2 Starter the, musgrove is a midrotation guy Williams is a back end guy as are brault and Kuhl when healthy.. With the right staff to help them. Archer i’m not sure about. In 2021 getting tailion back who will at least be a quality back end guy after his second TJ is also a nice bonus.. the Key to 2020 and beyond is/was Pitching which Catching and Coaching would make a huge difference. ( so Jason Castro, one of the better defensive catchers in MLB.. yeah) Not talking top of the league pitching here.. just much much better than 2019.
T. Frazier for the (more) power bat and quality defense unlike Moran who can hit, but more of a bench guy. The rest of the position players are quality.. not superstar but quality. If Hayes finds his bat and comes up while Frazier is would’ve still been here then more talent to fill the farm.
The pen. Vazquez being a d-bag was a huge hit. But Burdi before injury was better than him. He comes back any where near 100% no problem. Pirates should be getting a couple pen arms back in 2020. They’ll still need one or two. IMO Kela should be an extension candidate as well since his trade value is pretty low.
The Cards and brewers will be at least .500. The reds i suspect will fall apart again. Cubs are on a downward trend. Opening up the pirates to make a small run and see how it goes.
but in 2021 they have to push due to contracts ending.. Hopefully they do well enough in 2020 to convince a quality free agent or two to sign……
NH made some mistakes in the past for sure. This is a new team… and NH did get some quality young players. Lets see if a new staff can unlock their potential.
Of course… thats assuming there is a 2020 season.
PiratesFan1981
As tempting as it was to grade it a F, I thought it was a pretty harsh grade. They made changes to the front office and management of the team. That alone takes it off of “F”. They traded Marte and got something back for him. Just those two things, gives the Pirates a “D”
Goku the Knowledgable One
We dont know that they got anything for Marte yet.
What we do know is they signed someone washed up to replace him for near league min. and didn’t improve any other positions.
Joegio
I grade all of you an F grade. Grade A idiots.
tiredolddude
Nutting has a very profitable venture regardless of how the team plays or it’s attendance. Since he wishes to maximize profits and not invest in the personnel, just how do you go about grading anything else
Hard to get a view of what Cherrington can do when his hands are tied and rebuilding the minors will take years
How do you grade the field manager, coaches or players? In the case of the latter, they were what they were last year, no?
The stars would really have to align for this team, with thin pitching, outfield and catching, to even smell .500
thats it fort pitt
The current regime essentially said the previous regime was so inept that nobody knows what is in place, so they need to evaluate in-house talent at all levels (hopefully including scouting and player development staff) before proceeding. So I expect there to be lots of movement in July. Provided of course the Pirates don’t pull off a miracle and stay competitive, and the season happens at all due to current medical issues. All that uncertainty led me to grade them a D, but F is certainly justifiable.
Skeptical
I gave them a B. The way I look at it they did a lot in the offseason by getting rid of Hurdle, Searage and others. They may have been successful at one time but baseball passed them by. I figure Hurdle lost them at least ten games a year over the last three years. Now, it they got rid of Nutting, they’d get an A plus.
SportsFan0000
I give the Pirates a “B” for the offseason for hiring a New Front Office
especially GM Ben Cherrington..
The New GM will make the Pirates competitive long term.
It might not seem evident right now, but it will happen based on his past experience and track record.
Cherrington was responsible for drafting the many of the core Red Sox players that lead to multiple championships…
This is a complete teardown and rebuild top to bottom situation that Cherrington was waiting for and hoping for when he turned down multiple other job offers.
Mendoza Line 215
I gave the Pirates an F for not adding depth to the pitching staff.They are doing the same things that happened last year.The one trade was a salary dump.I have become a Yinzer.I have absolutely no enthusiasm for this team anymore.Maybe BC can develop a better farm system which is the only chance that a small market team has.I do not have confidence in him otherwise.
Henry Limpet
What I will remember most about this off-season is how cheap owner Bob Nutting was that he would not pony up the 2 to 3 million it would have taken to sign the much younger and far more offensively productive CF Kevin Pillar, and instead paying 2 million for over-the-hill and very weak hitting Jarrod Dyson.
Getting Pillar was the least he could have done to show the Pittsburgh faithful fans that he at least cared a little about winning. That extra couple million would have went a long way and he was still too unappreciative and cheap to do it.
The Pirates will never be able to compete with the rest of the league until Bob Nutting is no longer the owner of that team.
Mendoza Line 215
I think that Nutting is willing to spend to get over the hump.
He does not seem to want to spend to augment what he has unless his team is very close to being very competitive.
He may not yet understand that a team needs good depth to compete because of the numerous injuries that current day players get,especially pitchers.
I doubt that NH impressed upon him the need to do that.It does not seem to me that BC cares to compete this year.
I do think though that Nutting really only cares about the bottom line no matter what he says.