The Pirates are scouting Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, writes Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. Pittsburgh is also known to be keeping an eye on center fielder/second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., though there’s no indication they’ve progressed in trade talks.
De La Cruz, 27, has been a regular in the Miami outfield for the past three seasons. He has hit around a league average level, showing solid power with middling on-base skills. This year has been no exception. De La Cruz has 17 home runs and should surpass the 20-homer threshold for the first time in his career. He’s not getting on base consistently, though. De La Cruz is striking out at an elevated 26% rate while drawing walks just 5.5% of the time. He’s hitting .241/.285/.410 across 439 plate appearances overall.
That’s not really the level of offensive output expected of a corner outfielder. While De La Cruz has some experience in center field, he has played exclusively in the corners or at designated hitter this season. Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average are each bearish on his defensive profile, especially regarding his left field work.
FanGraphs and Baseball Reference have each graded him around replacement level. The Bucs could view him as a buy-low target based on his decent exit velocities. Craig Mish wrote in the Miami Herald earlier this month that the Marlins were unlikely to deal De La Cruz (and outfield mate Jesús Sánchez), reasoning they’d be selling low on both players. The Fish wouldn’t take either off the table, however, so the Bucs could certainly make a push for De La Cruz if they feel he’d represent a notable upgrade.
Pittsburgh needs offense in general and could look for outfield help specifically. Their biggest need is probably in center field, where the combination of Jack Suwinski and Michael A. Taylor has fallen flat. De La Cruz wouldn’t address that, but Pittsburgh has also had one of the least productive right field groups in MLB.
They’ve given a decent amount of time there to Edward Olivares, a broadly similar player to De La Cruz. He’s also a right-handed hitter with some intriguing physical tools but limited on-base ability. Olivares is hitting .224/.291/.333 over 55 games, leading the Bucs to option him to Triple-A shortly before the All-Star Break. They’ve used a Joshua Palacios/Connor Joe platoon there in recent weeks.
De La Cruz has yet to reach arbitration and is playing for slightly more than the league minimum. He’ll be eligible for arbitration next winter and is on track to hit free agency after the 2027 campaign (barring an earlier non-tender).
Please no no no… shoot high! But it’s Ben-nie and the bucs so they always settle for low hanging fruit
Upgrade is a upgrade. Palacios should be dfa and they had him starting in cf!!!.
Huh? He has like 17 home runs
And an obp of .285.
I like buying the upside. Pirates don’t have a top tier line-up or anything, both could totally improve if they were put in a better line-up. Honestly, I’d like to see them go after Jesus Sanchez. Dude is ripping the cover off the ball and is a solid defender.
Yep, I definitely like Sanchez better. But the Pirates could use power either way.
Get all 3!!!!!
Sanchez is the ticket. Do the right thing, Ben!
Yep, sanchez has a lot of talent. He has all the power u could want in his bat and arm. He is also pretty fast. Would love for him to go there and just rake.
Sell!Sell!Sell! See ya later baby Lebron!
He’d fit right in with this offense, high strikeouts, low walks and of course there’s the hitting tutelage of Andy Haines who is undoubtedly one of the worst in the league
Haines will get him watching strike 3 go right down the middle. That will increase his walks.
We can only hope Bryan De La Cruz is evaluating the Pirates.
Only then will all be right with the world.
Looks like this bad boy needs to learn to take more walks in order for him to take off. That OBP needs help. I like the 32 2B last year. Good get if it happens. I guess.
Wait until we get our Haines on him.
What if they acquired both de la Cruz and jazz
2 outfield spots upgraded for multiple years. Win now and win later move. Neither are in top demand so might not be painful to get. If it is pivot elsewhere.
Neither one of these guys pushes the “win now” envelope.
I think they do if they replace Suwinski/Palacios
They need big time run producers to put around guys like Reynolds and Cruz. Yeah, they have a lot of duds now but do the names we see here really move the needle?
It may only take two wins more than they’re currently headed for, Dude. Get in it to win it!
That’s why I’m still on board with MAT as the 26th man, but Suwinski/Palacios BOTH starting most days in the OF is ridiculously bad.
The two Marlins guys probably push the needle just enough to score a few more runs and if the pitching holds up, the Bucs could very well surprise.
Generally Agreed Tire.
Yes they are likely upgrades for the rest of this season BUT at best most of the people that Ben is reportedly looking at are not much above average at best.
Better to go for a more sure thing in a rental than to get long term average players. Look for an upgrade in the off season.
The thing that continues to get me is that if you look at the big picture here—for the first time in years—-they have a core that begins with their starters. They have guys like Reynolds, Cruz, Cutch, Gonzales. They have Endy coming back
A team that is focused on winning knows that surrounding all of that with a couple bonafide hitters pull the trigger this winter. I mean, it’s a no brainer
But somehow in this town, we’ve become sympathetic to an owner whose corporate assets are stratospheric
The emphasis is NOT winning
It’s NOT putting the best team on the field
Instead, it’s placating the fan base with their annual signings and trades and then being associated with the garbage players whose names are being bandied about now
It’s really a pathetic organization
Put a real GM here with an owner who’s driven to win and it would only take a couple moves to achieve being competitive for more than just a WC berth
The emphasis is putting fans in the stands by making the rubes feel like the team has an opportunity for being competitive by the GM’s interviews in local media outlets that they’re going to be buyers at the deadline and the rubes buy it, hook line and sinker
JackIsBack .870 ops in July For the dinosaurs thats like a great Reynolds year. For the fossils .273 batting average. Looks better eye test so don’t think it’s random luck.
Nutting isn’t signing expensive free agents. Not even moderate free agents unless it’s short term. Most players want options. Pirates don’t give options. They are smart there. It’s not Nutting. It’s demographics. Will still get 1 year deals. Maybe 2 years. Won’t completely rule out 3 but anything after that isn’t happening. Arbitration is going to eat up most of the spending.
Any cf who can hit even average is a upgrade to Taylor. Any above average outfielder is a upgrade to Palacios. Like someone said above 2 or 3 wins could mean playoffs or not. Anyone named so far could get 2 3 additional wins.
Don’t know who Reynolds lost but when his uncle passed he went into a long brutal slump.
I remember when that passing affected Reynolds’ hitting, Dream. It wasn’t pretty and you’re also right that Jack is doing better
But not to fret, Bae was promoted today and he could be playing center field in tonight’s game
You mean the dinosaurs with the opening stages of dementia
Since being “back” in your book equates to hitting in the .220’s with plenty of strikeouts and sick looking at bats, sure
But there is no one who looks at him other than you and says he passes the eye test. Or smell test, for that matter
Paul does. He’s a new man with that badge. Their marketing slogan is “think like a gm” it’s not snake oil. Paul did a 180.
Jack’s recent improvement has caused me to do a 180, but, he’s also a streaky hitter and is prone to slumps
I want him to return to 2023 form including driving the ball and not just hit singles like he’s been doing
I think it’s a bit soon but give it a try. You don’t have to actually hit the post comment button but type it out and see how it feels.
#JackIsBack
Or even give me a
#RebuildOver
Can’t leave our friend Tom out
#Black&GoldTrout
how about
#rebuildoverbutdidntdoenough
Who is Tom? Where is bright eyes in all of this and how could you forget buccoprojectory?
who is Tom?
You’re Tom. I wanted to call you Walter but you said you are not that grumpy and more of a Tom Selleck.
I don’t think bucco is a fan of dream. Don’t have a name or hashtag for him.
Bright eyes must be working the trade deadline hard for his new scouting department job. May be true. He said he was scouting pitchers with 83 to 85 mph fastballs. If he was my nephew or something I would hire him to do that. Excellent work bright eyes. Here’s a treat for you. You’ll find the next Skenes in no time.
I wouldn’t let bright eyes scout opposing teams in my grandson’s little league. He’d no doubt tell me the nerdy kid on the bench is an all star because he has the analytics to prove it
As for Tom, may I again suggest you watch Mr Baseball. Study the movie. Take notes. Watch as Uchiyama fixes Tom’s swing. Notice that he’s not using analytics
Appreciate owner Hiroshi Nakayama wanting a winner
Put down the video games and quit trying to impress the local kids with your sparkler displays. You’re missing valuable insights from a great many older geniuses here
My name is Paul, and I have mentioned that to you before
He’s referring to me as Tom, as in Tom Selleck. Similar appearance, I guess. Tall. Brownish hair. Mustache. I just don’t use as much Just for Men and don’t work as a pitch man for a company selling reverse mortgages to old people but as Tom says, “good people”
After all, this isn’t his first rodeo
I prefer him as Jack Elliott in Mr Baseballl. I guess asking Dream if he wants to see naked pictures of his wife would elicit memories of this fine pieces of movie making
Maybe not
The Nutting’s Net Worth is in the bottom half of the league. The teams value is in the bottom few of the league, they do make quite a bit of money no doubt… just saying the whole “Bob is cheap’ narrative is not as clear cut as it is made out to be.
They are coming out of a full strip down and they’re pay roll has closed to doubled in just a couple years. it will NEVER be average or higher unless they pull a one year deal with Soto or something crazy like that in a win today move. Or if Bob has a stroke and decides he doesn’t care if his family gets anything after he passes..
Ben’s biggest successes (and failures) is when he spent money, hes not going to have the cash he had in Boston to do so but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bigger contract here or there that isn’t typical to what we seen in the 2010’s
Let me diplomatic here without being a jackass, Joe. I’ve read numerous reports that have said Nutting’s corporate wealth is in the upper tier. Mark Cuban said in a PG interview that the guy is making a killing
Please don’t misconstrue. I’m not saying they go after guys like Soto. That’s a pipe dream
But let’s be honest. Another off season of Taylor’s, Grandals and Tellez dooms this team to another year of .500
I’m fine with that. Nutting is, too
I just get tired of the old “they’re so close to being a real competitor”
No. They’re not. The only thing standing in their way is themselves
in 2023 (i think) it was in the 1-1.4B net worth range. Forbes guesstimated around the same. As I said the team surely is making quite a bit of money but the ‘bob is cheap’ narrative is overly exaggerated.
By the numbers they put quite a bit back into the team, but not enough to lose money like they were in the ’90s and ’00s when the Nuttings ‘bailed out’ the franchise.
All that said… I’d rather have a more baseball owner be okay with losing money a few seasons but they haven’t had a team to do that with realistically. The closest was the mid teens but the upgrades realistically available were not game changing upgrades… and then NH went and blundered nearly every move he made.
If the team finishes .500+ and they don’t address their needs with quality rather than a buy low and hope, then why bother.
Agreed 100%.
I do believe Nutting is a businessman first and foremost and has been here long enough to have a solid understanding of his profit margins. I do believe he bought into emulating the TB model as it was not only logical but cost effective
They have a real problem now that I believe they’ve decided to sit back and wait on
That is, their plan worked at only 75% effectiveness. Guys they thought would flourish didn’t. It’s like missing pieces of the puzzle
What now?
Buy those pieces?
Play the long game and hope someone on the farm fills the void?
Have to think the latter is how Nutting will proceed
No to Jazz. He’ll be injured in the first week and out for the rest of the season. He’s also emotionally cringeworthy and has no boundaries. No thanks.
My vote is Winker, Rooker, or Sanchez. I don’t know what happened in regard to Taylor Ward, but I’ve seen some clutch hitting from him this season.
Jazz is having his healthiest season so far
And is probably the most overrated outfielder in the game
And Judge, and Soto, and the ghost of Babe Ruth?
First the Bucs were interested in Taylor Ward of the Angels and was being reported that a deal was imminent
Then the interest was on Jazz Chisolm of the Marlins and that rumor also died down
Now they are evaluating Da la Cruz
All three low average, high strikeout and very few walks and most important, affordable
I am well aware that they are in dire need to improve their offense and are also in dire financial straits as the owner will never spend on a top tier player
At this point it’s imperative that they make a move that will help them contend, I am just not convinced any of these three players will accomplish that
You want Winker don’t ya? “Think like a gm” Best $29.98 you ever spent!
I never said otherwise, Dream
And that’s the problem. True Winker fanatics worship him by typing his name no less than 7 times a day.
Winker gets on base, better than anyone on our current roster anyway.
so, unless I grovel over Winkler in at least 7 separate comments each day, it means that I am not interested in a trade for him?
I don’t grovel
Like I said, he last had a good season in ‘21. He’s shown flashes since then and often killed the Pirates. Somehow, folks here see him as the missing link.
Winker is another all star to go with Reynolds when combined with Joe. Another all star doesn’t help? Helps a ton. He holds his own vs lefties. I over done it though. He will have the worst 2 months of his career if he goes to the Pirates. But if be goes to the Braves he will be the missing link that carries them to world series.
Stick a fork in the Braves. Injuries sunk them
Last I looked, Winkee was in the .250’s range with 10 or 11 homers. Again, to beat a dead horse, he’s better than what the Pirates have
But when will you admit that ownership and/or the GM are playing games with fans here? When will you admit that adding…let’s say, two big guns…puts this team in the conversation with ANYONE in the NL?
I’m sure you aim low because you’re a realist about Nutting but jeez, what he is allowing here is awful
Winker Pillar are the 2 big guns. Ownership GM I dunno if they are playing or just stink at marketing. I think it’s stink. By Tuesday night we will know.
There is no universe in existence where Kevin Pillar is a ‘big gun’…. lol.
I like your comments in general, Dream, but that is hilarious.
More like massive gun. Like the one Megatron turns into! Like Mike Trout massive. Not mvp Trout but older Trout. Jack 870 ops in July. Pillar 1000 ops vs LHP. Add Winker and that’s 3 all stars in your outfield.
It’s all good though. You aren’t supposed to see it. Once I get you all to take the red pill and be able to see things it will become incredibly boring here and I will have to move on. I like being the only one saying Rowdy will be good, Jack is Back, A+, Pillar gives us Mike Trout. Supposed to sound crazy. I’m not going to be bright eyes and just copy paste what the article says. I’m trying to give you things you won’t hear anywhere else. Pittsburgh fans and media will be like cheap, dumpster diving, kicking the can etc etc if Ben trades for Winker Pillar. I will be like they won the trade deadline. Get your playoff tickets ready.
It’s fine though. Hardly anyone here agrees with me. And ones that do it’s not often. Go back a year ago and no one did except bright eyes 1 time.
I made serious progress but by now everyone should be calling Pittsburgh sports radio telling them Roberts Bellinger are over paid trash. DreamGM says Pillar is the man you want. If you pair him with Suwinski you basically have Mike Trout. Let me know when you do, I have to watch their Livestream for that.
that is not true, Tired, I probably agree with you more often than I do anyone else who comments here
The Chisholm jr rumor hasn’t died down. It just hasn’t progressed into a trade yet. I hear about that rumor like everyday from insiders
If the rumor had persisted, the Fan would be talking about it every day in their segments of the Pirates
Aw, enjoy the ride, my friend
Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, it’s that most wonderful time of year in Pittsburgh. Yes, it may cover PNC Park with bird poop but it’s still a wondrous time
Football and hockey guys chiming in about baseball. National media and their ideas—one outlet reported the Pirates and Blake Snell are linked
In the end, they’ll do nothing, or even less
come on Tired, Cherington signed Angels castoff utility infielder Jose Rojas yesterday to a minor league contract
Pittsburgh media is awful. I would say DK is the least dumbest member maybe and I listened to his podcast today and he wasn’t impressed about AJ Puk. Mentioned 4 something era multiple times. Having no clue that Miami was desperate for starting pitching and tried using him as a starter before giving up and moving him back to pen. 9.22 as starter 2.08 as reliever.
Pittsburgh fans in here are the cream of the crop. They have me! The rest are in trouble.
I have no use for sports talk radio
I’ll take Madden’s columns all day. Cuts through the baloney and has no allegiances to players, managers or owners.
Above average everyday RF. Improvement over Joe. Joe as #1 depth vs everyday player is excellent. Years of team control. Not a all star but a nice solid player. All depends on price. After seeing what the sold Puk for I would be very interested in trading with Marlins.
What TB got for Arozarena wasn’t amazing either! These sellers seem to be settling some.
There is a player to be named which could swing peoples thoughts on the return or could be a low level flyer that doesn’t move the needle.
Nicely pointed out, SB. I hadn’t seen that, but makes the return more palatable for the Rays if it’s from a group of talented prospects. Maybe someone from the draft just gone?
2024 draft picks can’t be ptbnl. Used to be able too even last decade.
Probably not a significant player as it was a great return. I gave Tampa a B and almost could have went A. Prospect sites are low on both those players except Fangraphs has arm a 7 but completely missed smith the outfielder. 5 tool outfielder. Raw. Poor mans Connor Griffin. Already pushing my top 100 list. If he doesn’t regress he will be there next year. #3 starter if his control continues to improve.
Pirates equivalent would be TJ and Harrington. Or TJ and Reilly. Would hate to give them TJ but only position player we have comparable to Smith. TJ more floor. Smith more ceiling. I’m not here today asking why Cherington didn’t get Randy. Good pass.
TJ is a universally accepted top 100 prospect so I can’t see that, but thanks for the explanation (no snark intended).
This is such a Pirate move. Rooker and Winker would be huge difference makers but are in crazy high demand. Both have more value to Pittsburgh than anyone else so they should be all in on them till the end at least. Cruz though doesn’t have anywhere close to that interest and again helps the Pirates more than anyone else. Marlins just accepted a weak return. Cherington smells blood in the water.
I’m confused. I looked up Cruz’s numbers and I see a young power hitter
“I’m confused.” You are in the right place then. You will fit right in.
Baseball trades are the best for confusion. Occasionally you get star for star or a bona fide stud prospect, but often you have multiple years to talk yourself into, then out of, then into again that they are a key piece of the turnaround (or maintaining high level). At least that’s how it works for me when I read the minor league rundowns to see who climbed up, washed out, or was traded for new players I can start a fresh process with.
Look at Cruz’s stats other than HRs. His OPS+ is below league average and he doesn’t get on base.
Now look at Winker. Always has an above league average bat AND gets on base at a .370 clip.
Lets get Winker
You have a friend here, Dream. Another Winker fan. Jeez
Look at Cruz stats vs RHP. He’s an all star!!!!! If that’s all he ever is that’s great. But I haven’t given up on hitting LHP and neither have Pirates. He has handled it much better of late. Looked good 2023 until injury. Can at least get to respectful below average vs awful.
I need a winker comp to get you on board. You weren’t liking Griffin until #Black&GoldTrout Speaking of they only have until August 1 or something to sign him. What’s going on here. What I love about the kid is his confidence and passion for baseball. I hope they aren’t so high he turns down 6 million to go to LSU. Should get it done. Rare to not sign a pick these days. With Huntington I would be more worried.
Winker > Cruz !!! I love it.
Doesn’t get on base. Big splits. Bad defense. No thanks.
Defense will be just fine actually in his case even good in RF PNC. I watched some video of Booker. Think even he can play at PNC. Won’t be good but can be played.
yes, a young power hitter who draws few walks, strikes out very often and would fit right in with the other players on this team that also strike out often and draws few walks
Hitting homers isn’t enough for a team that is near the bottom in runs scored, batting average, OBP but second in strikeouts
Leave it to Ben Cherington to trade for a below average player
other than just a few selected players currently in the starting lineup, the rest of the team are well below average players
It’s what to expect from Cherington
Who he trade for? Wasn’t Cruz because he is above average.
After you see this weekend long outfield of Palacios Suwinski Joe you will be begging for Cruz. If not Taylor will drive home the final nail.
De La Cruz is not above league average. He’s not league average. 17 HRs doesnt make him a good hitter.
Projects to be as a Pirate.
Somehow convince Nutting to not worry about the money and tell the Cubs you’ll take every cent of Bellingers contract and the prospect cost should be low. If he works out and opts in you’ve got either a CF or 1B solution. If not there’s a buyout.
Pittsburgh are actually a buyer now that’s new territory for them. They win now before Skenes goes to LA.
No chance Skenes goes to LA. He definitely isn’t a California personality.
I think he’s from there isn’t he?
Yes Cali. And southern Cali. I think he hates it though. Went to Colorado but wasn’t far enough. Thought Louisiana would be the answer it wasn’t. Finally had to go to Pittsburgh. Anywhere but Pittsburgh.
He went to Colorado for the Air Force Academy. Unless your comment is dripping with sarcasm then…. good job.
Skenes attended the Air Force Academy because it’s his dream to serve his country and retire as an officer in the Air Force
I wouldn’t be surprised if when he’s 30 he retires from baseball to fulfill his dream
Isn’t it just like Yankees and Dodgers fans? Skenes just got here and they’re already planning his signing or trade
Skenes has said that he hates large cities and the problems that a large population can cause
The Nutting buying 2 free agent years is perfect for him then! Unfortunately he will probably retire at 40 and then maybe go to Air force but probably just spend time with family and enjoy his $.
Not worth paying him. Negative value contract. Would be awful trade. Rather Nutting just put the $ in his pocket.
Agree 100%. Have to laugh at what national media is putting forth where the Pirates are concerned. It’s like stuff they find on the men’s room wall
I like Bellinger. Instantly transforms the look of their offense where no other name being thrown around here does the same
But it’s yet another nice dream that Nutting will laugh about
No chance. He’s on the IL for one thing (although I know he can still be moved). Add in the 30M if he opts in next season, and you realize there is no chance that the Bucs would consider Belli.
I agree with Bellinger. would be a great pickup. he does OF and 1b which are and will be positions of need going into 2025.
Unless Cody dramatically improves to a 5war player, he will take the option(s)
I think a top 5 org prospect pitcher and someone like Jebb for Bellinger and 7.5m of his salary for 2025/2026 seems like a good starting point. $7.5 because that is how much the buy outs would be.
They’re still looking at Chisholm as well people.
To me it sounds like the pirates and Marlins are talking a lot and the pirates are doing their due diligence on their young players
Cruz would be a good get too. Solid young power bat that’s controllable for a few years as well
Maybe get him and Chisholm Jr
Please, no
Rooker or Mouncastle would be good!
Rooker would be awesome. Castle not so much. Arbitration doesn’t fit with the Pirates. Can always trade him though.
AJ Happ?
He still pitching?
Ian Happ Cubs sorry. Local guy. Cubs have to take some of his money.
.
I love how teams are supposed to fall all over themselves to acquire 1/3 of the lineup that’s led the Marlins to the bottom of the standings.
Doesn’t excite me, but he’s having a better year then Ward
De La Cruz stinks. He’s simply not a good player and has enough at-bats to show that.
I don’t buy this report because the Pirates biggest need is another left-handed hitter. They don’t need another weak side platoon bat that doesn’t even hit lefties that well and stinks at defense.
I get it the Pirates are doing their due diligence on every player on the market. A bunch of these reports are just that. Someone from the organization leaks it to build a bigger market!
My personal opinion is you tried this with Olivares and Taylor in the offseason. They have to get it right now. We need CF, RF, and maybe a RP even though I believe between Starting depth and Borucki coming back that might be a luxury.
It’s a buyers market and you don’t just trade to make a trade. CF Jazz or Bleday please. RF I think they’re hoping Suwinski pulls a Tellez! Can Cutch play RF? If he can I’m going Rooker! If not then maybe De La Cruz. It’s just a good time to have the Pirates in the buyers market even if most rumors aren’t anything more than that.
My personal shopping list in order would be…
Winker
Sanchez
Rooker
or MiLB guys like
Stowers
Beavers
Winker hasn’t had a good season since ‘21. I don’t get the fascination. It’s like maybe if you guys close your eyes and wish hard enough, he’ll become a Bonds-type hitter, land here and lead the Pirates to the promised land.
.796 ops. Winker would be the Pirates 2nd best hitter. I don’t get your fascination of hating him. Cutch is just over 700 and Winker is neqr 800. Vs RHP the most common popular type of pitching he is well over 800. He’s an all star!!!
My list.
Winker
Winker
Winker
Pillar
Reliever other teams don’t want
Utility player if possible.
Luxury Mark Canha for depth.
But Winker Pillar excites me and is enough.
Fantasy wise Rooker is my guy. Bleday is nice. Siri for cf. Or Mullens. CF not too much of a fantasy. And Oakland can fall in love with some unexpected prospects. Robert is a real fantasy.
Cutch RF days are done. Been done for awhile now. Rooker can play rf though. Not good but somewhere between Joe and Olivares quality I think. Not good at all but great if you count his bat.
Would love Rooker, putting him behind Cruz & Reynolds. Still need CF & possibly RF bats. I hope they get 2 bats either way, Jazz would be nice & Marlins may part with Sanchez or De La Cruz too, they seem to be in n trade mode. Bucs have the prospects, move a few & at least you have your OF for the next few years, Bleday in the mix too
No Pham, no Winker or any other no sense band aids
Yep, exactly what I’ve been saying for weeks
Imagine a couple power bats in this lineup. Complete change of direction
I don’t know enough about Rooker, Bleday or Sanchez
Just not real impressed with Jazz or Winker.
Why would we want a all star RF and high energy still fairly young cf above average bat.
no thanks, not enough of an upgrade in his current form (But still an upgrade). Below average across the board offensively. If i’d have to choose between him and Jack, i stick with Jack because I don’t have to give up anything to get him. Jack also has similar upside if he can get that going.
If they want to do a straight 40man swap as a change of scenery type move, or maybe low level talent with decent around average ceiling but a likely Walmart Greeter floor okay. Maybe a scaling PTBNL type.
We don’t need a long term 4th outfielder type.
I’m a fan of the Winkler idea. a ‘cheap’ rental who is doing well having a great bounce back and could be a great trade and extend candidate. Always been average+ except for last year when he gets to play.
No reason to even evaluate you already have very similar players in house. Bottom Dollar Bob is pathetic
Bottom Dollar Bob
I love it!
I’m going out on a limb here and say that there won’t be any significant additions to this team and Cherington will make a lame excuse that either there weren’t any players that were available that he thought could help or opposing teams wanted players he wasn’t interested in trading
He will also claim that he has complete confidence in the players already on the roster and in the coaching staff to make this team competitive
And by season’s end, it will be going on 46 years since we won a championship
I will give my 2 cents. I think Cherington will price enforce and see if he gets lucky. I think he will go after whatever scraps other teams don’t want. So he might not add anyone until Monday or Tuesday. If he doesn’t add at all I will let you know if the prices were too high or he just kicked the can. 2 trades so far 1 the price was too high and the other wasn’t but I think Miami severely over valued a prospect. Any team could have offered more.
That’s what I said previously, Cherington will settle for the leftovers that other teams don’t want and label them a successful deadline additions
Don’t like leftovers? I find them quite tasty myself.
my own leftovers are always good because I made them to begin with
leftovers from other people ( teams) are discarded because they made them awful and no one else wants them ( except for the Bucs)
They better do something. Been a fan since Stargell & Clemente & the rest of the Lumber Company. They need 2 bats so go do it. You still got a good minor league system. Give up a few prospects & help this great pitching staff, the time is NOW
Yeah. TheMan, Mendoza and I go back to Forbes Field era. But unlike under other owners, this is a guy who sees winning as being only with the financial ledger. A pathetic joke for Pirates fans
Take a look at what the O’s continually do—and have done this week—and compare it to this franchise.
I agree. I think they should add. Lots of ways to go without hurting the farm system too much. Won’t take much to make them a serious contender. As of right now they look to come up short.
Not the top of my list for sure but I don’t hate it. Rumors of getting both De La Cruz and Jazz. Another rumor of Yandy Diaz. Get all 3. I wouldn’t be disappointed. Add a couple of cheap rental bull pen arms and we are ready to make a run at it. Too bad these rumors never seem to pan out. They will end up with someone completely off the radar. If they do anything.
Jack is back… Striking out with runners on.. Although look like he held check to me.
Guys like Jack and Joe are notorious for over checking their swings into strikeouts
Typical Pirate offensive game, 3 runs, 11 strikeouts and a paltry 5 hits
The team slump has returned and the same guys are slumping worse
Hayes should go back to Indy and learn how to hit as should just about every other player on this team
5 hits. That’s really embarrassing
Excuse me, I said that they managed 5 hits in last night’s game, it was 7
Someone explain why Shelton doesn’t feel the urgency to try and win games when they are only down one run late in the game
Down one run going into the 8th inning, he used exactly zero pinch hitters and in a lineup that had all struck out 8 times and was 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position?
I desperately want this team to win games but am growing frustrated with how little this team’s management cares about winning
Part of me hopes they go into a tailspin, have another losing season that causes everyone in management to lose their jobs, Shelton, Cherington and Haines in particular
If there is to be a tailspin, I’m figuring it happens now as they play teams all hungry to make the playoffs.
With such an anemic offense it’s hard to believe the Pirates are in the WC race but it speaks to how average the NL is. Seriously, is there any team that impresses you here?
I’ve looked at trade candidates until my eyes hurt. Bleday and Rooker make the most sense and you’d have to think they are attainable.
But as always, you just get the feeling that nothing of real consequence is going to happen here
Again. I am in complete agreement, Tired
There’s a good possibility that they could go winless on the current road trip, even with Skenes pitching. They don’t have the offensive talent to score enough runs, though get lucky on occasion.
These published rumors about Ward, Chisolm and this player, yet nothing has happened, and there’s only 4 days left until the deadline.
I still think that if they make a move it will be from the waiver wire
Nothing will happen until Sunday. Probably have a few trades tonight if we are lucky but teams want to see how they do tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Then it’s on. More trades will happen Monday and Tuesday than this entire week. All the Pirates links are still available though sounds like Jazz is about to be a Yankee.
If Pirates get swept Ben might get shy. Shouldn’t. 2 entire months of baseball to be played. Imagine playing them with 2 additional all star bats. 2 months ago it was May. Between Mother’s day and Father’s day. Not even Memorial day yet most years. Almost a month from start of summer. 2 months is a lot of time to overcome a handful of games.
one player they won’t be trading for, Jazz was traded to the Yankees, Miami will receive 3 prospects
after playing Arizona they travel to Houston for 3 games
They will be lucky to get an even split and if the Diamondbacks sweep this series, Cherington probably won’t do anything to improve the team unless you count whatever dumpster dive signings he makes
Cruz is on pace to strike out 189 times, with 3 last night alone. He watched a number of pitches sail right by him, all in the middle of the plate then struck out swinging on pitches nowhere near the plate or watching the 3rd strike and never moving their bat
I am singling out Cruz but this approach to hitting has become too common with this lineup
Called out on strike three, looking
Is this the philosophy of Haines and if so, why does he still have a job?
Agreed. Not sure why they coddle Cruz as they do. You don’t see refinements at the plate or in the field, and it’s a shame as a good, strong, knowledgeable coach could improve him in every regard
But just as we’ve heard repeatedly that he’s averse to moving off of shortstop, he’s given a great deal of latitude in how he comports himself in games. The jogging to 1st is often excused thanks to his injury last year but jeez, the half-hearted waves that pass for some of his swings when he knows he’s overmatched by a pitcher are sickening
Put him together with Hayes and it all defines the word “aloof”
With the possibility of Rowdy going on the IL with back spasms, Cherington will have to make a move, Connor Joe is their only other option to play first base though Triolo could if needed
Unfortunately he’s having a regression type season too
I happen to laugh but not in a funny way, when Cruz swings using just one arm. Otherwise he’s ran hard to first base on many occasions but more often than not he jogs like he doesn’t care to make an effort and I agree, Hayes’ swings are equally as troubling
Kevin Newman, former Pirate infielder is having a better season than Hayes including doubles, hits and batting average of .271
It sickens me that the majority of the current full time players on the Pirates aren’t hitting as well as Newman
Has Bae ever played right field before? He’s playing there tonight
Dream said teams would be waiting until the weekend is over before trades are made. Trades are already being made except for us
How many times does the team strike out tonight?
How many will Cruz k?
my prediction
double digits for the team and 3 runs or less will be scored
Wait until Monday Tuesday. You will be taking your shoes off to count em all. Sunday could be active. Past 3 days about average as expected. Nice steady rate. Monday Tuesday I will be working hard. I analysis and grade pretty much every single trade. Pretty good stuff imo. You should look for the green circle and checkmark and check them out even if you aren’t a Pirates fan. See if you thought the Pirates should have made it. I haven’t seen any I thought Cherington should have made yet.
They are still waiting. Nothing since you typed that. They like to wait until the last minute but a handful teams are running out of time and need to pick a direction. Going to be an exciting 3 days. May favorite time of the year.
Bumbling Buccos. You enjoying the clown show.