To Be Dealt: Bay, Nady, Marte, Morris, Wilson

Bay - Will need to show he is healthy and back to his 2006 form before anything of value can be had for him...Will not end the season in PGH

Nady - Needs to stay injury free for there to be any value...I would expect him to be gone by deadline, sooner if Pearce wrecks AAA pitching for the first month.

Marte - His value increases between now and 7/31...I expect PGH to be able to get someone decent in return...any of the teams in the pennant race will likely be interested in him if his lefty dominance continues in the first half...

Morris - If Huntington can get a fungo bat for him he should take it...

Wilson - With Bixler waiting in AAA and Rivas on the bench, Wilson will be expendable to a team looking for good defense in the pennant race...Gone on 7/31

What Huntington is able to get in return for these players in aggregate will set the tone for his regime...

If he hits right with moving Bay and Marte then good things should follow...Nady likely wont bring much, Wilson could go either way...

With tongue firmly planted in cheek I would say Oliver Perez...

There isnt a whole lot down on the farm to be of interest and I suspect Pelfrey or Humber would be too much...

The original Perez/Hernandez for Nady trade should have never happened. Littlefield has made some of the worst trades in the history of baseball. At this point the Pirates should gladly take any prospect or two for Nady.

As for everyone else.

Bay is only gone if his value increases. His contract is still a good deal for the Pirates so I don't see them just dumping him for salary purposes.

Wilson is as good as gone by the trade deadline if Bixler shows any promise in AAA.

Morris will not bring anything worth while and the Pirates will have to eat most of the contract.

I honestly don't see Marte going anywhere unless there is a top prospect offered in return. Marte's contract is a great value and I believe he is signed through next season. An offer I think would have to be overwhelming for the Pirates to trade him.

I think Marte would be a nice left reliever on the Cubs. The Cubs still have some pitching depth in AAA but I don't see how they can make a deal with their roster situation. The Pirates wouldn't want Murton...they already have too many corner outfielders. Maybe later in the season when the roster situations resolve themselves, the Cubs should revisit this. Especially if Eyre continues to have issues and Pignatello or Marshall aren't the answer.

"There isnt a whole lot down on the farm to be of interest and I suspect Pelfrey or Humber would be too much..."

Phil Humber is on the Twins now..

And I agree with crunchy1 that Marte would be a good fit for the Cubs. He would replace Eyre as our lefty specialist, and the Cubs would likely be able to offer something of good value. If we offered something like Sean Marshall or something I think its pretty likely that the Pirates would be interested. Marte really isn't going to make a difference on that team, and considering that option for '09 which almost definately wouldn't be exercised, it makes more sense to move him now for someone cheaper and younger.

I still wonder how the Jays could get their hands on Bay for LF, I sapose it would take Lind and another Young pitcher as a starting point.

Rios/Wells/Bay with Snider coming up would be pretty damn sweet.

first thing i cant think of a more poorly run franchise then the pirates. they are a low budget team yet they trade their big time players for squat, trade for matt morris, and overpay a guy like jack wilson. they seem to be a little smarter lately but that franchise is a joke. i would definitely trade marte. relievers arent nearly as important to a bad team than to a good one. the yankees would give up something of value for him. nady to the mets definitely fills a need but thats weird because he used to play for the mets. if they liked him that much then why didi they let him go? bay to the indians make good sense. the indians have a lot od good young players to choose from and clevelands biggest need is a good corner outfielder. i think it would require at least three players but the indians can spare some young guys. and as for morris and wilson good luck trading them. i like wilson and he would be great for the cards but that salary is ridiculous. morris is washed up and a cokehead. that is why the cards didnt resign him

There are actual Pirate fans out there????

Yes, there are a few of us left. If we haven't given up by now, we're clearly in it for the (very) long run.

Anyway, I don't see Wilson to the Orioles. They're rebuilding, not looking for overpaid veterans. I imagine a Wilson suitor will come out of whatever team has an injury at the position.

I don't envy the Pirates' management this year. If the team is doing well there will be a lot of pressure to snap the string of losing seasons. But for the long-term future of the team, they almost have to deal Bay, Nady, et al if their values are peaking.

I'll put my money on Bay to Cleveland once the Tribe gives up on the Dellucci-Michaels platoon (again). Nady to the Mets is possible, unless the Pirates get a better offer, which could be possible since the Mets have next to nothing left on the farm.

Good luck in '08, Buccos, I'll see ya at Dodger Stadium in 2 weeks.