Odds and Ends: Griffey, Baek, German, Wells

Baek doesn't have great K/BB, GB% or HR rate, but without ever seeing him pitch I can say that he's better than Adam Eaton, and Gillick has brought over several spare parts from the Seattle organization the past two seasons. Maybe the Phillies take a flyer on him

"says the six-fingered pitcher has attitude questions"

Wouldn't you?

I believe that the new unsigned-pick compensation structure, where an unsigned Alvarez at #4 nets the Pirates the #4-A pick in next year's draft, essentially breaks the back of the hire-Boras-ask-the-moon-and-fall-to-the-Yankees strategy. Back when the team's compensation was a late sandwich-round pick, not signing a #4 was a knife to the gut. Now it's at most a slap to the face, and sometimes you might even prefer it. Let's say you think the current draft class is weak (this one isn't, but some have been), but the following draft class is strong. That would give a smart team in the top few picks a really strong incentive to pick the highes-bonus-demand, most-recalcitrant-agent player and see if he's wise. Offer him slot, then when he asks for more, offer him 10% below slot. If you get him, fine: the next draft is strong anyway, and you've saved money. If not, wash your hands of the annoying player and agent and get two picks in the strong draft class. Et voila...

Me, I like Posey and Beckham The Elder, but The Younger and Alvarez are also strong picks.

If I were a Pirates fan, I'd be hoping to select ss Tim Beckham at the #2 position.

Face it, there aren't many impact bats on the Pirates ready to contribute (Pearce, McLouth, and McCutcheon are the only ones I can come up with).

The team needs retooling and should start with trading Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, and Adam LaRoche (play Pearce at 1B). Get gobs of pitching in return.

Pedro Alvarez will be good. But he will not single handedly raise the Pirates to the promised land. Pittsburgh needs time to develop several talented young players to bring up at one time (as a small market team, they won't be big spenders in the FA market).

The short of it is that Alvarez actually will get to the majors too fast for Pittsburgh. Draft Beckham and another high schooler in the 2nd round, then draft another high school superstar next year with the top 5 pick you are sure to get.

If a team claims Cha Seung Baek off waivers, don't you think that they should request that he change his name to Chas E Beak? That would be one acquisition they could really crow about!

wcw

I did not know that about the draft! Hmmmm... Who's in next year's draft? There's that ridiculous righty from San Diego, Steven Strasburg or whatever, plus Kyle Gibson, Alex White...anyone else really good? I'm wondering because I have a plan that will never happen, yet could be interesting.

Say Alvarez is gone and the O's (my team, though you can replace them with your team if you like) like but don't love anyone else early on but think next year's draft is loaded. We A)Trade everyone we CAN trade over the age of, say, 27
B)Tank the season using a bunch of scrubs; giving a bunch of young players valuable experience.
C)Pick some d-bag without any intention of signing him.

In the end, we get two picks in the first five of next year's draft; take Strassburg and Gibson or something like that and roll on to glory.

OK, that's insane, but intriguing nevertheless