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Offseason Outlook: Pittsburgh Pirates
Click here to view previous offseason outlooks. Today, a look at your 2009 Pirates.
C - Ryan Doumit - $412K+
C - Ronny Paulino - $424K
1B - Adam LaRoche - $5MM+
2B - Freddy Sanchez - $6.1MM
SS - Jack Wilson - $7.25MM
3B - Andy LaRoche - $400K
IF - Brian Bixler - $400K
IF - Luis Cruz - $400K
LF - Brandon Moss - $400K
CF - Nate McLouth - $425K+
RF - Steve Pearce - $400K
OF - Nyjer Morgan - $400K
SP - Paul Maholm - $425K+
SP - Ian Snell - $3MM
SP - Tom Gorzelanny - $419K
SP - Ross Ohlendorf - $400K
SP - Zach Duke - $400K+
RP - Matt Capps - $2.3MM
RP - John Grabow - $1.135MM+
RP - Tyler Yates - $800K+
RP - Craig Hansen - $700K
RP - T.J. Beam - $450K
RP - Denny Bautista - $400K+
RP - Phil Dumatrait - $400K
Other candidates: Jeff Karstens - $400K, Daniel McCutchen - $400K, Sean Burnett - $400K, Robinzon Diaz - $400K, Andrew McCutchen - $400K
Non-tender candidates: Jason Davis - $650K+, Raul Chavez - $550K+
Other commitments: Yoslan Herrera - $400K
The Bucs entered '08 with a $48.7MM payroll. The '09 team has about $30.5MM committed before arbitration raises to Doumit, LaRoche, McLouth, Maholm, Duke, Grabow, Yates, and Bautista. Even after those, they'll still be comfortably under $40MM. So there is no need to make payroll-motivated trades.
It is fair to suggest the Pirates moved in the right direction with this year's trades. This team won't sniff contention in 2009, even with some breakout seasons. Right now it's simply a team short on star power without much in the way of hitting or pitching. It will get worse before it gets better if the Bucs move LaRoche and/or Wilson this winter. The focus should be a young shortstop and pitching. The Pirates won't be signing any significant free agents.
Doumit, McLouth, and Maholm were the bright spots in '08. Hopefully those players can sustain their success while players like Andy LaRoche, Moss, Snell, and Ohlendorf take a step forward. Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata represent outfield promise for the future. Signing Pedro Alvarez would add another future star to the farm system. Neal Huntington did a nice job amassing young arms this year, and I'm sure he'll continue to do so. With some luck added, the Pirates could be competitive in 2010.
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Thats a lot of money commited to mediocre infielders. They should trade Wilson while he's highly regarded, for anything basically. But other than that, they look on their way to make a competitive team in future, no bad contracts and if some players pan out, they could compete as soon as 2010/11
Posted by: viktor06 | September 12, 2008 at 04:40 PM
I think this article kinda explains the future futility of the Pirates.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/090910
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 12, 2008 at 05:43 PM
tim
do you know when you will do this for the dodgers?
Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | September 12, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Purple that was the old owner you know the Pirates have since changed ownership. Also I still say the Pirates make a run at Robinson Cano and just hold onto that money and make a run at King Felix when he becomes a FA.
Posted by: BucSox | September 12, 2008 at 06:43 PM
"Also I still say the Pirates make a run at Robinson Cano and just hold onto that money and make a run at King Felix when he becomes a FA."
king felix would be great, but if he keeps inproving, he'll pull in santana/sabathia money and then some. i guess it would really depend on where we stand as a team at that point. if all we need is an ace to put us over the top then i say go for it. but if it makes us just average then its not worth the butt load of money that it will take.
Posted by: BuccoBrigade | September 12, 2008 at 07:24 PM
"Purple that was the old owner you know the Pirates have since changed ownership."
I know, I just thought the article was hilarious. It wasn't just one bad decision after another, it was one incredibly insane idea after another. To tell the truth I want the Pirates to have a good season soon. I learned the history of baseball, I have a soft spot for the original teams. I thought the Alvarez signing was a sign of a new beginning, but Boras definitely help grind that one down.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 12, 2008 at 09:28 PM
"With some luck added, the Pirates could be competitive in 2010."
How many times have we heard that before? We could have been competitive by 1995, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008. Every year we're always 2 or 3 years away....
It's just never going to happen. :(
Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | September 12, 2008 at 09:29 PM
"king felix would be great, but if he keeps inproving, he'll pull in santana/sabathia money and then some."
There was a great quote on Rotoworld while Pedroia was on a hot streak. They sarcastically mentioned if he keeps improving he'll be the first 60 hr/60 steal second baseman. Improvement isn't a given and while Felix is definitely showing progress, isn't at the pure ace level that we can say he'll bring in Santana money...
sorry for the double post.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 12, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Felix Hernandez is 22. 22! Survey says he still has an opportunity to become a "pure ace level" pitcher. When Santana was 22, he had a 4.74 ERA while throwing 43.2 innings. Hernandez is way ahead of where Santana was at the same age. Hamels debuted at 22. Lincecum didn't debut until 23.
Maybe Hernandez never becomes a true ace. But what he has already accomplished at 22 is truly amazing (578 K's!).
Posted by: mymrbig | September 12, 2008 at 11:14 PM