Pirates President Chats With Fans

Pirates president Frank Coonelly hosted a chat with fans over at MLB.com Wednesday afternoon and discussed various hot stove issues.  We’ll summarize it here, but it’s also definitely worth checking out.

• Coonelly doesn’t see a scenario in which the Pirates would move Jack Wilson.  At least not right now.  "I expect Jack to be our Opening Day shortstop this year," Coonelly said.
• The organization has shied away from signing Type A free agents this offseason because the Pirates "value (their) draft choices so highly."
• Coonelly had this to say on the prospect of adding free agent Adam Dunn: "Right now, the salaries that he is expecting do not fit within our budget. If other moves were made and Dunn fit within our budget, he is someone who we would consider."
• There have not been discussions on a long-term contract with Nate McLouth since the two sides exchanged arbitration numbers a few weeks ago.  "It looks like those discussions have ended for this year and we will likely have a one-year deal with Nate," said Coonelly.
• And, finally, Coonelly states that his "expectations are high" for this season:  "I would never want to make predictions as to the number of games that we will win, but I am confident that we will play better than we did in 2008 and surprise a lot of people with our performance."