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« Olney On August Moves, Mauer, Indians | Main | Odds And Ends: Gonzalez, Pirates, Batista »
Huntington: Snell Deal A "Mistake"
As Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, Pirates GM Neal Huntington says signing Ian Snell made "all the sense in the world" on paper, but the move failed.
"It certainly feels like a mistake on out part," Huntington said.
Before last season, the Pirates signed Snell to a multi-year deal that guaranteed him $8.6MM. They have the option of keeping him through 2012, but, as Kovacevic points out, it's unlikely they'll pick up the options on his contract.
Snell, who just struck out 17 in Triple A, could soon be someone else's concern. Huntington's been trying to trade him for months and he may be content to dump the $5.75MM remaining on Snell's deal at this point.
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sux 4 them
Posted by: gunsnroses | June 29, 2009 at 12:14 PM
sux 4 u that u r 12 and post like it
Posted by: fitz | June 29, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Snell has just been a drastically different pitcher in 2008/2009 than he was in 2006-2007.
He's missing less bats, walking practically twice as many guys, inducing less groundballs and giving up more line drives.
He's pretty much fallen off in every way, even though his current performance is still good enough to be an adequate back of the rotation starter.
The guy had a 4.01 FIP in 208 innings in 2006, and that wasn't a fluke, that's his legitimate talent level. Then again, his fastball is about 1.2 MPH slower on average and his slider is 1.4 MPH faster on average, so maybe the shrinking difference between his fastball and his best offspeed pitch has something to do with his struggles.
Man, those Pirates really need Brad Lincoln to pan out in some form.
Posted by: scribbletone | June 29, 2009 at 12:17 PM
If Snell is let go some team like the Cardinals will swoop in and grab him and have him right in under a month.
Posted by: schellis | June 29, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Please, get this bum out of town. He's not helpful in the least, and there's no room for him in the future. Take whatever you can get for him.
Posted by: Ian Smell | June 29, 2009 at 12:40 PM
He will never be right. It has nothing to do with his arm...he's just screwed in the head.
See: Perez, Oliver
Posted by: ToddSm66 | June 29, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Gee, way to drive up the trade value, Neal.
It's like the Jake Johansen bit about yard sales, "Look man, either pay my price now or you'll have to fish it out of the garbage later."
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 29, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Maybe Neal can package Snell with Morgan if the Nats still want him.
Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | June 29, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Like I've said time and time again with Ian, if guys aren't chasing his slider out of the zone, he's in for a rough night. He still has a live fastball and a nasty slider, but needs to work on a third pitch that he can use to keep guys off guard. I'm not sure what kind of fastballs he throws, but if he worked on generating some movement with a two-seamer or cutter, maybe that would help. As of now, he's a back end guy who will always have good games and crappy ones, not much in between. I think his two pitch arsenal would be better served in the bullpen, but his contract is not one that is given to a guy who's learning how to become a relief pitcher, but they must salvage him somehow.
Posted by: bigpat | June 29, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Neal Huntington for GM of the Year! Nobody admits stuff like this! This almost seems like there's bad blood between the two of them.
Posted by: yokedog22 | June 29, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Nyjer Morgan and Ian Snell for Lastings Milledge and Craig Stammen?
Thoughts?
Posted by: scribbletone | June 29, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Good process, bad results. Those happen sometimes. You just move on.
Had it worked out, it would've been an absolute steal.
Posted by: melonis rex | June 29, 2009 at 01:18 PM
"Good process, bad results. Those happen sometimes. You just move on."
Excellent point.
I've held this opinion for a long time, but the process will always be far more important than the result.
People seem to forget how randomness essentially dominates results, so trying to form a process that controls the situation as much as possible is ideal.
At the time, the Snell move seemed to make sense, as he was a young starter with MLB experience and upside. You keep those guys around, because sometimes they turn into Dan Haren, even if sometimes they turn into Ian Snell.
If the Pirates keep following the right process and don't deviate from the plan, which seems to happen often with poorly ran organizations, then eventually their luck will turn.
Posted by: scribbletone | June 29, 2009 at 01:31 PM
"Nyjer Morgan and Ian Snell for Lastings Milledge and Craig Stammen?"
Done deal for me.
Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | June 29, 2009 at 01:32 PM
"Nyjer Morgan and Ian Snell for Lastings Milledge and Craig Stammen?"
This would be an excellent deal for the Pirates, however i don't think the Nats would bit on this, unless the Pirates eat most, or all of Snell's salary. The Pirates were trying to get Stammen and Milledge for Morgan straight up, but the Nats hung up. Who knows, maybe Snell will be just enough for the Nats to get this deal done.
Make it happen Neal.
Posted by: Tom THE man | June 29, 2009 at 01:47 PM
"This almost seems like there's bad blood between the two of them."
We have heard this to be the case, and it could actually be some of the difference in results. Was there a new pitching coach last season that maybe attempted to alter his delivery or something?
No matter, it wasnt a bad deal, it is just a deal that they havent reaped the rewards of. I cant imagine Snell would have been making that much less then 3 million in 09 and 4.25 in 2010 if he has gone through arbitration, and 2011-2012 are both options that dont need to be picked up. The "deal" itself, is not even much of a deal, and the Pirates are not spending money they otherwise would have had. If they are, it is within a million or two max. Huntingtons comments have to be less about the money spent and more about the personality clashes in my mind.
Snell is a great "change of scenery" guy for someone else though! I mentioned it last night in the Texas/Pitcher post, he is a guy everyone in need of some depth should be looking at IMO.
Posted by: SuzysMan | June 29, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Morgan and Snell for Miledge? Sounds to me as if people are reading the 2006 line off of his Bowman Chrome Prospects rookie card. That seems too much to give up for a guy who's underperforming in AAA and couldn't hold a job down on a team w/ the worst record in baseball. Morgan may not have as high a cieling as Miledge but at least he's coming close to realizing his potential. I would offer to eat some of Snell's contract and offer him straight up for Miledge. Nats need pitching and Snell is young and can eat innings.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | June 29, 2009 at 03:43 PM
"Nyjer Morgan and Ian Snell for Lastings Milledge and Craig Stammen?"
if neal huntington has really been trying to deal Snell then it stands to reason that he has already put the offer on the table. i will be sad to see Nyjer go. kids got hart
Posted by: prideofthebucco's | June 29, 2009 at 08:59 PM
i dont understand, why do the pirates want to trade morgan so bad? he and mccutheon in the OF 2gether sounds pretty solid to me. 2 quick and speedy guys, just need a power hitter behind them is all
Posted by: Cwsbaseballyes | June 29, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Milledge for Snell straight up would be like each team going through the other ones trash and hoping to find something. But with that said, maybe a change of scenery would be good for both players.
I personally don't understand why the Nats would be interested in Nyjer Morgan right now. They have Willie Harris signed through next year, and Roger Bernadina (when he returns from injury) who plays almost the exact same style as Morgran.
Posted by: peytondowdy | June 30, 2009 at 12:11 AM
yeah, man. Let the Cards pick up Snell. Duncan can turn him around in no time, and we could have a rotation like this. #1 Carpenter #2 Wainwright #3 Lohse #4 Snell #5 Pineiro/Wellemeyer/Thompson
I dont know a single manager in the world who would not want that rotation right there.
Posted by: crebmann2013 | June 30, 2009 at 01:19 AM
Snell for Mitchell Boggs and Brian Barden. Your thoughts?
Posted by: crebmann2013 | June 30, 2009 at 01:22 AM
"Snell for Mitchell Boggs and Brian Barden. Your thoughts?"
I would do it, but I like the Washington deal better.
Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | June 30, 2009 at 10:42 AM