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numerouno
Boras is scum…there should be a Cardinal policy that whenever players that are represented by Scott Boras have ended their contracts, the Cardinals will never deal with a player that Boras represents again.
RedFeather
Im willing to bet that Oh’s signing is an experiment. Cardinals didn’t necessarily “need” him but if Oh can be as dominate in the MLB as he was in Korea, then he will be the new closer for the Cardinal and Rosenthal will walk. I wouldn’t mind seeing Rosenthal start a few games at least in spring training to see if that fastball can hold up 5-6 innings. Would be worth resigning Rosenthal as a starter if he can last.
davbee
Boras gets his clients the best deal possible. That’s not being scum. That’s being great at your job. You should be as good at your job numerouno as Boras is at his.
moe 3
Boras is a cancer on baseball
BoldyMinnesota
owners who give out the contracts are more to blame than Boras
Jac7178
If you had someone that was responsible for finding you a job, wouldn’t you want them to get you the highest paying job possible?
Jac7178
If you had hired someone to ring you a job, wouldn’t you want them to get you the highest pay possible?
Kershawshank Redemption 2
According to News Generation, Pittsburgh is the 22nd biggest market in the U.S.
Two of the markets ahead of Pittsburgh do not have MLB teams (Orlando and Sacramento).
Four of the media markets ahead of Pittsburgh have multiple MLB teams (New York, L.A., Chicago and Oakland-San Francisco).
There is also Toronto, which is not in the U.S. but undoubtedly has a larger media market than Pittsburgh.
That puts Pittsburgh 25th in MLB media markets, ahead of Baltimore, San Diego, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
Baltimore and Kansas City have each signed free agents to large contracts in the past weeks (Chris Davis and Ian Kennedy). Both of those deals would be the largest in Pirates’ history.
In recent years, Milwaukee and Cincinnati have each signed key players to nine-digit extensions (Ryan Braun and Joey Votto). Both of those contracts would be the most expensive in Pirates’ history.
I don’t get what Nutting is trying to say here. There are teams spending money in media markets that are smaller than Pittsburgh. Yet he refuses to open the wallet for potentially crucial free agents or sign major players such as Gerrit Cole to extensions.
Pirates ownership has always said that the payroll would increase once the team started winning. The Pirates have made three straight playoff appearances. Payroll has increased, albeit marginally.
The Royals took multiple risks to get to the level of contention they are, including trading top prospect Wil Myers for James Shields and trading Brandon Finnegan for Johnny Cueto. The Pirates have not made similar moves, and, perhaps consequently, failed to reach the Royals’ level of contention.
It is time to be more aggressive. Nutting needs to stop complaining about the CBA and invest in his team. This is a talented bunch of ballplayers, but they need more to seriously compete for a World Series title
TJECK109
How have the Votto and Braun extensions worked out? Those are prime examples of why the Pirates are cautious.
mbgutt
Agree, Bob open the books and let’s see the numbers!
joshize
And the Pirates have won more games the last two years than the Royals. They have just been bested in the division, and division series, by STL.
Saving $$ for a McCutchen extension seems fair to me. Cole will probably not extend because he is a Boras client.
What shortstop has been available worth spending a lot on?
1B seems possible, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear they inquired on Davis.
Not going to sign Greinke or Cueto and run out of options elsewhere.
There are too many what if’s with these contracts. Like Homer Bailey, it just might not work out.
I understand the Royals have gone deeper in the postseason, but to say that the Pirates aren’t good enough to win those games and be that team is unfair. I believe their talent level has been there all 3 years. More so the last two. They just ran into historical performances from Bumgarner and Arrieta. If they get past those games, I can see them being a favorite moving forward. Still need a SS and 1B. (1B could be Bell soon.)
Obviously still need SP, but why sign a mid level SP to high dollar (Ian Kennedy) if that just blocks the 3 prospect arms. (Glasnow, Taillon, and Kingham.) I’m pretty sure all three have a higher ceiling than Kennedy.
I agree that money needs to be spent, but I also believe there’s a smart way to do it. Patience seems to be working, considering this team won 98 games.
joew
Pirates have some pen options.
Of course Mark M. Tony W..two of the best right now..
But often over looked Jarred Hughes who has quietly had two great seasons and under control for quite some time at a pretty cheap price (rookie contract)
Caminero had a fair season last year and Holdzkom should be back this year and so should Scahill (sp?)
Feliz, Nicasio and Lobstein will also be pushing for the pen or possibly a bottom rotation spot if needed.
they also have a few other arms in the minors that could possibly help out too.
Yeah getting Bastardo back would have been great, but also Soria and Blanton would have been great. No question what they will do for ya but I also don’t think not getting them puts the pirates in a horrible position.
Turtle
If Phillips plays well, maybe he brings back a solid prospect at the trade deadline, if he’s then willing to accept a trade. That’s a big if. Peraza can begin the season at Louisville, if need be, and can be a super utility guy this season as the Reds figure out where he helps them most.
dtwb93
Who cares. The Cardinals don’t need a closer in that division if their cheap pockets don’t open. They need power and have done nothing. Cubs are playing for real. Mo is playing poker and it’s time to show his hand if he still has one.
rogerwilco
From what I’ve seen, multi=year offers to fireball closers rarely ever work out well for the team anyway. They’re always in danger of blowing out their arm and not being the same afterwards. Prime examples: Joakim Soria, Jonathan Broxton, Jason Motte
fanofcards
Cards should extend Rosenthal. Besides being a closer in the past, his stats actually were better than Martinez when they were competing for the 5th starting pitcher position. However, at the time, the Cardinals had no other strong closer. Id like to see him as a starter if Oh does well.