Pirates To Keep Bay?

Jayson Stark wrote on Thursday that the Pirates could keep their veterans in the name of a run at .500. Dejan Kovacevic doesn’t mention that, but rattles off six other reasons the Bucs may choose not to trade Jason Bay this summer.

Kovacevic hints that the Pirates could afford to sign Bay to an extension after the ’09 season, since outfielders Nate McLouth and Andrew McCutchen would still be quite affordable.

Xavier Nady is more likely to go.  The Boras client is not expected to re-sign with the Pirates when he reaches free agency after the 2009 season.  Trading the him now makes sense – he’s hitting well (at least prior to June) and he’s more than a rental.  Nady will have to prove he’s healthy, though, after bruising his shoulder Saturday night.