Let's check out some Pirates-related tidbits courtesy of MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch..
- With Ramon Vazquez on the trading block, Langosch stresses that any talk of him being Texas-bound is merely conjecture at this point. Furthermore, if they do move him, they are unlikely to get much back and may have to eat some of his $2MM salary. However, Pittsburgh might be willing to move the 33-year-old for next to nothing.
- One reader asks if the Pirates are considering locking up their young prospects, like Milwaukee did with Ryan Braun or like Tampa Bay did with Evan Longoria. Langosch says that the Pirates will wait until players like Jose Tabata, Brad Lincoln, and Pedro Alvarez establish themselves in the majors to open up discussions.
- Speaking of Alvarez, Langosch expects the Pirates to hold off on bringing him up to the big leagues. Pittsburgh delayed Andrew McCutchen's promotion last season in order to give him more seasoning in the minors and, in all likelihood, to extend his time under team control.
Once Alvarez is up, they need to lock up him and McCutchen. Charlie Morton, Garrett Jones, and Lastings Milledge could prove to be worth at least the thought of an extension. Also, whenever Tony Sanchez makes the big league club, I really expect the Pirates to lock him up.
A lot of people are criticizing the Pirates for taking Sanchez 4th overall. I loved the pick and believe he will be a all star catcher. Who cares that he signed for slot money? The fact that he did allowed them to take Colt Cain and Zack Von Rosenberg and give them large signing bonuses. Next year with the 2nd pick they can take one of Harper, Taillon, or Ranaudo. At the end of next year the Bucs will have the best farm system in the MLB.
Since they already have at least 5 more years of club control on Jones it’s probably not worth doing an extension beyond those years. He’s already 28, 29 in June. By the time his club control years are gone he’ll probably be hitting his decline.
Jumping the gun on locking up Tony Sanchez just a bit there, fellow.
On another note, I really hope they don’t rush Alvarez. I don’t want to see a Alex Gordon type situation in Pittsburgh.
I think they should trade Vazquez. That allows the Bucs to keep Moss and Raynor. But if Moss doesn’t prove himself we should call up Tabata. although Moss is out of options the bucs don’t need him when he doesn’t get the hits the Bucs need
I really hope the Pirates get Bryce Harper, then in say 2-3 years you could be looking at a Pirates team that could legitimately challenge in the NL Central:
McCutchen-CF
Tabata-LF
Jones-RF
Sanchez-C
Alvarez-3B
1B-Harper
As well as the young arms they have got/will get.
Would be a pretty good core, and I’d genuinely love to see them turn things around but I just can’t help but think they’ll choose not to take Harper because of financial worries and then proceed to trade any good young players they produce as soon as they start to get expensive a la Aramis Ramirez.
It most be heartbreaking being a Pirates fan.
You are just a classic ignorant fan who knows nothing
“I just can’t help but think they’ll choose not to take Harper because of financial worries and then proceed to trade any good young players they produce as soon as they start to get expensive a la Aramis Ramirez.”
You’re acting as if Scott Boras made Alvarez a simple, cheap signing. Did you forget so soon? He held off for the big money he eventually got, and ended up getting out of shape because of it, costing him a month or two of precious development time.
If he’s worth that high of a pick for that much money, the Pirates will take him.
I am with anyone who says that Alvarez can use at least a little more time at Indy. He’s not as much of a slam-dunk decision as say Jason Heyward at this point. A few more months to get ready and I think then bring him up.
I say the same thing with Tabata. Especially since all he’ll do at this point is serve as a 4th or 5th OF. Let him play everyday and get some seasoning.