Headlines

  • Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL
  • Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain
  • Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
  • Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks
  • DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return
  • Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Huntington Non-Committal About Russell’s Future With Bucs

By Mark Polishuk | September 30, 2010 at 8:17pm CDT

It's not exactly a ringing vote of confidence when a GM refers to the issue of his manager returning next season as "the million-dollar question" (Twitter link) but that's just how Pirates general manager Neal Huntington referred to the club's situation with manager John Russell.  Speaking with Jim Bowden of FOXSports.com, Huntington said that the club would evaluate their major league staff after the season and didn't seem to hint as to whether or not Russell would be back in 2011 (both Twitter links).

Both Huntington and Russell had their contracts extended last winter, though there were some rumors that Russell could be fired back in June.  Russell has a 185-296 record in three years as Pittsburgh's manager, and while it's hard to entirely blame Russell given the team's lack of talent, the fact that the Pirates have the league's worst record this season doesn't help his case.  Russell was Huntington's first hire as the team's manager back in November 2007.

Should Pittsburgh decide to go in a different direction, they will be the seventh club (after the Blue Jays, Braves, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Mariners and Marlins) looking for a new manager this winter.  This number could rise if Milwaukee declines to pick up Ken Macha's option, the Mets fire Jerry Manuel, Tony La Russa leaves St. Louis and Joe Girardi doesn't re-sign with the Yankees.  One potential managerial opening is all but officially closed with Dusty Baker on the verge of re-signing with the Reds.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Pittsburgh Pirates

Chicago Notes: Konerko, Pierzynski, Zambrano
Main
Padres Could Put Bell Back On Trade Market
View Comments (11)

Comments

  1. Ian_Smell

    12 years ago

    Even though Russell isn’t entirely at fault, he needs to go. He’s only associated with the Pirates’ futility.

    Reply
  2. algionfriddo

    12 years ago

    Russell needs to go. Check out Evan Meek’s stats for the Aug 13 game. Meek was in obvious pain yet Russell left him in. The Pirates have few young blue-chip players and were already certain to finish last in the division. Russell also let James Mcdonald go long on several occasions when there was nothing to be gained by it.

    Reply
  3. Jessamynn

    12 years ago

    I don’t see how there is an end in sight for the Pirates.

    The young position players look promising (Alvarez, Walker, Tabata), in addition to McCutchen but…you’d have to imagine that even if they all pan out and become everyday-MLB players (no guarantee), it’s unlikely they all will become stars. Combine that with the lack of high-end pitching (McDonald needs to show wayyy more) on the horizon…l

    Reply
    • bucs_lose_again

      12 years ago

      There is no end in sight currently, but there is room for hope when it comes to the pitching. Between Taillon, Allie, Heredia, Morris, Locke, Owens, ZVR, Cain, Kingham, Adcock, Wilson, Pounders, Dodson, Baker, Fuesser, and maybe even Miller, there’s plenty of big league potential in the minors with arms. Some of it is closer to being big league ready than others obviously, and it is just potential at this point. But the outlook now looks much better than it has in years past.

      But would I be surprised if they went another 5+ years with losing seasons? Absolutely not.

      Reply
  4. derekbellstutu

    12 years ago

    Not only does John Russell need to go, but send hitting coach Don Long packing too! Pitching coach Ray Searage and bench coach Jeff Banister should be invited back if the new manager wants them.

    Reply
    • penpaper

      12 years ago

      Definitely, sometimes they look so lost at the plate. Sometimes I wonder how that guy still has a job (hitting coach). If they want to move to forward with their talent, then they need a complete overhaul in regard to coaching.

      Reply
      • derekbellstutu

        12 years ago

        The exiting coaching staff can take Zach Duke, Sean Gallagher, Chan Ho Park, Jason Jaramillo, and Delwyn Young with them.

        Reply
  5. white angus

    12 years ago

    bucs-lose-again has it correct; we finally have lots of potential in the minor leagues, something the pirates didnt have the past 2 decades.—– jessamyn says its unlikely that they all will become stars. thats fine, most teams barely have 1 much less 2 stars on their rosters. i would rather have better than average YOUNG talent than one albert pujols and his monster salary on the books.

    Reply
  6. leadoff

    12 years ago

    JR’s record is bad and some of it is the tearing down of the old team and the rebuilding of the new team, but beyond that he can’t flat out manage, everything to making out a lineup and a batting order are screwed up with this guy. They can’t/won’t play any small ball. Every team, even teams with power still have to play small ball at times.

    Reply
    • jt

      12 years ago

      Putting my vote in for Andy Van Slyke. He has the passion and baseball knowledge. Even though he hasn’t directly managed a major league team, he learned from one of the best in leyland. I think the pirates should bring him aboard with a veteran bench coach and expect to see much success. I think for the first time in a long time many coaches in baseball would line up for a chance to manage this team for 2012-13 which would inclue Alverez, Walker, McCutheon, Tabata, Talion, Sanchez, Allie, Marte and most likely Rendon. I can even see down the road in a few years when I do actually believe the pirates will be good (2013) it will come full circle and leyland will want to be closer to home and serve as Van Slyke’s bench coach.

      Reply
  7. dwjones56

    12 years ago

    Shouldn’t the Pirates do what the Mets are doing by getting rid of both the GM and manager? That would seem to make more sense to me.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL

    Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

    Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks

    DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return

    Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return

    Mariners Option Jarred Kelenic, Claim Adrian Sampson

    Kumar Rocker Signs With Frontier League’s Tri-City ValleyCats

    Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List

    Bryce Harper Has Tear In UCL, Won’t Throw For Four Weeks

    Padres Sign Robinson Cano

    Gerardo Parra Retires

    Mariners Promote George Kirby, Place Ken Giles On 60-Day IL

    Diamondbacks To Promote Alek Thomas

    A’s Reinstate Ramon Laureano, Designate Jorge Juan

    Recent

    Brewers Outright Alec Bettinger

    Diamondbacks Select Grayson Greiner

    Cubs Reinstate Marcus Stroman

    Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL

    Rangers Option Nick Solak, Release Matt Carpenter

    Braves Win Arbitration Hearing Against Luke Jackson

    Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

    Avila: Manning Exit Not Due To Injury

    Offseason In Review: Philadelphia Phillies

    Mariners Return Roenis Elias To Triple-A

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Story Rumors
    • Frankie Montas Rumors
    • Michael Conforto Rumors
    • Arbitration Tracker
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version