Multiple reports last week indicated that the Pirates are shopping left-hander Jon Niese, and and today Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review adds that the Bucs are trying to move Niese and/or fellow lefty Jeff Locke (Twitter link). Trading either struggling southpaw would create a permanent spot in the Pittsburgh rotation for Tyler Glasnow, whose name, as noted by Biertempfel, is not listed among the upcoming probable starters for Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.
That the Bucs would look to move Locke isn’t exactly a stunner, as the 28-year-old has been on the fringes of the rotation anyhow in recent seasons. Locke found himself in a competition with Vance Worley for a rotation spot in 2015, and, dating back to Opening Day of last season, has pitched to a combined 4.78 ERA in 269 1/3 innings (including a 5.26 mark this season). The 28-year-old is averaging career-lows in K/9 (4.7) and ground-ball rate this season (46.6 percent) and has yielded a troublesome .287/.351/.498 batting line to opposing right-handed hitters this season.
Locke isn’t teeming with upside, but a club that has been beset by injuries in the rotation could certainly do worse than him when filling out the back of the rotation. Locke did, after all, manage a 3.98 ERA in 81 starts from 2013-15, and he’s earning a reasonable $3.025MM salary in 2016. He’s controllable for another pair of seasons beyond the current campaign and doesn’t figure to be in line for a significant bump in salary due to his aforementioned 2016 struggles.
While it’s rare to see a contending club move one or even two arms from its big league rotation — especially when its ace (i.e. Gerrit Cole) is on the disabled list — Pittsburgh has a number of young, MLB-ready arms that could step into the rotation down the stretch. In addition to Glasnow, we’ve seen Jameson Taillon, Steven Brault and Chad Kuhl each make his Major League debut this season. Taillon, of course, is presently on the big league disabled list with some fatigue in his right shoulder and will eventually need to have his innings capped after not pitching in 2014-15 due to injury. However, he could return later this month, and the Bucs are also hoping to get Cole back following the All-Star break as well (he’s already begun a Triple-A rehab assignment). Vogelsong, too, could be back in late July. As such, even without Locke and Niese, Pittsburgh could conceivably have a combination of Cole, Francisco Liriano, Vogelsong, Glasnow, Kuhl, Taillon and Brault make the bulk of their starts in the final two and a half of months of the season.
I don’t know a lot about the Pirates but they’re one of those front office’s that I think “get it”. They’ll make some good moves for that franchise.
All jokes aside pertaining to Dave Stewart and the Shelby Miller trade, I’d love to see the D’Backs to Locke. Have been a big fan of his since he first got promoted. He’s always had potential, just has not shown it consistently.
Trade for*, not to..
I don’t really see Francisco liriano hanging around much longer either.
Liriano has a year and a half left on his contract and about 20 mil owed to him so he seems more likely to play out the contract, hope for improvement and be a bridge to the young guys coming up.
Why, where is he going to go? He has great upside. The Pirates would be foolish to move him in the middle of a playoff race when his value is at its lowest
I think if you trade Niese and Meadows for Chris Sale. Yes I said Meadows, because they don’t have room for him. they don’t need another position player, due to the fact the have one of the best benchs out there.
Not a fan of either team but that would not be enough to land Sale..
The Pirates would not want to part with Meadows. It would take a Sale to pry him away from the Pirates.
I’d rather move Cutch before Meadows. Not a chance Cutch signs longterm, nor should the Pirates sign him. Meadows is Cutch’s eventual replacement
Despite having a down year, McCutchen is still a huge piece of their core. Even if they can’t resign him once his current contract is up, he’s still helping them perennially contend now while they do still have him.
They won’t deal Cutch this year but could at either this time next year or latest after 2017. They will not let Meadows go cause he will be needed to replace Cutch then
There’s no way either team would go for that. I don’t see the Pirates using Meadows in any trade. He is very close (possibly coming up when rosters expand), and I don’t see them losing out on a top talent position player while the player he’ll be taking over for is slowing falling apart defensively on a game by game basis.
Any package for Sale would have to start with either Glasnow or Meadows but it’s extremely unlikely the Bucs pull a move like that.
My pipe dream scenario would be to go after Chris Archer with a package of several quality upper level/close to ready players plus a high upside A ball pitcher, something like Elias Diaz or Reese McGuire, Alen Hanson, Harold Ramirez and an either/or of Gage Hinsz and Mitch Keller. Pirates hold onto Glasnow, Taillon, Meadows and Bell that form their core for the future while the Rays still get three quality pieces that should make it to the bigs and contribute within the next 2-3 years and a potential #2 type starter 4-5 years down the line despite not getting a true superstar potential prospect.
I don’t think Neise and Meadows lands Sale to be honest. If that’s all it took he would’ve been moved already. And the Pirates will need Meadows eventually. No guarantee they resign Cutch
I think they need to trade Niese and Meadows for Chris Sale. Yes I said Meadows, because he has nowhere to go. we have our outfield set for years. and we can’t keep him in AAA for ever. and throw Niese in to dump him off.
Pick up the phone & call Coppy Meadows, Niese & Reese for Julio.
For Meadows, Reese McGuire, and Niese (whom I’m not a fan of lol) besides Teheran, I’d add Vizcaino as well.
The pirates are stingy with their young players and will not move them. Reese is the catcher of the future and will start when Cervelli leaves, and meadows is the replacement for cutch. They are future core pieces that are pretty much untouchable. Within three harass the Pirates will have a lineup of McGuire, meadows, marte, bell, Polanco, mercer/Hanson, Harrison/Hanson, and kang with a rotation of Cole, Glasnow, Taillon, Kingham, and Kuhl/Brault. That there is a pretty scary and young team, and a lot better than moving a couple of the young guys to get a premium, frontline starter, or a solid number two in Teheran when you already have it.
Years not harass don’t even know why it was changed to that
I was perplexed at the begining of the season when the Pirates even kept Locke. I thought that the team was finally over the hump of keeping low skilled players on the 25 man roster. I realize he is a low cost lefty, but I felt that they kept thinking that he could revert back to his first half of the ’13 season, which he hasn’t been able to replicate at all.
Meadows or McGuire are not going anywhere. McGuire to replace Cervelli in 2 years, Meadows to replace Cutch possibly by this time next year. With Cole, Taillion, Glasnow, Kuhl, finishing the year in the rotation this year and adding Kingham or Brault next is the reason why the did not spend big for a name this last winter nor did the want to part with top prospects in a trade. I look for Niese or Locke to go in a trade and the other going to the pen as a swingman. Hoping Locke stays as he has been a decent # 5 guy who can fill the gap till all the kids get their feet on the ground and get some expieience and to be available to give guys a rest when the need one. None of the top prospects get traded at all. Possible some of the second tier guys in a package with Niese but will not be a blockbuster to block any of the young guns
With the young core of pitching the pirates could go from being good every year to a dangerous
world series contender
Theses days, the Pirates win on average > 90 wins per year. They won 98 games last season. They are contenders.
Hey Pirates guys, do you think either of those two 5+ ERA guys could convert to relief and be effective? Astros dude looking for lefty relievers for world series run. BTW, glad we are out of NL central. Comp too stiff.
Locke would be the better choice as he can get though a lineup twice usually without a lot of trouble so should work as a long man. Did well the last game before the break in long relief.. Definitely not a top guy but as a 5 guy or swing guy, not the worst option.
You don’t want Niese in that park. Every pitch would leave the park.
I don’t see Niese as a reliever. As for Locke, he has actually pitched well the few times he has been forced into relief. He is a guy you don’t want batters to see more than once, that I can tell you for sure. He’s an aggravating pitcher to watch, because he occasionally has these gems and inevitably they come when he is on the hot seat of losing his rotation spot. In that way, he reminds me of former Pirate Zach Duke. Duke went on to be a pretty successful LOOGY who evolved into a solid middle reliever. I could see Locke going down that same path,
As a Bucco fan, I want to see Liriano/Cole/Glasnow/Taillon/Kuhl the rest of the way, with Brault and Vogelsong/Locke as the spot starters to save the inning count on Taillon. Brault looks like a guy who may end up being a steal, getting him and Tarpley from the O’s for Travis Snyder.
The snider trade is already a steal. The Pirates got two very promising pitchers in exchange for a guy who is nothing more than a fourth or even a fifth outfielder.
And they got Snider back the same year when the O’s DFA’d him and that year he was a useful bench bat going down the stretch. Can’t beat a trade when you end up with all of the pieces when the dust settles.
I forgot that they got him back, so yeah awful trade on the O’s part
LOL yeah that was pretty priceless.. I still liked Snider though but as you say as bench role guy. he had uncanny ability to always throw to the right base keeping runners from advancing.
I hope he has some success in the MLB again.
Both Niese and Locke would be very risky as bullpen help for this season as neither has ever had a bullpen role in their respective careers. Much better off trying to get Fernando Abad or Will Smith to make a run this year in my opinion.
As a Bucs fan I’m glad Houston is out of the Central too.
Cole, Liriano, Taillon, Glasnow*, Locke.
Kuhl and/or Brault if someone gets hurt.
Trade Niese and Vogelsong.
Seems like the Mets and Giants actually have a need for each guy, respectively, but…that’s from the outside looking in…
*Glasnow still has to learn to throw a change up…not sure MLB is the place to do it, but…
Vogelsong has no trade value. Plus the Pirates are better off keeping him as a bullpen arm/swing man over someone like AJ Schugal. Juan Nicasio has been excellent in the bullpen, so unlikely he would start if the Pirates are in a pinch..
I like the pitching rotation of Cole, Liriano, Taillon, Glasnow, and Brault….in 2017. For this year, we need one more veteran arm who can consistently get us to the 6th without turning into a dumpster fire. Even the young guys (who have been pitching well) have racked up high pitch counts and been removed by the 5th. Not to mention these young guys (especially Taillon coming off the 2 year absence) are going to start to hit the wall in September.
I’m OK with Locke as the five in a very solid rotation but not with the rotation we have today. He can outduel an ace in one game and then follow it up by giving up 6 runs to the Phillies in 3. We have a shaky two (Liriano) and young guys who are bound to be somewhat unpredictable. On top of that, Cole hasn’t really performed like an ace this year (though I’m sure he will upon his return). If Locke can fetch something decent this year, you trade him. I’d much prefer Brault at the five since he has a future in the rotation anyways. If we can swing a trade for a second-level starter under control beyond this year (someone like Odorizzi or Moore), even better. We can put together a nice package for such a starter without giving up any of the untouchables.
You know what lets make this easy.. Cole, Tailon, Glasnow are untouchable.
Keep two of Kuhl, Brault and Tarpley. Probably keep Locke as well but still available for the right price.
Every other starter/swingman is available
That would be reasonable. Tarpley will need protected after this year on the 40 man so will several other prospects. Will get real interesting how NH handles it. He did well the last couple of years with guys that he may have had to leave unprotected and traded them at the deadline or before the Rule 5 draft. Could see some interesting prospects move on as they pick which ones they will keep. Could have some very interesting vet/prospect packages too. Far cry from 10-15 years ago when it did not really matter who they protected because nobody wanted the Pirates minor league players. Fun times to be a Pirates fan, indeed.
yeah definitely more interesting now days 🙂
My rotation would be Cole/Glasnow/Taillion/Kuhl/Brault
I think we should trade niese and liriano for the Yankees Nathan eovaldi and cash Eovaldi will replace Brault.
Nicasio will split time between AAA and MLB whenever we need him then DFA him when he is out of options