The Pirates are interested in finding a trade partner to take outfielder Corey Dickerson, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription link). Dickerson, 30, is earning $8.5MM in his final season of arbitration eligibility.
As we discussed recently upon Dickerson’s activation, the Pirates are facing obvious roster pressures in several areas. The club is currently carrying only three starters, allowing it to pad its relief corps and accommodate an extra position player, but that’s a temporary measure.
Dickerson was just brought back from the injured list, so he’s only six games into his season. In the interim, the club lost another left-handed-hitting corner piece in Lonnie Chisenhall. But it also welcomed back Gregory Polanco, struck paydirt on a low-cost deal with switch-hitting veteran Melky Cabrera, and saw youngster Bryan Reynolds (also a switch-hitter) burst onto the scene.
Cabrera is said to be drawing interest from “multiple contenders,” per Rosenthal. He is now slashing a cool .335/.375/.462 through 185 plate appearances. He’s not a good defender and won’t sustain a .370 BABIP, but certainly seems a worthwhile target as a bench bat. Cabrera’s low-cost, low-commitment contract situation ($1.15MM salary) is surely of appeal as well.
Rosenthal says that the Bucs “want to take another stab at contention before moving Cabrera and possibly others.” That makes sense, as the club isn’t yet buried in the division with more than six weeks to go until the trade deadline. But it’s hard to square that with the idea that the Pittsburgh org prefers to ship out Dickerson, who is a younger player with a better recent track record than Cabrera. Last year, Dickerson posted a 115 wRC+ and graded as a high end defender.
All in all, it’s a bit of an odd situation for the Pirates, who scrambled for outfielders and now find themselves in dire need of pitching. There isn’t much reason to think that a contender will part with a worthwhile, immediate rotation (or even relief) piece for one of these outfielders.
Cabrera may be the more cost-efficient option for the Bucs, but they will surely be selling low on Dickerson unless he goes on a tear over the next few weeks — in which case it’d be all the harder to move him unless the team is itself out of the race. Putting Polanco on the block might create some opportunities for meaningfully addressing the pitching staff, but he has had some ups and downs and that’d be a much more consequential decision.
I don’t see the Pirates getting any kind of an impact return on Dickerson. They need to be shopping Marte.
Depends on the return. Like Polanco has tons of talent but so far hasn’t harnessed all of it. Dickerson has a nice track record…and relatively affordable to most of MLB. Hate to see Marte find it with a another team.
Polanco will be 35 and on his way out of baseball, Pirates fans will still be talking about his “potential”…..
You have to move on. Reflect on how you are performing and the pitching around you. Time to rebuild that farm system. Marte, Dickerson, Cervelli, Lyles, Liriano, Polanco, Archer and Melky, have some value.
Exactly– the core of this team isn’t good enough to compete, and it is past time for the rebuild. To be frank, you listen on everybody.
The forever rebuilding Pirates. Sid Bream slid across home and broke our hearts when I was in 7th grade. Now I’m 41 and have seen about 4 good Pirates teams since then. They were too cheap and valued their prospects too much when they had a window to win it. Probably one starting pitcher away from the first World Series appearance since 1979. But no…. they wouldn’t trade Glasnow, Meadows, McGuire, Alan Hansen, Harold Ramirez, Kingham, Josh Bell….. any of the prospects they valued so dearly. Now I only see one of those guys in a Pirates uniform, and they got nothing for the rest in the end. Had they swung a trade for David Price, or the actual good younger Chris Archer, we may have won a few playoff series. But now the 2013 Wild Card will be the baseball highlight of Pittsburgh for probably another 15 years with the way this ownership and management runs things. Probably everyone you mentioned above will be gone by spring training next year. I’d bet Polanco and Archer would be the two to stay. Rivero will be gone after next season also. That’s how they run it…. sign a team friendly extention, pay the cheap years, then trade the final two years for more prospects….
Dickerson to the Indians makes a lot of sense… and if he has any siblings that own a glove and can play outfield, they’d make sense for the Indians as well.
Dickerson probably makes too much unless the Pirates eat some of it. Melky on the other hand is cheap and he played for the Indians last year. Do you want him in the outfield? Probably not but they ran him out in right 68 times last year so why not haha.
Dickerson is only owed about $5.5 million. That is cheap in today’s MLB.
Cleveland doesn’t need him, and really, there’s no room for him.
It totally sucks that a once great franchise like the Pirates constantly nickel and dimes their fans.
Try being a Mets fan
stop it
Mets fan?? You had Mike Piazza, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Tom Glavine….. LOTS of great players. And still deGrom, Syndergaard, Conforto,….. . The Pirates have had one legitimate all-star in Andrew McCutchen , and one good pitcher in Gerrit Cole, for about the last 20 years. I mean, the Pirates were DUMB enough to trade for Jon Niese. That alone makes the Mets the winner.
stupid comment, not thought out.
I respectfully disagree…..
You must be a type first commenter too. There are a lot of you.
Salary cap now. Salary cap tomorrow. Salary cap forever.
A salary cap isn’t going to make a team spend money.
If they put in a cap at the top and the bottom it will
The NFL system does
A floor will but that causes different problems. Look at the NBA. Most of the articles are about trading bad contracts…..
Because they
need 53 players
and the cap is
too small…..
The NBA does not have a true hard cap. They have exceptions for different things. The NHL is the next closest thing to a true cap. You can manipulate some with putting guys in the minors (at least you used. to ) to keep money from counting to the cap. The NFL is the closest thing to a true cap. What prevents small to mid market teams from trying to bid on better FA players is the fact that in almost every case no matter how much hey offer, one of the top 5-10 teams can always outbid them and if the make a mistake in a signing, they can easily eat the misspent money and go out and buy a replacement.. Having a close to true hard cap has allowed for parity in both the NHL and NFL because all teams have an equal shot at bidding on FA because the cap keeps the richer teams from being able to simply out bid everyone for the talent
Not hard to understand why the Pirates would want to trade Dickerson and not Cabrera. Dickerson is making $8.5M, Cabrera $1.15M. That’s the only factor that ever enters into it with the Pirates.
They knew he was expensive when they picked him up after Tampa non tendered him
They knew he was expensive yes but being the Pirates they probably hoped they could flip him quickly for a profit
Then wouldn’t they have traded him last season in the midst of playing well, with only 1 year of arbitration left, if that were true?
The local talk was that they were interested in working out an extension with Dickerson until the season started, then 2 things happened: Dickerson getting hurt, and Bryan Reynolds.
Dickerson to the Phillies makes sooo much sense
Can he play center? That’s what they need. They have corner bats.
I don’t see a fit after they got Bruce. Phillies need another starting pitcher more than a bat at this point
Philly can swing Bruce to Cleveland and it’s a win-win-win…
No thanks.
Cards sure could use him. Yes, it would be an intra-divisional move, but the Cards have the young pitching the Buccos could use.
What pitcher do you think the Cards could move to Pittsburgh for 3-4 months of Dickerson?
Why would the Cards trade for him? They have a log jam if outfielders already. Ravelo has hit over .300 each year in AAA and hit almost .400 in May plus there Thomas, Garcia, Oniell, ect.
They are all right handed.
Phillies could use another bat i guess. Id take Dee first simply because i feel confident we can fleece dipoto again, he provides some speed, and he’s versitile. Dickerson would probably be my second choice though.
One or both to Cleveland makes a lot of sense.
Both make the most sense, but CLE just doesn’t have the pitching PIT is looking for.
Dickerson isn’t doing anything Luplow and Bauers aren’t and he costs so much more.
Luplow appears to have increased in confidence, and it shows in his improved play, both at bat and in the outfield. I’m really liking that trade now……Moroff aside.
Not too surprising. Reynolds has been great in the majors so far. Dickerson is a rental at this point. Somebody at the deadline might get desperate and give up a solid prospect for him.
Bryan Reynolds sure would look great in black and orange right about now. Nice move, Bobby.
Huntington asks for teams top prospect. Settles for 13th best and throws in Kebryan Hayes.
Reynolds is what Meadows look like to the Pirates last year. Similar player and similar minor league stats. Because the Pirates acquired both Martin and Reynolds last year, it allowed for Meadows to be in the deal for Archer. Not a soul saw the power that Meadows is showing this year. Not a soul saw saw what Glasnow did this year with the Rays. Many in Pittsburgh were calling Glasnow a huge bust. Huntington got Vasquez and Hearn form the Nats for Mark Melancon. Bet the Nats would love Vasquez back.
Breaking: Pirates prefer to trade their worst outfielder. Current GM like every fantasy GM.
That’s just simply not true
Agreed, not true at all. I’m looking to dump my worst SS.
Agreed @greatibe14. He was the best outfielder last season and going into this season. Got hurt in the opening series. Won a Gold Glove for goodness sakes and hit .300. not the worst outfielder.
Dont comment again. You are incapable.
Padres need a LH OF who plays good Defense and gets on base.
Plenty of RH options to trade and of course…..prospects.
If only the Bucs could take on Myers upcoming raise in salary.
Sad thing is, the Bucs could take on Myers salary and still be under 90mil.
Yes ronnsnow. Pirates “real” cap seems to be
100 million or bust!
Other sad thing is, Dickerson can’t play CF or else I would agree whole heartedly. He would only make sense for the Padres if he could do that.
Contact Braves about Ender. For the right prospect I could see it.
I’ve been on record saying that the right move is to trade Dickerson, but if someone wants to give you something good for Melky but not Dickerson, take it and keep Dickerson.
But, in a perfect world, keeping Melky makes more sense. He can sit on the bench for longer stretches allowing the 3 starting OF’ers to play almost everyday. Corey creates a situation where they have to rotate a 4 man OF.
Eventually melky Dickerson and Marte will all be moved. Dickerson needs a chance to play everyday to earn his next payday but didn’t hit great in his rehab. Melky isn’t a full time player and Marte at 30 and maxed the it needs to go
Marte’s their best player and not expensive.
I don’t understand the number of people ready to drive him to the airport.
Because he has the highest trade value and Reynolds can shift to CF no problem.
All about value and selling high. Good center fielders are easy to find with several clubs needing one.
Oops…. AREN’T easy to find.
Cause he will be 31 next year making 11.5 million and 32 making 12.5 that money could be used to re up lyes.He still swinging at everything in the zone doesn’t run hard out of the box and relies to much on athleticism not fundamentals. His the one guy we can flip for 2 above average starters In AAA and catching depth
@forwhomjoshbelltolls I agree. Marte is the current whipping boy in Pittsburgh. You can’t turn on a sports talk show without the host continually repeating how Marte has been a disappointment and must go now! Every show all day every day…….really can’t listen much anymore as it is so predictable and so boring to listen to because then the hosts will only take calls from those that agree with their position. Mind numbing.
Bell was that whipping boy last year along with Glasnow. Now they ignore Bell somewhat and now use Glasnow to bash the Pirates because he got good before he hurt his arm.
My current favorite is Charlie Morton. NONE of the “fans” or talking heads thought Morton was good. He was routinely referred to as Huntingdon’s pet project. His trade was greated with “good riddance” here.
But, now…they all knew and only Huntingdon missed how great he could be…
Same people had similar reactions to Glasnow last year. He was a AAAA guy at best and had no idea where his pitches were going and was a huge bust. Good riddance.. Now everyone says they knew it was a mistake to trade Glasnow. I was bummed that he was gone but only because I thought he would have a chance to be pretty good some day. Never thought it would have been this year. Only difference, Charlie got hurt in Philly before going to Houston and getting good. Glasnow got good briefly then got hurt this year. Hope for his sake it is not a serious injury to his arm. I guess we will see in July if he can come back healthy or not.
Ray Searage would be the culprit. Give him some dumpster pitchers like Liriano or Volquez and he might make them work fora few years (unlike Bedard and Jonathan Sanchez and Jon Niese that didn’t). But give him legit pitching prospects, and the Pirates ruin them. Morton, Cole, Glasnow,….not everyone is meant to pitch to low contact. That’s why they grab these guys with big fastballs, but yet they don’t let them suse the fastball! It will be interesting to see if Kingham has a decent career elsewhere.
I could totally see Dickerson at some point via trade or FA with the Giants. I think they might have the worst collection of outfielders I’ve ever seen on a mlb roster.
The 2012 Mets would like to toss their hat into the ring.
Dickerson and Kingham to the Whitesox makes a whole lot of sense
I think there’s a lot of speculation fueling this article. But then again, that’s what I think & hope the whole trade of Dickerson is way off. Dickerson is the best OF of the 5; although I really like Reynolds so far. Continuing to trade legitimate authentic hard core baseball players while keeping the boneheaded 2 inconsistent & overpaid Latinos is getting old. Meadows last year, though I wasn’t really against it at the time. Dickerson is a great hitter, power included; & a great fielder & he carried the team last year. Marte is also a great fielder, an above average hitter with occasional power, & an occasional airhead. Polanco is not a great fielder, a so-so hitter, & basically a disappointment regarding power.
No way I’d trade Dickerson, I’d start the extension talks back up. I’d trade Marte or Polanco, obviously asking for more for Marte. I might even trade both of them in separate deals. They’ve both underachieved from their hyped up evaluation. Good players have been traded away because of the level of commitment the Pirates have in these 2 underachievers & under producers..
Which “legitimate authentic hard core baseball players” did they trade “while keeping the boneheaded 2 inconsistent & overpaid Latinos”?
Travis Snider?
Brock Holt, Nate McLouth, Matt Joyce, Austin Meadows, & yes Travis Snyder. A bonafide RF was converted to a 1B named Josh Bell. Yes, we’ve had issues at 1B too but Bell is not great there. I didn’t mention Jose Tabata, who was dumped when he didn’t pan out. Polanco will be kept, even batting 3rd while cruising along at a sizzling .240.
Dickerson is younger than Marte, cheaper than Marte, & as I said before, better than Marte. I don’t think any of the aforementioned players have had an 80 game PED suspension either, the move that killed the team that had been to 3 straight playoff appearances, & they haven’t been the same since. Keep Dickerson! Trade Marte & Polanco!
@dcahen Polanco is a decent fielder with a great arm once it is 100% healthy again. Every player makes mistakes in a 162 game season. Love Reynolds. He has had a couple of lapses in the field but not going to rake him over the coals for them. I do not begrudge the Pirates keeping either player. Both when on a streak can carry the team just like Bell has done this year. Like @ forwhomjoshbelltolls said, exactly what players have been traded away that should be here now? You talking Cutch? You would not have Crick or Reynolds plus Cutch is on the downside of a great career. Don’t say Meadows because last year he was the Reynolds of this year. He never showed any power at any level till this year. Meadows allowed the Pirates to acquire the most coveted pitcher that was available at the deadline last year. You even said that you were not upset at the deal. Besides those two, whom else got traded?
Dickerson’s return wouldn’t be much if they’re looking for something now and might need to bundle in salary and/or a mid-low range prospect.
Any starter who can get through 4 innings semi smoothly
or a mid range reliever.
If they’re just looking for prospects then one or three mid-low range prospects pending if any money changes hands.
I really like dickerson but someone needs to move to make room
I think Gregory Polanco should be let go. He hasn’t broken out and turned into the player we thought he was in the minors. He was going to be DFA’d last year after Austin Meadows got called up but he went on a tear thru August posting the best OPS of his career.