Rumors of trading their star players are commonplace for the payroll-conscious Pirates, whose front office has been forced into tough decisions for budgetary reasons on numerous occasions in the past. This year, there have already been rumors of teams with interest in standout closer Felipe Vazquez — understandably so, given his excellence — but general manager Neal Huntington strongly downplayed the possibility of moving Vazquez in a radio appearance with Greg Brown on 93.7 FM The Fan this weekend.
“We will continue to look for ways to improve this organization,” said Huntington. “Felipe Vazquez is, in our minds, one of the best, if not the best young left-handed reliever in the game. He has the potential to contribute to us for this and four more years. Our expectation and anticipation is that Felipe will be closing out playoff games, be it this year or in the future with us.”
That’s the second time in the past month that Huntington has expressed a focus on adding to the club rather than trading contributors for longer-term assets. Huntington also points out within the interview that the Bucs are facing a critical stretch wherein they’ll play 20 of 23 games against divisional foes. The other three in that span are against the Phillies, whom Pittsburgh is chasing in the NL Wild Card race. Certainly, one can imagine that in the event of a nosedive in those 23 games, the Pirates could adopt a longer-term approach to this year’s trade deadline. That said, Huntington’s comments regarding Vazquez seem to indicate that even if the team were to sell off some pieces this summer, the lefty wouldn’t be among them.
Vazquez, 28 on Friday, signed an extremely club-friendly contract extension in January 2018, agreeing to a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $22MM plus a pair of $10MM club options for a fifth and potentially sixth season. He’s earning just $4MM in 2019 (with about $1.98MM of that still to be paid out) and will earn guaranteed salaries of $5.25MM and $7.25MM in 2020-21. There’s no looming free agency or imminent hike in salary that would serve as motivation for the Pirates to deal the lefty even if they fall further back than their current five-game deficit in the NL Central.
Vazquez himself is the product of a trade that was made under more conventional conditions. Back in 2016, with Mark Melancon just months from free agency, the Pirates shipped him to the Nationals in exchange for Vazquez and Taylor Hearn (later traded to the Rangers in the Keone Kela deal). Since being acquired by Pittsburgh, Vazquez has pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 80 saves and 11.7 K/9 against 3.1 BB/9 in 207 2/3 innings of work. He’s saved 19 games so far in 2019 while recording a minuscule 1.80 ERA and notching a career-best 14.1 K/9.
If he was traded to the Yankees, Brewers, Dodgers or Astros he would probably be a multi inning weapon.
Heck yeah. Were he or Brad Hand to find their way to one of these playoff bound teams they’d man alive would they alter that team’s chances. If the Pirates can get a windfall for him they should seriously consider it. When you have an asset like that just dangle it out there and see what happens.
If the Dodgers are willing overpay for him, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’d love for them to get Verdugo and then flip Marte and/or Polanco somewhere else.
You think the dodgers are trading Verdugo for a reliever?
Lol, maybe Ruiz but NO WAY VERDUGO.
Only way the Bucs trade him is to get Verdugo so they can unload Marte as well which would make sense to get rid of him as well since he’ll net a decent return for his 2 years left. Also you’re getting 4 years of him so you’re going to have to pony up more than likely the same return the Yankees got for Chapman to the Cubs.
Probably right, greatone, which wouldnt mean Verdugo. The Yankees return didnt involve a player already producing at the major league level, and that’s not even bringing up the elite level he is at for the moment.
That doesnt mean the Dodgers should build a package around Ruiz though. Without Ruiz, the Dodgers dont have an answer for the future of Catching in Los Angeles.
The idea of LA trading Verdugo is no more outrageous than the idea the Pirates would trade Vazquez… being that either idea is crazy…
The calls for Vazquez to be traded make ZERO sense…unless you are sending back the equivalent of an Arizona Fall League team in return.
Win or lose, the Pirates should move a few short term pieces to secure long term pieces. It could be but doesn’t have to be for prospects, it could be for guys with an extra year of control.
Trade Melky for sure. Probably trade Dickerson (unless you plan to extend him and trade Polanco). Maybe trade Lyles if you can acquire a SP who will be here this year and beyond (similar to, but not exactly like, trading Liriano to bring in Nova).
Disagree completely–the core of the Pirates, as currently comprised, is a .500 group at best. It’s time to rebuild and bring people in who will be the core of a group that can contend, and I think it makes perfect sense to leverage the contracts of Vasquez and Marte to bring in prospects.
When has the complete tear down and rebuild worked in a small market*?
It worked in Chicago and Houston, the 3rd and 4th biggest cities in the US, because they were able to fill in the gaps with the Lesters, Zobrists, Reddicks, McCanns, etc. after developing the prospects.
If the Pirates tear down, they would more than likely build a team that looked a lot like the current team….five years from now.
*The Royals did not do a Cubs/Astros style tear down and rebuild. They were just bad for 30 years and then the stars aligned for two.
Yeas, yes, yes and yes….comment of the year….outstanding work.
I suppose one could consider the example of the 2013-2015 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Great post. Part about the Royals is classic.
Maybe they should trade Archer for Glasnow and Meadows…
Haha
Nah, unless they include Baz (currently eating the Midwest League alive)….
Nah, Glasnow hurt and no idea if he will be the same when he comes back. Meadows had a career 2 months. Never did that at any level as a pro. The last month has been what he has always been.
That trade was lopsided then and it is now. I know Glasnow looked pretty shaky in his final years in the Pirates system but when are MLB general managers going to realize that these big tall starters take a bit longer to come around at the Major League level? I feel like Noah Syndergaard changed everyone’s expectations when he first came up (obviously that hasn’t been the case now) and reset everyone’s expectations of the 6’5 and up starter but looking at guys like Tyler Glasnow, Lucas Giolito, and Brandon Woodruff, who took a bit longer to start producing, I think the best thing to do is to be even more patient in the future.
disagree completely, the core of the pirates as is isn’t bad at all. This is the rebuild.
Exactly this team isn’t bad. If they can move Polanco and Archer, and find a good middle reliever, that wouldn’t be bad. Their pitching staff & outfielders have been ravaged by injuries & they are only 5 games back
I disagree. Neil only gets a minimum return on his trades. I would keep the core, get a power hitting 3rd basemen or bring up the rookie first baseman to play 3rd. Also, we need to pick up a few arms.
Duno who started the whole Vazquez thing… I don’t see how it was ever a real story.
I mean sure if someone wants to give you 3 top 100 prospects one of which is super-elite and some mlb talent. you look at a deal and probably do it.
But no one is going to do that. so why even bother. Pirates are still in the hunt and starting to get healthy (hopefully) adding a rental with our rentals or controllable talent at key positions with prospects is more reasonable.
Chapman brought back a haul as a rental.. imagine what Vazquez could bring back with his contract.
The Pirates have been looking to the “long term” for 23 of the last 27 years. And when they don’t it apparently leads to horribly bad franchise altering trades. I truly feel for Pirates fans. One of the worst owners in sports,
Maybe so, but it’s also the life of a smaller market team. Until a hard salary cap goes into effect these teams have to continually draft perfect, develop them perfectly and then have all the stars align for a very short window of opportunity to win it all only to watch those players price themselves out of staying around. Not everyone can open up a checkbook like the Yankees, Sox or Dodgers and also get out of a bad contract instantly while one bad deal cripples an organization like this.
Tell me the player the Dodgers have signed for $100 million since Friedman took over. The most to my knowledge is Kershaw’s extension at $93 million.
MLB is slanted toward the large market teams,but the Pirates are also running out of excuses.They had $25M that they could have spent this year,and did not.NH could have easily provided decent depth in starting and relief pitching,and did nothing.I think that the injuries were crippling,but he was ill prepared for them.
Even little things hurt like letting Casey Sadler go to the Rays for absolutely nothing.Where years ago he had Vance Worley as depth this year he had Rookie Davis.
The Pirates do not have an owner who demands strong performance,so they are doomed to mediocrity.
While this discussion is on Vasquez,the important long term Pirate decision will be on Polanco.If he is not in their plans,and they decide to keep Marte,they should consider signing Dickerson to a three year contract.They need to have Polanco back for a couple of months though so they are not forced to sell low.
They will keep Archer because it would be very embarrassing not to do so.
They need two or three standout relievers,and I am not sure about Santana and Kuhl because of the TJ surgeries.
I would try to keep Lyles also.The Pirates need to have pitching depth to be able to compete for a division title.
Their young position players have by and large performed well this year.I am tired,though,of the same old excuses.
I feel bad for about 8% of them.
The Pirate fan base is made up of 4 parts…
1) Real fans. This is the minority. They legitimately love the team. Mike “Doc” Emrick is the poster boy for this group. For his (and their) sake alone, I hope the Pirates win.
2) The “fans”. This the largest subgroup of the fan base. They follow the team, but hate it. They cheered last year’s attendance drop more than the 11 game win streak (and then scratched their heads when the payroll dropped this year). They still refer to the Cutch and Melancon deals as salary dumps. Complaining is what makes them happy.
3) Bandwagon fans. If and when the Pirates make the World Series, they’d be willing to come and spend $38.50 on a ticket.
4) PNC Park fans. It could be minor league or Little League ball being played, it’s just a beautiful park. Never seen AT&T (or whatever it’s called today) but PNC crushes Camden Yards, which is great in it’s own right.
When the Pirates have to trade Josh Bell, what will your screen name be? You only have a year or so left to think about it.
I’ve had a contingency plan for that since day one.
And we’ll see on Bell. By the time they need to extend (or trade) him, they’ll have a new deal with AT&T Sports Pittsburgh.
And Bob Nutting will pocket the extra money from AT&T Sports Pittsburgh like he did with the $50 Million from BAMTEC.
Nutting is one cheap azzzz.
Sell team and get into another business.
Nutting won’t pay him. He wouldn’t pay Babe Ruth in his prime.
If the Pirates hold Vazquez, what is the plan?
I ask out of respect to Pittsburgh fans who’ve watched some bad teams and some pretty good teams fall short. I ask out of respect when Pirate fans complain about the lack of spending, and I wonder if that trend will continue from the organization.
They are not going anywhere this year. It would take another massive winning streak, like last year, just to enter the conversation. The farm system appears thin. Will they pick up Marte and Archer’s options? And what will the payroll be in 2020?
These are pertinent questions that must be answered. If Pittsburgh plans to take a leap forward next year then by all means keep Vazquez.
Why would you pick up Archer’s option? He had like 2 good starts in about 20 with team,? He should take a pay cut for performance. 2nd, if they don’t resign Dickerson, then you know, it was about the $$$ & not winning because he has drastically outperformed Polanco the last 2 years
You can’t say a team 5 games back is going nowhere either!!!
First off, I did not say I would pick up Archer’s option. It was asked in the form of a question. It was asked out of respect to the lack of spending Pittsburgh has been accustomed to. Picking up Archer’s option means another 10ish million on the books and 10ish less to spend.
To your 5-games back point; they are in 4th place and a half-game up on last place. Washington, Arizona and San Diego are ahead of Pittsburgh. They are in 11th place in the National League. 11 out of 15. With a somewhat thin farm system, being buyers would be the wrong move for the second year in a row. Your impulse brought Archer to Pittsburgh – the guy you don’t want back.
It all comes full circle. Pirates are going nowhere.
Trim Reaper…you speak the truth.
THIS! 5 games back…. with 3 teams ahead of them. That’s not exactly one hurdle to climb if you get lucky. And no chance at the Wild Card with 8 teams ahead of them. Plus they already played mostly all the games against the Tigers and the Marlins and the Giants and the Padres (bad teams)….. so they are about to get buried against the Brewers and the Cubs and the Phillies and the Nationals and the Cardinals, etc..
This is a big part of the Bucs’ problem–when they made the trades for Archer and Kela, that looked like they were all in. This off-season, they continued that tack by…trading for Erik Gonzalez? Signing Melky Cabrera (granted, that’s worked out well, but that is not an all-in signing)? The Pirates are in Oriole territory, circa 2015–they are neither rebuilding nor pushing their chips to the middle. This year’s club, and NH all but said this, is built to win 80 games and hope something good happens. That’s akin to trying to fill an inside straight, which is a lousy strategy at the poker table and not any better for building a MLB roster.
Very good point.
When will Pirates get FINALLY called out for not spending their revenue sharing??
Aaron Bummer is clearly the best young left handed reliever in MLB. Younger than Vasquez too. He would be star closer on several other teams than Sox.
Vazquez is what Craig kimbrel thought HE was, and then some. A team would be getting over $100 million worth of talent for less than 20% of that amount. How many top prospects would it take to give a team over $80 million in production in the next four years? I think a lot.
The Dodgers can see what everyone else can see when they watch Kenley Jansen…Vazquez would put them in the World Series four years to come and probably help them to actually win one or two. The Pirates should look at the Dodgers system and make up the most outlandish wish list imaginable…and if the Dodgers were smart, they’d give it to them.
A little hyperbole never hurt anyone…Bummer is a very valuable commodity that not many casual fans know about. If you make a list of all the relief pitchers the White Sox have traded, and then make a list of all the relief pitchers the White Sox have regretted trading, the first list is very long and the second list may not have anyone on it. Bummer could bring some very valuable talent in return.
Please go away.
Ncaachump!
To compare Bummer to Vazquez is an insult to the word compare.
Josh hader is the best lefty reliever in baseball
Pittsburgh should follow Toronto’s plan for Vlad Jr. and dedicate this deadline to acquiring young talent to match up with their new core of players, especially Bell.
I’m ok with that list except for Polanco. He cannot stay healthy but I do not think that they should sell low. Get him healthy and productive for a few months then see what he may provide.
Bell is going to be too expensive to build around. His second arb contract will be too much for Scrooge McNutting.
Ownership only wants players on the cheap. How successful would the Yankees, Bo Sox or Dodgers if they didn’t spend $$? Too much of a gap in spending by teams in MLB.
Vazquez is a very good pitcher and any team would be lucky to have him. However, as a Dodger fan, I don’t see the FO willing to give up a large haul for him. They have their own left handed weapon in Julio Urias. He may not have the gaudy bullpen stats that Vazquez has accumulated, but he is lights out and can go multiple innings. The Dodgers would be better served to get another impact bat for the bottom of the lineup.
Teams get desperate for relief pitching sometimes. Even if it’s just a rental. I see no rush in trading Vazquez yet. I mean, that’s how the Bucs got Vaz in the first place; Nationals were desperate for a shutdown closer, so they gave them Rivero/Vazquez and Taylor Hearn for Melancon.
And Melancon was a throw-in the Joel Hanrahan deal.
You can’t keep Felipe with the AAAA team forever.
Well Pitt needs to hang on to Vazquez at least until after they sweep the lowly Cubbies this week.
Already a big 4-1 Pitt lead over lowly Cubbies tonight… probably can rest Vazquez tonight.
Oops!
I meant 7-1!!
WOW!
First 5th place Cincy, now 4th place Pitt?!!!!
OMG 12-5 Pitt in the 6th?!
First 5th place Cincy, now 4th place Pitt?!!!!
OMG
Well this is ridiculous.
Kimbrel now rocking a 13.5 ERA and the 2ND PLACE Cubbies lose
18-5?!
What a great find by Theo, not!!
Theo was fleeced by Kimbrel’s agent!
Was this game moved to London?
Their option is this get a bunch of top prospect, which could net them a couple of core position players, starting pitching and even a replacement for Vasquez, but risk that your scouting sept doesn’t deserve their job… or run the risk of not having the current prospects now to develop into a postseason team, and then there’s always a risk that Felipe declines.
If they truly think in a year or two we have a WS caliber team. Then keep him. If not turn one guy used every couple of days into a few core players.
They’d be getting top players who are expected to crack the majors – not so much lottery tickets that are maybes.
Why not Vázquez to the Dodgers for Lux, Gonsolin, and Peters?
Because that’s not nearly enough.
What about ATL? They desperately need a closer and have a boatload of SP prospects. This appears to be PIT biggest weakness of their farm system.
No team is going to pay what Vazquez is worth this year. He is too talented and affordable. In two or three years the Pirates would be able to get the same return for him, assuming he is healthy and has similar numbers. If they traded him now the max return even the most loaded team would give wouldn’t be worth it.
Pirates best move is to keep him for 2-3 years and reassess where they are. The return value just isn’t there at this stage in his contract.
Just a bunch of writers that needed to talk about.
Wish those writers would talk about the bad actors that the Chicago Cubs employs or employed. Surprised women against abuse haven’t picked at Wrigley. Would like to her more about their choice to pay players who abuse women.