Headlines

  • Ted Simmons, Marvin Miller Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame
  • Yankees Reportedly Preparing $245MM Offer To Gerrit Cole
  • Rangers To Sign Jordan Lyles
  • Rays, Padres Announce Tommy Pham-Hunter Renfroe Trade
  • Mets Re-Sign Brad Brach
  • Rangers Sign Kyle Gibson
  • 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 Indians
      • 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
    • 2019-20 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2019-20 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2019-20 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2020
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Latest On Pirates’ Front Office Hiring Search

By Jeff Todd | November 13, 2019 at 1:01pm CDT

While the rest of the sport has turned much of its attention to roster decisions and other offseason business, the Pirates are still working to nail down their baseball operations leadership. It seems the process of replacing dismissed GM Neal Huntington is now reaching a culmination.

That said, there is a new name in play that hadn’t previously been known to be under consideration. Astros assistant general manager of player development Pete Putila has been involved in the search, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). Previously considered by the Giants in their GM search, Putila currently stands as one of the top lieutenants of Houston GM Jeff Luhnow.

Whether Putila is a strong candidate to take the top ops job isn’t known. It’d certainly be a big step up for an executive that had only recently ascended to an AGM title. It is at least theoretically possible he could be considered for a GM title if the Pittsburgh organization ends up hiring a top-level decisionmaker who functions as a president of baseball ops or chief baseball officer.

Most observers appear to see this as a two-horse race. Former Red Sox GM and current Blue Jays exec Ben Cherington is believed to be holding his second-round sit-down today, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). And it appears Brewers AGM Matt Arnold will do the same tomorrow; Robert Murray had tweeted that Arnold would get another interview.

But that’s hardly certain. Internal candidate Kevan Graves, who is currently serving as interim GM, joins Putila as additional possibilities. Graves was believed to be preparing for his own second interview at some point this week, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic tweeted yesterday. Graves also joined Putila as a candidate for the Giants job that ultimately went to Scott Harris.

Whoever takes the helm will need to get right to work. The Bucs have loads of needs and some very big questions to answer. In particular, the organization will have to gauge trade interest in star center fielder Starling Marte, who figures to be in quite some demand and could be cashed in as part of a retooling effort.

Share 0 Retweet 3 Send via email0

Ben Cherington Kevan Graves Matt Arnold Pete Putila Pittsburgh Pirates

Latest On Market Interest In Madison Bumgarner
Main
Twins To Extend Derek Falvey, Thad Levine
17 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. Phiilies2020

    4 weeks ago

    Ruben Amaro Jr. is looking for a job.

    Like
    Reply
    • steelerbravenation

      4 weeks ago

      He wants back in with Philly
      Hear he said he is willing to sell hot dogs or work the parking lot

      Like
      Reply
  2. Johnny Baseball

    4 weeks ago

    I think if they are interested in maximizing a trade for Marte or any other players they need to due it before teams that have need for our pieces acquire them elsewhere. Hopefully they have done their due diligence and can make a sound decision on GM this week after the interviews and get the ball rolling.

    Like
    Reply
  3. throwinched10

    4 weeks ago

    I hear that Clint Hurdle is around.

    Like
    Reply
    • threed75

      4 weeks ago

      I think that he has retired from baseball, completely. Lol

      Like
      Reply
      • graysondecker

        4 weeks ago

        He retired from managing and coaching, but said he would be willing to take a front office job.

        Like
        Reply
  4. ForestCobraAL

    4 weeks ago

    “Astros assistant general manager of player development Pete Putila”

    How is he at swinging a bat against a trashcan?

    1 Like
    Reply
    • CrewBrew

      4 weeks ago

      *insert clepto comment*

      “weak. VERY weak comment”

      {DOWN VOTE}

      1 Like
      Reply
  5. mwrherm0

    4 weeks ago

    I like Ben Cherington for this role. He helped build and maintain a great farm system for the Red Sox. He was a part of winning a World Series in 2013. Still fairly young and has probably grown from last stint and ready for another shot.

    Like
    Reply
  6. dmooney79

    4 weeks ago

    The problem I have with Ben Cherington is most of his success came from the moves made by Theo Epstein before he left for the Cubs. His free agent track record is not all that great either. He signed Pablo Sandoval to that disastrous contact that Boston was still paying for this year. He also signed Rusney Castillo who the Sox are paying millions to play in the minor leagues. I just don’t think any of these names can get it done but one of them will probably be the next hire. Go Buc’s!!! ahahhaha

    Like
    Reply
    • WereAllJustGuestsHere

      4 weeks ago

      And Hanley

      Like
      Reply
      • dmooney79

        4 weeks ago

        And many more i’m sure. Those where just a few off the top of my head.

        Like
        Reply
        • Mendoza Line 215

          4 weeks ago

          Except as discussed in.a thread a couple of days ago Cherington will not have any money to sign free agents so that will negate his worst point.

          Like
          Reply
  7. bobtillman

    4 weeks ago

    I have it on the BEST authority the Pirates will have a General Manager by July 31, next year’s trading deadline, and a Field Manager in time for their last spring training game.

    Like
    Reply
    • Mendoza Line 215

      4 weeks ago

      Bob,you are a bad man.A very,very bad man.

      Like
      Reply
  8. mario crosby

    4 weeks ago

    Maybe they will bring Don Cherry in now that he is available.

    Like
    Reply
    • lfrient1

      4 weeks ago

      You people had better be careful what you write.

      Like
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Ted Simmons, Marvin Miller Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Yankees Reportedly Preparing $245MM Offer To Gerrit Cole

    Rangers To Sign Jordan Lyles

    Rays, Padres Announce Tommy Pham-Hunter Renfroe Trade

    Mets Re-Sign Brad Brach

    Rangers Sign Kyle Gibson

    Nationals To Re-Sign Howie Kendrick

    Twins To Sign Alex Avila

    Yankees Reportedly Prioritizing Gerrit Cole

    Twins To Re-Sign Michael Pineda

    SK Wyverns Posts Lefty Kwang-hyun Kim

    Reds Sign Mike Moustakas

    Brewers Acquire Omar Narvaez

    Mets Acquire Jake Marisnick

    Steve Cohen In Talks To Increase Investment In Mets

    Recent

    Quick Hits: Souza Jr., Ha-seong, Giants Coaching Staff

    Winter Meetings Preview: The Dodgers’ Infield

    Cubs Have Had Discussions With Josh Lindblom

    Minor MLB Transactions: 12/8/19

    Dodgers Interested In Re-Signing Hyun-Jin Ryu

    MLBTR Chat Transcript: Bryant, Lindor, HOF, Cole, ChiSox

    Ted Simmons, Marvin Miller Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Mets Add Hensley Meulens, Tony DeFrancesco To Coaching Staff

    Yankees Reportedly Preparing $245MM Offer To Gerrit Cole

    Diamondbacks To Sign Junior Guerra

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • 2019-20 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2019-20 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2020 Arbitration Tracker
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2020
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • 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
    • Indians 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