The latest from the National League…
- The Marlins are trying to work out a contract with catcher Francisco Cervelli, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). Injuries have plagued Cervelli over the last several seasons, most notably (and seriously) a series of concussions. Cervelli was limited to only 48 games for the Pirates and Braves in 2019 due to concussion symptoms, yet it was as recently as 2018 that Cervelli hit .259/.378/.431 with 12 homers over 404 plate appearances for Pittsburgh. The 33-year-old backstop (notably, a former Yankees teammate of Marlins CEO Derek Jeter) would act as a veteran backup to Jorge Alfaro in Miami.
- Saturday’s trade between the Cardinals and Rangers that sent Adolis Garcia to Texas had roots at the Winter Meetings, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes, as the Cards were known to be shopping their surplus of right-handed hitting outfielders. With this “head start on talks” about Garcia, the Cardinals expected Texas or another club to step up with a suitable trade offer when Garcia was designated for assignment earlier this week. Moving Garcia eliminated one name from a still-crowded Cardinals outfield, so more moves could still be in the offing for St. Louis. One player who doesn’t seem likely to be moved is top prospect Dylan Carlson, as the Cardinals unsurprisingly “have had near zero interest in including” Carlson in any trade talks this winter.
- Though the demand for pitching continues to increase and the Pirates could be entering into something of a rebuild period under new GM Ben Cherington, right-hander Joe Musgrove might not be a trade candidate, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes (subscription required). “I seriously doubt [the Pirates] would talk about him. They may say they’d talk about him, but they’re not going to trade him,” a official on a rival team told Olney. Musgrove just turned 27 and is arbitration-eligible for only the first time, projected by MLBTR to earn $3.4MM. That’s a more than affordable price for the low-payroll Bucs, considering that Musgrove posted a 4.44 ERA, 4.03 K/BB rate, and 8.3 K/9 over 170 1/3 innings last season, and generated 5.5 fWAR in 2018-19. The Blue Jays are one team known to have discussed Musgrove in trade talks this winter, though those discussions reportedly amounted to little.
I didn’t expect the Pirates to trade any of their starters right now, unless they got an offer they couldn’t turn down. But at the deadline, if either Williams or Musgrove are having decent seasons, they should definitely take advantage of that.
I was wishfully thinking with the new faces in the front office that things might be different, even a little. However, seems to me this is the same script we’re all used to. I know we are still in December, but not one notable trade or signing. It’s infuriating. I cannot believe that this team will still be in the 60 to 70 mill dollar range in payroll again, who knows, maybe even in the 50s. Can’t believe I’m saying that, in the 50 million range. Is this actually happening? How can MLB let an owner spend THAT little? SMH MLB will forever be broken until something changes, and I don’t foresee that happening in my lifetime.
Pittsburgh is – and always has been – a bad market for baseball.
In 2015, when the Pirates reached the playoffs for the third straight season and had the second best record in baseball, their attendance was 9th in the 15 team NL. Milwaukee had better attendance than the Pirates and they finished that season with a 68-94 record.
In the early 90s, the Pirates won their division three straight years and, in the third year, couldn’t sell out Three Rivers Stadium for playoff games.
The owner should move the team as soon as the lease on PNC Park expires. There are better markets than Pittsburgh that don’t yet have a Major League team – Charlotte, Nashville, Portland, Las Vegas, San Antonio.
Yes, it is only December and several teams have not made any moves of note. Several have made very minor signings, just like the Bucs. You are assuming that the payroll will not move. You are assuming that no deals will be made. Tired of the whiny complaints and blaming Nutting. Yes the former front office flamed out and was horrible at developing home grown talent. Not developing talent was the biggest problem with the Pirates last front office. Any changes in developing talent will happen over several years and not in the 1st December of the new regime.
Very good statement. New management doesn’t just walk in and spend $40 million more with first seeing what they. If they would have developed talent better we could have Glasnow, Cole as our to top pitchers starting this season and Meadows playing in the OF. Also remember Daniel Hudson. Was terrible on the Pirates bullpen. Did you watch the World Series? He looked almost un-hittable. Do I am happy with giving this new group some time to sort it all out. Also hope the owner will allow at least 80-90 million payroll in the next couple of years.
Just waiting I have a feeling that Cherrington and Shelton are just doing their due diligence on their own assets and putting out a FAIR value on what they don’t t think will fit in their version of the Pirates in 2020….Huntington always over valued our prospects / players I believe Cherrington was hired 2 months ago and Shelton was hired before thanksgiving – give them time to do their own evaluations people
The Cardinal’s need to sign Corey Dickerson and be done with it. They have a surplus of “what if’s”. That won’t work for a team trying to contend. Dickerson/Fowler in LF/RF and let the rest of Bader/Carlson/O’Neill/etc.etc. fight it out for what’s left of the playing time. I agree we need to see what we have. But we can’t have 3 “what if’s” out there. Fowler is no guarantee himself. Dickerson is a career .286/.328/.832 hitter. Better than Castellanos and Ozuna. Plus he’s a lefty. Its not rocket science Mo and Girsch. Oh, and he’s won a GG as well.
Fowler is a waste of space – bloated contract that is keeping the Cards from actually giving any young guys a chance.
Our offense was stale more often than not . Then We lost Ozuna to FA … I don’t know how we are supposed to be a more consistent offensive club with what we currently have . Holding your breath and crossing your fingers will only get you so far.
They need to either make the decision to let the young guys play, or make a play for a bat and have Fowler be a utility OF instead of a starter.
When is spring training going to get here, I complain too much in the offseason 🙁
Totally agree. Sign Dickerson, trade another RH OF or two for a decent arm, and call it a day.
I also think we should try to extend flaherty and possibly Carlson this offseason while they’re still young and cheap.
Flaherty is no longer cheap. The time to extend was a year ago.
I don’t get why more teams weren’t in on Dickerson to begin with. Seems a lot of teams could use someone like him.
Agree 1000%
I believe it’s the Colorado Curse teams still think players have inflated numbers outside of Coors’s Field
Agree 100%
I don’t think the Cardinals should sign Corey Dickerson because:
1. I like Corey Dickerson
2. I dislike the Cardinals
Dickerson is nothing special. His ceiling is 2.5 WAR that is completely dependent on BABIP with his inability to take a BB and crappy defense. I’d rather have him than JMart or Dex for sure, but he doesn’t move the needle. They’d be better off standing pat and letting the kids duke it out in ST.
Someone doesn’t know much about Dickerson
He’s a helluva LF. Isn’t the fastest or doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he does the little things so well and he can rake. I’d take a CD all day on my team.
who gives a crap if he can walk when he hits the ball. let me repeat this a hit is better than a walk. a hit is better than a walk.
Crappy defense? Gold Glove does not =crappy defense. When healthy is a quality bat in the lineup.
at the risk of being That Guy, “a hit is better than a walk” is not always true, as the value of each depends on context
Maybe they meant “scrappy defense”…or even “rappy defense” (he’s so good that he busts rhymes while he effortlessly runs down would-be gappers)
The context you’re speaking of is correct, but the ability to barrel the ball outweighs the ability for a walk.
Sorry for being, that guy.
A Gold Glove can mean very little. Players have won them before with fewer than 50 games played at the position. Have you watched Dickerson play for an entire season? Unless he’s a completely different player than when he was in Tampa, his defense aspires to be average at best. There’s a reason he’s been moved around so much.
Not a Cardinals fan. They don’t need to make moves outside improving their bullpen. Cards have good starting pitching and position players who may rebound from poor seasons, like DeJong, Bader, and Goldschmidt. They don’t really need Ozuna. They could repeat with the team they have. Watch out, the Reds will be better.
Good point – but I always give the Cardinals there due – great organization that know’s how to win!
I would like the bucs to trade Polanco and sign Dickerson.
I was just talking to a buddy of mine about this but with the FA starters signing randomly to teams (and for such high prices), that should/could make Carlos Martinez much more valuable with the contract that is attached to him.
Maybe that’s the way to get some legit offense
I’m just thinking out loud.
You have friends? Doubtful.
That was really unnecessary and wack. The guy was just making a comment; he wasn’t being a jerk or arrogant. There was no need to insult him.
They should trade Archer, he should still bring something.
Package him with Marte for a young outfielder and top pitching prospect
I’d prefer that the Pirates get a young catcher and a pitching prospect, rather than an outfielder. They’ve already got Swaggerty rising through the minors, Oneil Cruz could easily move to a corner outfield spot if they still think Cole Tucker is a viable MLB player, and that would just leave the only major organizational hole being at catcher. Sure, it’d be nice to get an outfielder in return for marte, but catcher is a much worse need.
Dylan Carlson link above is to a different Dylan Carlson. Here’s the correct one: baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=car…
The offer would have to be absurd for the Pirates to trade Musgrove. He’s only a #4 starter (maybe a #3 one day) but they need his leadership.
They’ve had more talent than leadership over the past 20 years and they’ve had little talent.
They should offer up Trevor Williams, though.
whaaaaat?
Lol ….. Same. Must have been a typo somewhere in there.
i agree, an offer for joe would have to be above value.
He’s got a lot of talent that might be brought out with some new eyes (that we now have) and a catcher that can manage pitchers better.
if the stars align he could be a two guy.. but more likely a three ceiling.
He (and williams) are pittsburgh types in they’re style as well… selling either would be selling low. See what happens in the spring with new staff working with them and go from there.
Francisco Cervelli is the toughest guy in baseball. being a coach is hard enough but being a catcher with a rare neurological diseases even more insane. this guy has the same disease I have called cluster headaches and it is super crazy. just watching YouTube video and then we’ll be blown away I have this guy could be a catch
Cervelli’s always been an easy guy to root for
Never say Never, but doesn’t make sense to trade Musgrove, they could be competing in 2021 (sooner if they can pull off the right moves)
Joe’s Control is through 2022 and he is a Pittsburgh type of player. IMO buy out his contract and extend him… but neither side will probably do that… Ben isn’t up to speed with the team and Joe probably feels like he could do better on the field and get a better deal.
It doesn’t make sense to trade most of those that have been talked about. Marte sure because his trade value is high right now. Kela sure as his contract is ending.
Makes more sense to fill in holes (either through trade of FA), make a minor push for 2020 and then really go after it in 2021 while they still have the core… then start making player decisions when their contract are coming due.
3 Rivers sat approximately 58,000 people, not a real good example for your argument when no venues today are getting that figure. I was there for several SRO games through the years. Attendance vis a vis metro population has never been a problem. TV deal? Now that’s another story.
9th in the NL in attendance in the third straight playoff season and with the second best record in MLB.
N0t selling out playoff games in 1992 was an embarrassment for the team. That doesn’t happen in a good market – regardless of the size of the stadium. The Braves sold out their playoff games in 1992 in a stadium that was just as big as Three Rivers.
Regardless of the size of the metro population, Pittsburgh is – and always has been – a bad market for baseball. The fans don’t show up the way they do in other cities. And never have.
Keep telling yourself that if you like but it will not make it true.
False statement – Pittsburgh is one of the best sports towns in the Country!!Maybe the best – The current owner is the sole reason people are boycotting and attendance continues to drop. Put a competitive product on the field and they’ll come out in droves!
After 20 losing seasons, it took like all of 10 minutes to come back. Just like anywhere else, if you win the fans will show.
Again I’ll say that attendance as it relates to population is not the problem. When the Bucs draw 1.5M, that is 3X Pittsburgh’s population. Do the math on cities like Philadelphia, NY, LA, Chicago and on and on.
5X. Sorry.
“Pittsburgh is – and always has been – a bad market for baseball. The fans don’t show up the way they do in other cities. And never have.”
That’s just patently false. The 70s and the 90s may have been a long time ago, but you can’t say that Pittsburgh fans “never have” showed up.
Pittsburgh does not support their baseball team nearly as well as the football and hockey clubs.
I realize that there is a disparity in number of games and winning teams,but historically,and I go back to 1961,it has been so.
That does not mean that they do not have a lot of good fans,and the radio and tv audiences are large,but they have rarely sold out their stadiums.
Having empty seats during playoff games was embarrassing,and I have never seen that anywhere else.
Are you really going to compare Atlanta vs Pittsburgh markets at filling 60K+ stadiums? Are you aware that the Atlanta metro is several magnitudes larger than Pittsburgh?
I thought Cervelli retired from behind the plate.
Pirates owner is a loser. He won’t spend anything. Same script different season.
Agree – until he spends or someone new takes over it will be same old, same old
He’s been in Pittsburgh all of one month. People need to slow their roll and give him a chance to figure out what he has. No GM comes in and immediately starts firing on all cylinders. They have to get a sense of what they have at all levels before they can start making moves.
I think the post was arguing that the owner was the problem, not the GM…?
If they are trading Musgrove it should be in a package deal w/ Marte or Bell to the White Sox for Andrew Vaughn+, the Twins for Kirilloff+ or to the Braves for Drew Waters+. If one of those prospects does not headline a deal then the Pirates should not trade Musgrove.