Hours after trading Starling Marte to the Diamondbacks, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told reporters at PNC Park that he’s hopeful of adding a new center fielder prior to Opening Day (Twitter link via Adam Berry of MLB.com). Doing so would enable the team to continue utilizing Bryan Reynolds in left field and allow Guillermo Heredia to occupy the backup role they had in mind upon signing him.
It’ll surely be frustrating for many Pirates fans to hear of their team voicing a need for center field help immediately after trading away a high-quality center fielder. But Marte has long stood out as a logical trade candidate due to his remaining two years of club control, his age and the general lack of talent surrounding him. Cherington and his staff could’ve tried to add pieces around Marte, to be sure, but contending in 2020 was always going to be a long shot for the Pirates given the payroll constraints put on the front office by owner Bob Nutting and given the questionable state of the big league roster.
Viewed through that lens, one could argue that the Pirates should further tear down. Players such as Josh Bell, Adam Frazier, Keone Kela and Chris Archer could draw interest on the trade market, and none of that bunch is signed long-term. However, Cherington indicated that he doesn’t expect further subtractions from the big league roster for the time being. That doesn’t rule out some summer dealing — particularly if Archer enjoys a strong first few months — but it sounds as if the Marte swap will be the team’s big offseason deal, barring an unforeseen offer the Bucs simply can’t refuse.
So where might the Pirates be able to find a center fielder? Kevin Pillar is probably the top name on the market at this point, but he has a career .296 OBP and posted a .287 mark in 2019. The former defensive sensation can still handle center field but doesn’t grade out nearly as well as he did in his peak now that he’s 31 years old (seven years’ worth of gravity-defying dives and outfield wall collisions under his belt). Jarrod Dyson remains a premium source of speed and center-field glovework despite turning 35 this past August, and he’d form a natural platoon with the aforementioned Heredia.
On the trade market, there’s no shortage of options. The Pirates surely won’t be in the market for high-profile and/or high-salary players, so Red Sox fans can cross them off as a Jackie Bradley Jr. destination. But other organizations with less costly, more controllable options could be fits. Could the Padres, for instance, be ready to move on from Manuel Margot and part with the former top prospect? Michael A. Taylor doesn’t have a path to everyday at-bats in D.C., and Cherington’s former Blue Jays have plenty of center-field options, including Teoscar Hernandez. And the Pirates make sense as a change of scenery destination for any number of former top prospects (e.g. Lewis Brinson, Brett Phillips), should their organizations be amenable to a swap.
Absolutely nothing , they will be the door mat of the NL
I think they should try to make a run at Brinson. I don’t know if the Marlins would be looking to move him and if so what it would cost but he is definitely worth taking a flier on.
If not him Pillar is a match.
I can see Pillar signing there. Wont cost much and will get some good defence
Agree on Pillar.. but only because they shouldn’t be making any trades for major league talent.
Now that they’ve traded Marte the decision has to be full tank.. not that it wasn’t before, but would’ve been ok with standing pat until the deadline.
Someone further down said Billy Hamilton.. worth a shot
Rangers should be looking to acquire 1B Josh Bell for some more young talent
should take a huge load, but knowing the Pirates theyll just take Huff and a RP and call it even.
Something tells me the Pirates will be taking everyone’s huge load this year ….
W
clearmythroat – Username checks out as an authority on the matter
Pls, that’s what i’ve been saying all along, and it needs to happen. He would be a great switch-hitting power bat (which is rare), and he would fill what looks like our biggest hole.
I’d do Josh Bell for Joe Palumbo, Jeff Mathis, Roughned Odor, and Jason Bahr (Rangers eat all of Rougies money).
Mathis sucks. We already have three Mathis’ on our roster. Try again. If you are blowing it up, Odor really doesn’t fit the bill. Palumbo, Huff and Solak?
I imagine you would.
You’re joking, right?
Reading you say Mathis’ name gave me a good chortle.
Lmfao. Jeff Mathis, he of the 2 wRC+ and 11 OPS+, while having negative defensive metrics, is a negative on any trade
Be willing to Pony up for talent or don’t waste everyone’s time. You don’t get stars for the scraps off a mediocre roster
That’s a hard pass, full stop. It wouldn’t meet the end goal for the Pirates. To get Bell will require way more than that (talent wise that is not number of players)
No way. Pirates already lost a CY Young winner, cant dump a potential MVP just yet.
If he puts together a full season or even anothet great 1st half (for deadline deal), then a trade for a quoted ‘big load’ could be in the works.
Anything less than a baffling overpay has got to be unacceptable at this point
I would play Frazier in c.f. he’s a good player.
It’s an option with the middle infield depth, but signing Pillar etc gives them flexibility
they should just give Oliva a longer look. they arent winning anything this year anyway.
Respect Pirates fans. Gotta be so hard watching your team make no effort to truly improve year after year. Your team and city have such great traditions and an amazing stadium.
Who said we watch?
Those of us non-yinzer non-fairweather fans will keep watching. Bye. We won’t miss you.
There are about 12 Pirates fans that legitimately deserve respect and/or pity.
The rest, no.
Respect for watching a joke? I follow the Pirates thoroughly so am not fair weather.. just dont waste my time actually watching them.
I can take a few seconds to look at a box score etc and still be considered a fan.
Juan Lagares? Maybe?
Yea haven’t heard his name all offseason, makes perfect sense.
He looked solid In the dominican winter league. Looks lean and in good shape. Was running down all the fly balls in center. May be a good idea for the bucks to take a flyer on jl12
K. Hayes and Cole Tucker up by May, it’s development year or 2 ahead.
Billy Hamilton?
There’s an idea
The gm along with the trade return today answered the ?. They got a solid fair return for marte. The way the trade market is now you have to take young unproven lotto tickets if you want huge upside. Marte was in high demand. How much demand does a relief pitcher with a bad reputation in final year, a 2b lacking power in a league with 15 teams at least having better options, a great dh who happens to play 1st base, and Archer? I think he would trade all these guys if the demand or prospect haul was there. Or maybe he could trade these guys and get a similar return as marte trade. But how would fans react to trading 5 players and not getting a single top 100 in return? Seems pirate fans missed cutch but I havnt seen anyone yet pissed over marte.
No one cares about Marte. He was never a fan favorite, never involved in the community, never went to the PirateFest events and such, never even did post game interviews because he never attempted to learn English. Never really did anything in big games. Many of his homers came in blowout wins. I think everyone respected his arm, but he was never a fan favorite because he never made a huge splash on the field, and never made any attempt to connect with the fans the way that a Cutch, Josh Harrison, or Neil Walker did..
Well the team is in a different situation.
Could’ve still technically competed the year they traded Cole and Cutch.
They should be moved to AAA for being a joke of a franchise
Meh.. mid-market team in a fairly tough division and made it to the playoffs 3 times in the 2010’s. Bad? Yeah, kinda. Joke? Nah.
When they were in contention during that stretch they made no moves to help get them over the hump. Then after that stretch had ended they mad a series of bad trades just to stay afloat. Add that to the fact you that it’s been several decades since they’ve won anything and you get a joke of a franchise
Despite their shortcomings, they made it to the playoffs three time last decade, more than several other teams. And they did it as a small market team, while several larger markets performed much worse. You can troll all you want. Doesn’t make a difference
They haven’t been a bad team. They just have lousy ownership. When you take that into account, it makes some of the accomplishments that other posters have mentioned all the more impressive.
15th in attendance the year they made the playoffs for the third straight year. Maybe it ain’t the owner.
Maybe it’s the fact that the Pirates are in one of the smallest markets in the league. You can’t look at attendance when it comes to small markets, because the results are always misleading. They’re in one of the smallest markets in the league (22nd in market size according to Bleacher Report). They’re never going to crack the top 10 because there just aren’t enough people in Pittsburgh, or seats in the stadium.
Nick Senzel?
More like Pillar or Billy Hamilton on league min deal
Senzel for Newman & Kela? Is the good-hitting Newman a defensive upgrade?
They could get a lot more for Newman but he’s years away from arbitration
We moved to the Pittsburgh area 15 years ago. So glad I remained a Dodger fan.
Reunite Jake Cave with Derek Shelton
Please do.
Twins trade Cave and a mid-level minor leaguer for Archer. Pirates would be getting more than they received for Marte.
What
Bryce Harper?
Slide Reynolds over to center, sign Hunter Pence for 2 mil and move Polanco to left (until he gets hurt). Heredia will be 4th outfielder.
Polanco can’t thrown from right anymore, how will he throw from the huge left field??
That would be 2 terrible fielders in the corners and Reynolds is not an everyday CFer. He would get worn down quickly. He played there when Marte had a day off occasionally and then down the stretch when he was injured.
Putting Reynolds in position to succeed should be priority over winning games
The obvious for Pirate Nation would be to sign Yasiel Puig, he is your friend!
Would be funny to see Puig take on the entire reds roster in a 2020 brawl
They could call Nate Mclouth and see if he’s interested in coming out of retirement
Wasnt it cherington who called on GRADY sizenore to play center for the Red Sox that one season? This comment has some merit
Heck might be calling on him again to play CF for the buccos
I wonder if teams have any interest in bringing in Jason Kipnis as an outfield option
They shouldn’t. Kipnis can effectively run anything down in the OF, but getting it back in is where he hits a brick wall. Horrible arm. When CLE put him in the OF teams ran on Kip all day long.
I wonder if teams have any interest in bringing in Jason Kipnis as an outfield option
Go sign Jose siri off waivers and start him in center. He’s toolsy and in his prime
I’m all for loyalty to your team, but I honestly don’t know how Pirates fans do it. Even now when the team talks about building for the future, how many times have you heard that just to watch any talent that comes through your system be shipped off? My team is in the same division, but it’s hard for me to hate the Pirates just because I feel bad for their fans.
I became a Phillies fan the day Cutch went to Philadelphia. Now Josh Harrison, Neil Walker, and Francisco Liriano could all end up on the 26 man roster too. We’re just getting the band back together on the other side of the state. Can’t wait for that Russell Martin signing any day now. Heck. AJ Burnett lives out there and can probably still pitch better than anyone that earns that 5th starter spot (plus maybe Arrieta at this point).
@DonB34 What a trash fan you are. No Pittsburgher should ever be a Philadelphia fan at anything. The fact that you changed you allegiance because our former scraps signed there says it all. Yinzers are the least loyal fans in sports hiding behind the success of the Penguins and Steelers. All the Pens fans will be gone again after Crosby retires, back to the days of 7500 per game because Yinzers can’t be bothered with a team that isn’t winning.
Yinzers are too busy following Pittsburgh’s awful sports media, which reports daily on which fourth-string long snapper the Stillers are going to draft.
Well Ronn, I hate the Steelers and I don’t watch hockey, so you’re already 66% wrong. I had season ticket to the Pirates from 2000-2017. Can you call that a trash fan? I couldn’t see myself giving anymore money to this trash franchise that put garbage on the field every year after PNC Park opened, waiting through 5 year plan after 5 year plan…. watching the Pirates just be the farm team for the Yankees. Eventually we got competitive… made some runs… made the postseason! And ownership wouldn’t even make a trade or two, or sign a free agent or two that would have gotten them over the hump to actually win a division or possibly a World Series. The writing was on the wall when they traded Cutch and Cole….. back to 20 years of rebuilds. Replace the joke Pat Meares signings with the joke Lonnie Chisenhall signings. You can watch that and pay to see if it if you’d like, but I’m out. I’ve got MLB TV, I’ll watch real teams with real players. Haven’t been to PNC Park in 2 years.
In my younger days I always rooted for the Phillies as my “team with a chance to actually win something”. The days of Dykstra and Kruk and Daulton and through the years of Randy Wolf and Pat Burrell and up through Jim Thome and Chase Utley and Jimmie Rollins, etc etc.. The Pirates were a joke but I still suported them. However, I was a Phillies fan also. As soon as they signed Cutch, I changed the “P” logo I actually care about. I am loyal to players. I’m not going to cheer for a team just because they have a team in my city with new *prospects* and bums in the jerseys from year to year. I always followed Jose Canseco and Jim Thome…. guys that I liked my whole life. I think it would be cool to see some of the former Pirates I was and am still a fan of have a shot at the post season again.
You are delusional if you think the Pirates ownership cares at all about winning. if they don’t care, why should I care or give them my money for Bob Nutting to put in his pocket?
Cuz it’s kind of just a thing. Makes it amazing when they compete.
How do we cope? Well having stacks of Stanley Cups and Superbowls sure helps.
Kinda obvious what Cherington is doing: Tanking.
If bell and Frazier are moved this year it is tanking. And they should be as they will hit arb 2 after this season. At least Frazier. Marte Kela and Archer have to be moved so that doesn’t make it tanking.
Yeah, Marte wasn’t an extremely logical trade candidate or anything
Classic Pirates tho, held their asset too long and took pennies on the dollar they’d have gotten 12 months ago
Since the baseball draft is a total crapshoot, there isn’t really “tanking” in MLB.
You didn’t pay attention to the early 2010’s Houston Astros.
They did draft a trash can after all.
The Baseball draft isn’t a total crapshoot. There has to be elite amateur and professional scouting behind an organization, the kind of scouting that finds players like Jeter, Judge, Rivera, Posada, Mattingly, Guidry, Williams, Pettitte, Gardner, Andujar, Sanchez, Severino,
The list goes on.
Padres could trade Cordero or Margot for Archer or Mussgrave
Not gonna happen. Pirates looking at single-A type talent rn
It is a rebuild and were looking at a 2024-25 window, they might as well stock up. I would try and get Aaron Ashby & Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers for Keone Kela, & Kevin Kramer. Taylor is MLB ready & would be great in CF for the Pirates and Ashby would be a farm LHPer w/ upside. I am sure the Brewers could use late inning pitching depth & a 3B platoon especially at the cost of 1 of their 4 farm LHPers & their 6th OFer. I would also try and sign Tijuan Walker or Jhoulys Chacin on a 1 year contract w/ incentives and maybe an option. I would also see if the A’s are still interested in someone for 2B and try and trade Adam Frazier for RHPer Tyler Baum and some international bonus funds. Keep Archer and let him build value and if he returns to form flip him at the deadline. Depending on his performance at the end of the season the Pirates should either trade or try and extend Josh Bell, something like buying out his last 2 years and adding 2 more w/ an option for 2025. One can hope Polanco can regain form and develop trade value but if not the Pirates are not in a payroll crunch anyways so they can play him until someone takes the spot. I would think come time for international signings in July and the draft Cherington can get a lot more talent for the 2024 window and beyond.
Josh Bell is represented by Boras Corporation.. No extension unless it’s a massive overpay. The best time to trade Bell.. is this off season. Three top prospects.. Their future catcher, a close to ML ready SP/Position player and, literally, a lottery ticket. Comp A, preferably. Those three guys and the elimination of Josh Bell’s current as well as future salary (3 years).. should be more than enough return..
And what if 2019 Josh Bell turns back into 2018 Josh Bell? Then no one wants him and they have no one of value.
More likely Bell keeps getting better. No chance he signs an extension, but trade value could sky rocket if NL DH is added for 2021
If the window is 2024 2025 might as well trade Reynolds and Newman.
The Pirates have a 40-man roster making $50 million and the 14th richest owner in MLB. That pretty much sums things up.
Teoscar and Tellez plus a few prospects for Bell?
Frazier for Bichette? Ya didnt think so either..
Tellez, Fisher, Conine, Pardinho, international money probably gets it done.
I’ll answer the question… what’s next for the Pirates is a last place finish.
Glass half full.. 1st overall pick
Detroit chuckles
Fellas,
You thought bringing back the script throwback uniforms were the only nod to the 90s, oh no no no! We decided to bring back the basement ol 95 payroll idea as well!! Bold strategy cotton, I know, but hear me out. I’ve got a plan to bring the giant rubber duck on every third weekend of the month. Come on, you know you took a picture of that duck!
Until next time,
-Nob
Maybe JR House and Chad Hermansen are finally fully developed and ready to take over as the all-stars we were told they would be? Catcher and center fielder needed!
For the record, the script jerseys are pretty nice.
Sign Puig
Haha maybe
Go ahead and rebuild. Keep the switch hitting Bell and start by trading Archer. They will finish last regardless so build up some more prospects.
Martin will more than likely be the CF or see the 4th outfield spot and Heredia take the everyday CF job
last place is next
Kela to LA.
I love the former top prospects mentioned were former Brewers traded for Yelich and Moose.
I love the former top prospects mentioned were former Brewers traded for Yelich and Moose.
Maybe Pittsburgh can’t support an MLB team. In 2015, a year the Pirates made a third straight playoff appearance, they finished 15th in attendance.
That is an idea I would hate to even have to consider. Obviously, the next franchise to relocate will be the Rays, but if they don’t go to Canada, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, etc., then I’m curious which team will be the next to relocate with two to three prime destinations still on the table.
Even still, Pittsburgh has so much history, and has been such a well respected franchise for so long. I just cannot imagine a franchise with that kind of history and all of its contributions to the game just up and moving. Regardless what I think though, something clearly has to change in Pittsburgh. I just really hope Cherington and Co. absolutely nail this rebuild, and they’re able to put back some respect for the Pirates franchise. Hopefully with that, the excitement of a wave of young talent, and potentially having an up and coming team can reignite the Pirates’ fanbase!! I would hate to see such a great, blue-collar, highly underrated city lose its baseball team…
Their stadium is still pretty new. Maybe in 20 years tho. Cant see the citizens funding another new stadium
Are you saying PNC Park only has 20 years of life left? Clearly you’ve never been there, that place is magnificent.
The Braves had history with Boston and Milwaukee before they left each of those cities. Toledo used to have a major league team.
There are many cities that were once capable of supporting an MLB team that can no longer do so.
They just have one of the smaller ball parks. Probably never planned on having too many good seasons when they built it.
With t.v. deals any current MLB city can support a team. Tampa is a larger market they just have a terrible building and a lot of people are transplants who root for their former city team.
In 2030, PNC becomes the nicest AAA park in America.
A death spiral of poor ownership, hack media and fair weather fans seems unlikely to be stopped.
He is by no means a big name, but could be perfect for a rebuilding team: Adam Engle from the White Sox. Top Flight glove & speed and his offense has improved at the minor league level, but hasn’t been able to get regular ABs in the Bigs. Sox would probably let him go for next to nothing & I’d love to see what he could do with regular playing time.
Jays don’t have any good options for CF.
As someone else suggested Jose Siri would be a good pickup. Good all the tools for a great CF, just a light hitting one so far in the minors but a full season you never know what’ll happen.
Puig or Domingo Santana and slide Reynolds to CF
Scooter and make Frazier a util with Cole Tucker
Get those guys on “make good” one year deals and hope for the best.
Could have had Mel Rojas Jr. for center, but no major league team wanted to sign him.
Could have had Mel Rojas Jr. for center, but no major league team wanted to sign him.
Bucs ought to dial up Philly and acquire Odubel Herrera to play CF. Given his baggage, Phils might even pay some of the money that’s left on his contract. Good gamble for the Bucs IMHO, plus the Phillies would most likely just give him away for a couple of old Gino Cimoli bobble-head dolls. Oops! Did I date myself with that remark?
Maybe they’ll consider him as the PTBNL from the Corey Dickerson deal.
Since they are in rebuild mode, take a flyer on Jose Siri.
The only plausible idea is to try to find an under the radar player/former top prospect. Going out and getting washed up players is not the answer. Brett Phillips from KC is an idea, though I kinda doubt he will ever make it. Dustin Fowler would be a great target in Oakland. He simply isn’t getting the chances there, is still young, was a former top prospect and the last two years in AAA he was very impressive. He’s now a couple years from that big knee injury that slowed him down, but maybe he’s back. 100% now. Frazier is a guy who could provide some stability to the As infield while Fowler would finally be given a chance to run with a MLB job in Pittsburgh.
Archer keeps coming up in trade talks but I don’t really get it. Look, they gave up a ton for him and he doesn’t have any value cause he’s horribly underperformed. He’s really been rough the last couple years. I understand that a rebuild might be in the works but I just don’t see his value being high unless it’s near a trade deadline and he’s pitching well enough. Otherwise, you need guys to eat innings and he’s kinda one of those guys. He cost you a ton, so ride that ship until you get some value out of it
He finished last year well. But I agree, hold til deadline.
I heard they’re going with Lonnie Chisenhall in center. Lonnie and Polanco have been working out together in the off-season.
Seriously I can see Ben taking on Jackie Bradley Jr on a stop gap. Basically a “I’ll buy a prospect from the Red Sox by taking JBJ” it’s certainly not about moneys in the Burgh. Money wise it’s a swap between what the just traded away and what the would have to pay JBJ plus more talent in the pipeline. Sure beats some of the other ideas out there.
As for Bell, logically on paper, Seattle is a good fit provided you look at him as a full time DH.(nobody wants him defensively) but the bat absolutely plays and with 3 more years of control fits right into Seattle’s window. And they have the system to get it done without killing their farm. Total win/win scenario.
I’m not very high on Ben’s ability to turn this in to a winning team anytime soon.
Ben was part of the Sox franchise for years before becoming a GM, lead the team to more losing seasons in his short time than they had in 20ish years. The one winning season they went on to the WS was mainly due to brute force with payroll getting the right guys. Then spent millions on albatross contracts.
By the time his pre-GM and GM prospects made a huge difference it was after he was well gone.
Now hes bound to not be any worse than NH was the past handful of years, but i’m skeptical what he can do with out a top 5 budget.
Ben did well in Toronto as well as Boston. Toronto has one of the best young prospects and MLB team in the league. They are pitching short of a full package to win a WS. More than I can say for the Pirates before Ben arrived. You can doubt Ben, but he has merits to his resume. It wasn’t just Toronto or Boston he had success with. If anything, I’d be more concerned with the coaching staff. More specific, pitching coach
Whomever the Pirates sign to play center field you can guarantee two things.
1. Will be extremely cheap. Likely less than 2 million
2. Guaranteed they can’t hit for power and will likely carry a batting average of less than .250.