Sept. 23: The Pirates have formally announced Barco’s promotion. His contract has been selected to the 40-man roster, and Simon has indeed been transferred to the 60-day IL to create space. That’ll officially end Simon’s season. Lefty Evan Sisk was optioned to clear an active roster spot for Barco.
Sept. 22: The Pirates are calling up pitching prospect Hunter Barco, reports Brent Martineau of CBS47/FOX30. The Bucs will need to make corresponding moves to open active and 40-man roster spots for the lefty. The 40-man move might be easy since infielder/outfielder Ronny Simon recently dislocated his left shoulder. If he’s not coming back in the final few days, he could be moved from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day.
Barco, now 24, was selected by the Pirates in the second round of the 2022 draft. Since then, he has been putting up good numbers on the farm, climbing the ranks of the minors while also climbing up prospect rankings.
Many in the industry considered him a potential first-round pick while he was pitching for Florida. Unfortunately, he required Tommy John surgery before being drafted, which bumped him down the board and allowed the Bucs to get him in the second round.
He recovered from that procedure and was able to get back on the mound late in 2023, though he only logged 18 1/3 innings that year. He got a more proper professional season last year, throwing 66 innings over 18 appearances, split between High-A and Double-A. He allowed 3.27 earned runs per nine, struck out 31.2% of batters faced, gave out walks at an 8.3% clip and got grounders on 46.4% of balls in play.
This year, he has stretched out to 99 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. In that time, he has a 2.81 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, 11.8% walk rate and 45.8% ground ball rate. The Triple-A season finished yesterday, so he wasn’t going to have a chance to add to that innings total if he stayed on the farm.
He was slated to be Rule 5 eligible this winter. The Bucs were surely going to add him to their 40-man roster to protect him, meaning he was going to be using up a 40-man roster spot this offseason regardless. By adding him now, they can put a few more innings on his arm here in 2025, get him accustomed to the big league environment and see how his stuff plays against major league opponents.
The Pirates have been stuck in a rebuild for a while now, but those prone to optimism could point to a few things. Shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin is now considered one of the top prospects in the sport, with some outlets considering him to be the very best. He is only 19 years old but has reached Double-A and could plausibly make a major league debut at some point in 2026. At the big league level, guys like Spencer Horwitz, Jared Triolo and Bryan Reynolds are having strong second halves, perhaps giving the position player group a bit of momentum towards better results next year.
But the most notable part of the Pirates’ roster is their collection of talented and controllable starting pitching options. Paul Skenes is one of the best pitchers alive right now and is controlled for another four seasons after this one. Mitch Keller is a solid mid-rotation guy who is signed through 2028. Johan Oviedo just returned from a long surgery layoff but he could be a viable back-end guy.
Then there’s a big cluster of young guys who are just bubbling to the big league level. Bubba Chandler, Mike Burrows, Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington have all made it to the majors but each one still has fewer than 100 big league innings, with varying degrees of big league success. Jared Jones had a nice debut last year, posting a 4.14 ERA in 121 2/3 innings, but he required UCL surgery in May of this year and will be out until mid-2026.
There are still lots of question marks in that group, given the limited experience of most of those guys, but it’s possible the front office thinks about using this collection of starting pitchers on the trade market. The Pirates have had great difficulty developing hitters. They also have one of the smallest payrolls in the league, which means solving the problem in free agency isn’t likely to happen either.
This summer, there were plenty of rumors surrounding the Pittsburgh rotation. Keller in particular seemed to get a lot of attention but ultimately wasn’t moved. The Bucs did flip Bailey Falter to the Royals, but that was a far less impactful deal than a potential deal of Keller or anyone else in this group.
Going into the winter, it will be an interesting situation to watch. The Pirates could hold onto all of their pitchers and see how things play out in 2026. Not all of them will meet expectations and some of them will surely get hurt. There would be risk in subtracting an arm or two and reducing the overall depth, though it also might be the club’s best path to making a notable lineup boost. For now, they can get a look at Barco in the majors and see how it goes, but some big decisions will have to be made in the coming months.
At this late stage of the calendar, Barco won’t be able to exhaust rookie status before the winter arrives. That means the prospect promotion incentive could be on the table in 2026, depending on where he lands on prospect lists between now and then. A player is PPI eligible if he is on two of the three top 100 lists from Baseball America, ESPN and MLB Pipeline. He’s currently listed in the #82 spot at MLB Pipeline, though he’s not on BA’s list and wasn’t on the ESPN August update.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images
With the surplus of phenomenal pitching talent this team will have going into the offseason, Cherington will have to make a trade for an outfielder or two who has power potential and team control
Ashcraft, Burrows, Chandler, Skenes, Keller and Oviedo
With Barco making his major league debut this week, there’s plenty of depth to choose from
Paul-Hopefully you can delete the name Cherington and just say the new general manager.
It’ll be Cherington in 2026. And while I don’t think he’s amazing, I really don’t think he is the problem.
“Don’t think he is the problem”..The “problems”(and owner) were already there when Cherington got there so he’s not the “problem” per se.
But, he’s surely not the solution either. Several years drafting at the top of the draft and where’s all the young, athletic, multi-tool players he’s drafted?
1st Rd picks since Cherington arrived:
2020 7th Nick Gonzales
2021 1st Henry Davis
2022 4th Temarr Johnson
2023 1st Paul Skenes
2024 9th Konnor Griffin
2025 6th Seth Hernandez
Sure, you’d like more but it’s pretty good. Three have made the big leagues, with one of those a bona fide ace. The catcher turned into a corner outfielder who hasn’t hit as well as expected though his actual performance was way below his xwOBA this year. Gonzales has been an okay second baseman, who has been making more contact but hasn’t tapped into much power yet. Johnson has hit at at every level. I tend to believe Griffin & Hernandez will be stars & better than players drafted ahead of them.
Building only through the draft is hard. I totally get why the front office believed in Hayes, his defense & base running made that contract a bargain even if he never learned to elevate & celebrate. Cruz is obviously a good player who is a couple of adjustments away from being a legit star. I also thought Suwinski was going somewhere better.
Trade Keller & Oviedo for some near MLB bats like the Bednar trade. After that there’s a young, talented cost-controlled rotation with decent core of young hitters. At that point I hope the front office gets the go ahead to spend on a couple veteran bats & a couple bullpen pieces.
Cherington nails those top 10 draft picks and if you keep him as gm you will be picking top 10 often. Extend Cherington
He may or may not be the problem,but he is a problem.
,and a serious one at that.
What trades has he won?
He has signed Anderson and Quintana as good free agents.Maybe Santana.Who else?And don’t say about the money because we know he cannot go for the big ones.
Pitching development-great.
Hitting development- awful.
At best,mediocrity.Kept Shelton way too long.
Small market teams can get by with no less than good general managers.
Cherington has not been one.
Why make a change at this point, really? Do we think the mission statement of ownership has changed?
Can there be any doubt as to why Williams is here?
Don’t the deadline trades speak loudly enough as to where the franchise’s priorities are? How about last off season, when the emergence of Skenes and Jones made clear that building around them was incumbent on them in trying to compete? Look what they did instead
Again, we see they have an incredible amount of pitching in line and still, we all know what’s coming.
More fringe signings that will do nothing to answer the same old question: where will the runs come from?
The same question marks remain regarding kids like Davis, Endy, Triolo, and Suwinski are concerned. After all this time, they’re not question marks at all
That leaves a guy like Reynolds. Maybe he’ll hit 40 homers and drive in 100+. Maybe Cutch will play like he’s 10 years younger, or Pham will be a season-long spark
But Cruz, Bart and others are what they are. Guys you can’t count on
Why change anything?
They’re stuck where they are, with no cavalry coming over the hill
You seem to be a defeatist.
Cherington has really not performed for six years.
Would a good high school keep a poor teacher or try to get a better one?Do you think that his record would hold water on any other baseball team?If a salesman never meets his quota does he get fired?
Six years of failure.
His last year under a decent manager is as bad as his last two under a bad manager.
Under your rationale they should have never fired Shelton.
He should have fired Shelton two years before he did.
Why wouldn’t you change him is the better question.
They can lose just as badly under another GM.
If it is broke you have to fix it.
Time is up for Ben Cherington.
You’re not getting the sarcasm, my friend
The fact alone that there have been no impact players produced during his tenure is grounds for removal. What a job his player development people have done
And truthfully, while Dream will disagree, I’m not enamored with is drafts or assessments of prospects he gets in return for trades
But I wonder about anyone being able to succeed under extraordinary financial constraints. I’m not defending Cherington, but just who could get blood from a stone?
Take a look at this.
mlb.com/news/best-mlb-draft-picks-from-2020
I didn’t count but seemed like half the teams best player was a utility player or 5th 6th starter. And that’s the better ones. Alarming amount the best player is a failed prospect. Evaluating talent isn’t easy. Many bad baseball people working in baseball. Pirates got Gonzales Jones Mlod all from that draft. One of the top 5 top 3 top 2 drafts?
Are you not happy with Bubba? Barco could be good. TJ should be above average hitter. KG ceiling is mvp hall of fame. SH ceiling is cy young.
Go look at drafts from 2015 to 2019. If you aren’t a draft prospect expert there is going to be 10 15 20 maybe 25 guys you never heard of taken in the first round. I’ve looked at drafts before my time and it’s like that.
Again, we’re not talking pitching. It’s a given
Beyond that, it’s complete meh where position players are concerned.
Sorry.I just think that it is time for him to go.
Nutting did spend clearly more money when they had those very good teams in the mid teens.
There are a few small market teams that do well without spending a lot of money.
I think that Cherington could do well as a scouting director but not any higher.
I like him but Pirates fans deserve better.
From everything I’ve read, he’s coming back, unfortunately
Unless there is some paradigm shift, TheMan3, does it really matter? I’m not defending this GM in any way but clearly, he has his marching orders.
To me, the failure to build a real player development program will always be cause enough for the franchise to move on. But here again, who knows what parameters he’s to work with.
All you can say is that when you have guys like Cutch and Skenes speaking publicly about their disappointments and the need to spend, you’ve really hit rock bottom
Cherington has been slow and bad at trades, but Nutting will find some excuse to bring him back considering the farm system is finally producing some hitting talent.
The problem isn’t in the farm producing hitting talent. Instead, its in its failure to produce hitters who can succeed at the MLB level
They’ve had minor leaguers who’ve torn it up on the farm. They just haven’t done it here
Rockies, A’s and Nats have hideous starting pitching, they’d be great matches.
I wouldn’t be opposed to trading Barco or Ashcraft even though both have high ceilings. Keller wouldn’t appeal to those clubs IMO.
I just don’t know what they’d get from those clubs. Doyle on the Rockies, maybe. He went nuclear second half but was bad first half. I have a tough time judging Coors hitters though. Moniak has power but is a Coors merchant.
A’s could maybe work. Soderstrom is probably awful in left but is a power bat. Butler can play CF but he looks more like a good 4th of this season. Bleday I’d take on the cheap but he doesn’t move the needle.
Nats guys are too good but their pitching is so bad. They wouldn’t do it but I wouldn’t even touch Crews for either of those two. I think he sucks so far.
Bleday and Rooker, for sure, but you’re right. Just what are they going to get back in real, immediate help? Not much. There is no trade capital here to bring back MLB talent, unless you’re talking Skenes
This will be the second off season in a row in which I’ll say they are in a very difficult spot. No one to trade to really augment their young arms, no immediate help in the minors, no willingness to spend on even mid range types of players.
Two years in a row I’ve predicted their win total months before they even started the season. I don’t see much hope for a much better win total in ‘26
I insist that teams don’t have to trade nearly as much as you’d think to get players. And the pirates, even though they aren’t good, can take advantage of bad teams in trades. Rockies, Angels and A’s lose a ton of trades. They need starters.
Don’t be too afraid to trade someone like Barco or Ashcraft. Someone might want Bart, Nicolas, and even Cruz.
Remember two years ago they had interest in Jazz Chisholm and Taylor Ward? Jazz was traded for a catcher/dh. Both of those guys would have looked great here.
They may have tried to get Rooker last year but failed.
He would make a fine DH for the Pirates.
Crews is just starting out and it takes a couple of years to figure things out.
I wouldn’t want any Rockies hitters.
I’ll take the Rockies Goodman anytime. Yhe Pirates have a power problem.
It’s all because of Colorado air!!!!!! He’d hit like 2 or 3 hrs in Pittsburgh!!!!!!!
Don’t forget about Jared Jones coming back also, plus Harrington will get a chance to show he can pitch in the Majors. I would expect Keller to be traded this off season
I agree, and maybe Oviedo as well.
With Keller’s second half struggles over the last couple years and Oviedo just returning from a lengthy recovery, neither will net the Bucs the impactful bats they need to contend. I expect the Pirates will make more deals similar to last offseason’s Horwitz acquisition to “improve” the offense.
Trade Harrington to Colorado or Oakland. I don’t think he will work out here. Swap for Bleday would be fair maybe??
Does anyone else get blocked from this site for days at a time or is it just me?
I have never been blocked
I’m blocked from accessing this site about 3-5 days a week. Suddenly today I’m able to get back in. I think I’m most likely being censored.
Clear your browser cache. I ran into a similar 404 problem a few days ago, and fixed it by clearing it.
I had this problem a couple years ago. The only way in was to turn off WiFi and enter via 5G or whatever was the standard then
If you were being censored, you’d get “Post awaiting moderation” anytime you wrote something.
My problem suddenly disappeared. Never knew why. Then again, I have had to kill user names/accounts a few times. Mostly thanks to forgetfulness in my “tired,old” age
Use the app. Never any real issue
Mlb…most likely someone reported one of your posts. And trade rumors is giving you punishment. Seems that you can’t say anything bad about some people.
Calling up Barco is just to protect him from rule 5. Really exciting about the young pitching. Just hope moron cherrington doesn’t screw up in trades this winter.
Still like to see him fired along with moron 2
I highly doubt it was that. I’ve had an account and have been commenting on this site for nearly a decade now, and this is the first time I got a 404. I doubt they really care what you say as long as it isn’t too out of line or falls too far outside their TOS either. I’ve seen the same posters on here for years say worse stuff and never get banned or deleted.
If they wait til 3 wks into 2026 dont they get xtra yr of control?
Its Hunter Barco, not Hunter Greene
huh?
If he doesn’t contend for ROY.
Pitching is the only strength of The Bucs, a lot of names on the current 40 man should be Non Tendered for 2026, if they are truly serious about contending
Suwinski and Cruz are arbitration eligible for the first time this year
I don’t see them keeping Jack and will probably be released
Cruz is coming off a horrible season. He almost has twice as many strikeouts as hits
I think they move on from Holderman. I tried to give him a chance but it wasn’t working this year. Hopefully Bae is gone, Devanney, but they aren’t arb eligible. Suwinski probably gone and I know this sounds pathetic but he can play all the of positions and draw a walk as a pinch hitter.
Devanney has been striking out over 50% of the time.
That is hard to do.
Seems like there is a reason he’s a career minor league player. Anyone can hit in some AAA leagues.
I feel bad for the guy but that is a quick ticket out of town.
Cruz rarely pulls the ball anymore with power. Definitely a mechanical issue.
Cruz has so many problems at the plate that he made the job of pitchers, catchers and pitching coaches easy. They adjusted. He hasn’t
His mechanics are one thing. But he can’t pick up spin pitches. Has no idea of pitching strategy where the count is concerned, has little idea of where the strike zone is with a given umpire. He seems to be unaware of what pitchers are throwing and when. He’s easily defeated by left handed pitchers, even before he’s seen a pitch
I used to laugh when Marte was here and wondered why a pitcher would throw him a fastball when a spin pitch in the dirt was like cheese before the mouse, but even he adjusted somewhat over time
You don’t see any changes where Cruz is concerned, no learning or understanding whatsoever
But if you like occasional exit velocity ooooohing and awwwing, he’s your guy
Go read every Pirates article before called up. Fans loved Devvaney. Criminal he was still in minors.
Agreed. But in non tendering just who do they bring up or in? They’re in a tough spot, by their own doing.
Their rebuild was great in terms of developing pitchers but failed miserably where position players were concerned. Nothing to trade. Refuse to spend. Now what?
“Skenes, one of the best pitchers alive”. Nice Darragh.
Showcasing him for a big trade this winter I see.
Personally I’d like to see Keller traded and maybe Oviedo for an outfielder or two
What outfielder is going to be available that these pitchers would get? Hopefully there is someone available and the pirates have the trade package they want but there wasn’t anyone last year.
It’s hilarious bright eyes couldn’t figure out who i was but he put me back on mute once you informed him. I would have enjoyed replying to this “Showcasing him for a big trade this winter I see.” No bright eyes it’s called a cup of coffee. A lil reward for working hard and having a good season.
I thought that you had to be protected after five years of minor leagues.Barco has 2022,23,24,and 25.
Last time that I checked that is four years.
Does Termarr have to be protected also?
No for TJ. College is 3 years hs it’s 4.
Thanks.
I’m glad I can’t read his propaganda, Dream. A legend in his own mind
They have until November to add and protect for rule 5 so it’s a reward. If he has any jitters get them out now vs in a meaningful game.
No it’s called adding yo the 40 man roster to protect against rule 5.
It’s time to move Cruz…sure he’s flashed potential but he’s also part of the problem.
I’m cool with it as long as we get something useful. I’m tired of giving up on guys who blossom elsewhere. I can’t remember a position player example but every top pitching prospect leaves and becomes and ace or closer.
Cruz will never blossom with the Pirates and should be traded if they can get somebody fairly good for him.
Otherwise,he becomes the DH against right handed pitchers.
He has regressed and does not seem to want to play here just like Hayes.
They missed the window to trade Cruz and get what would have been better prospects for him. Now, the book on him is pretty clear. Can’t play SS and is no outfielder. Lacks hitter discipline and can’t pick up spin pitches. Has and on/off switch where effort is concerned. Seriously, what would they get for him?
People keep mentioning Keller as trade bait. He went into his annual swoon period, where he lives dead red and gets hit hard. I think he lost value with every start he made over the past two months
Mendoza…Cruz is one of those players who needs a change of scenery. And I bet he will blossom into what he’s supposed to be. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to be here
He has the talent but he reminds me of Polanco in that he really does not have the basic instincts and body type of MLB players.
He is too lackadaisical for me and always has been.
Polanco worked his tail off in all regards according to numerous sources. Really tried to improve but injuries and limitations precluded his development
I’d actually rather see him than Cruz, who just won’t go the extra mile and whose basic attitude makes him hard to root for
I think that Polanco was sincere but I do not know about working his tail off.He did not seem to have baseball instincts.I think that he did try to get better and earn his contract but he had a gangly body that was not conducive to being good in ML baseball.
That awkward slide that basically ruined his career reminded me of Cruz’ slide two years ago.
I am enamored with Justin Crawford in AAA (Lehigh Valley). Do you think Cruz could get him straight-up, or would there need to be more added at this point?
The Phillies are very high on Crawford but he hits too many ground balls.Remember that AAA and the ML’s are a vast difference in pitching.
Many successful teams I think would eschew Cruz because he is not fundamentally sound and while not a head case is too up and down regarding hustling.He has been pampered much too long because before Skenes the Pirates had no one else to brag about.
I do not think that Crawford is ML all star caliber but he will be a solid performer and the only way that Cruz can be traded for someone decent is with a second division team with a GM worse than Cherington.
They keep hoping there is someone who they can they turned the corner with. First it was Hayes, and then Cruz. Hayes played like he’d rather be anywhere but in Pittsburgh while Cruz plays like he’s on a sandlot back home, with fans of exit velocity gathered around, holding hands
Hard to imagine Cruz fetching anyone more than what we saw the deadline trades bring.
He hasn’t progressed in years and his raw power should make him an easy 30 hr guy. I can deal with no average if he steals and hits homers but people keep fantasizing about the stupid exit velocity which hasn’t amounted to much.
Hard to give up on but if he had value from other teams, should listen.
Our general manager has assembled the best young pitching staff in all of baseball. The owner is a Scrooge
And has developed no impact position player. Not one.
But agree with point two.
The Mister Potter of our Bedford Falls
I think Nutting is going to fire BC after the season. But I don’t necessarily think it will be due to poor results on the field. I think it will be due to falling attendance.
The Pirates have been a good club at home this year, dare I say a playoff worthy team with 44 victories. Not to mention they have the single most dominant SP at home in all of MLB on the roster. However, that hasn’t resulted in more butts in the seats. They have had a more than 10% decrease in home attendance in 2025 compared to last year.
This type of decline in attendance also happened at the end of the last GM’s tenure.
You may be correct but it should at least be both as Cherington has had absolutely no on field success in six years and that is plenty of time to produce at least a 500 team.
I hope you are right about nutjob firing cherrington. Just hope he sends Kelly with him
Both will be back.
Attendance is on Nutting Williams. If they fired Cherington or at least Shelton don’t you think there would have been more reason for optimism? Signed a bigger better player than Pham? Pham turned out to be fine once season was over but fans seen old washed up stinks when they signed him. Most your tickets are sold before season starts.
You fire Cherington. Give a speech how losing isn’t acceptable and you aren’t rebuilding but contending for playoffs in 2026. Fans have a good laugh. Then you trade for a bat. Hmm. Then sign a bat. Then extend KG. Then extend Skenes. That’s how you get attendance.
Mets are same or worse than last year. There attendance went up a million. All because of Juan Soto. Most those tickets were bought before season started. Now they have the customer they just need to keep them. They don’t need another huge splash they just need to do something to give the illusion of winning baseball. Pirates can’t sign a superstar but they can extend 1 or 2 of them. They can plug some holes. I need to take my victory lap on Soto worked out just as I predicted. Mets got Soto for free. He’s making them $.
“Soto Sweepstakes Power Rankings
1 Mets
2 Yankees
3 Dodgers
4 Boston
5 Toronto
6 Giants
7 Phillies
8 Padres
9 Angels
10 Nationals
11 Royals
I think it comes down to the battle of NY. Yankees already have fans and attendance. Mets benefit more pr marketing ticket sales. Dodgers have the star power. They have THE STAR. They also have the $ and willingness to spend it. They will bid up NY at the very least. Boston has the $ and would benefit from marketing pr. They should be in the 3 spot but with their recent all talk little action I didn’t do it. Toronto could benefit anymore, but they would have to significantly outbid the others. Giants really need some excitement. The gave out that awful Correa contract until they wiggled out of it with the ankle stuff. Philly likes to spend. Padres like to get in on everything but don’t really have the resources. Angels could use a non aging over the hill star. Nats because he used to be there and they have payroll room. Royals I seen the mlbtr article. If your team is in 1 2 spot you should feel really good. 3 4 you got a chance. After that try not to think about it but maybe you can get a Christmas surprise.”
As Paul Tired Mendoza can vouch, I’m not one to brag but pretty freaking amazing analysis ehhh?
You are by far the best poster on this site.
I like to print Dream’s post and then plaster them on my walls
Old Timer-You may be one but you’re not Washed Up in my book.
You go too far though because nee Dream GM is now AI GM and appropriately so.
I tore down those posts when he had to change his name.
I’d put them at the bottom of the bird cage
Agreed!
I am not as down on Nutting as others, but he just seems so ho-hum and shows no will to win. He needs to have some backbone and speak up, sort of like Skenes is doing. He and Cutch have the most influence.
I am realistic and don’t expect them to sign this tier free agents but sign guys who will move the needle and give us a reason to go to games.
It’s funny that by season’s end, Pham looked like a fair deal at 4m but their whole team seems like guys who are “not that bad” but not good enough to really make an impact. Then you’re stuck with them because they aren’t bad enough to move on from.
A dream offseason for me would be to sign Grisham or O’Hearn. Likely a veteran reliever and maybe trade a young pitcher (Burrows, Ashcraft, Barco) for another good young player. If there’s a good offer, move Cruz or Keller. And for sure an extension for Griffin and Skenes will give us real hope.
I heard Nutting is all in this off season. Keep in mind all in for Nutting is what you suggest. But a trade a player who cost more than 5 million even a multi year free agent is a possibility. If he is truly doing this he should have a press conference. Give Pittsburgh a good heart to heart talk. I failed. I hate losing. This isn’t acceptable. All the bs he has said before. People laugh or get triggered. But then he actually does things. Would be great pr move for him. Wow Nutting actually put his $ where his mouth is!!!! He knows absolutely nothing about pr marketing so won’t do it. But just firing Cherington and spending a bit of $ would help. But the fall on the sword I have failed this city speech before doing it would be a boss move. Maybe Nutting is for real!!!!! A new Nutting?!!!!!!!!! I’m not the world’s foremost pr expert but is it just me? My bright eyes opinion thinks Nutting needs a makeover fresh start.
Everyone talks about how it’s criminal that the FO isn’t trying more to be competitive to take advantage of Skenes being here (and not being able to be extended)..That is true, but it’s just as much a disrespect of Cutch, who brought his old legs back to try to win before he retired. Also, getting butts in the seats is paramount – especially if ticket sales determine payroll.
My dream offseason (a pipe dream, absolutely) would be getting either Drake Baldwin (preferable) or Harry Ford, Justin Crawford and then Tyler Soderstrom lol. Burrows/Keller/Cruz/Bart/Harrington would all be gone. I know it would take more than that, but new blood from different cultures is paramount.
The FO is currently courting fan apathy.
AI- Nutting may spend more money next year but it will still be next to nutting.
I don’t know much about the players you’d like to see come here, Gooch, but agree with your ideas about who should go. I’d add Davis, Suwinski, Endy if anyone would take them. I mean, just how much do we have to see?
It’s September but at this point at least, Yorke has been a nice addition. I think Flores would be fine at catcher
And the “new blood” thought is important. The culture here has been contagious. I liked Cruz’s post game comments tonight. Very PR savvy. If only they mirrored his attitude over a long season.
I’m not sure getting butts in the seats is paramount though. The PG’s expose of a 2-3 years ago merely said that attendance and merch sales alone paid personnel salaries. It went on to say that the various revenue streams that come from MLB make ownership a tidy profit. In other words, even if attendance falls short in a season like this, personnel costs will be handled easily
Ah Gotcha. So personally, Endy/Suwinski would be gone (I’ve seen enough). Also, Canario lol. To me, Davis is an interesting case. He has worked his tail off behind the plate to improve himself remarkably.Now that he has turned himself into a satisfactory/Paul Skenes’ catcher, I’m willing to give him an off-season and say “only work on offense, and this is your last shot.” To let him go at this point would only alienate Skenes more than he probably already is.
Point taken about attendance. I know of that article secondhand. In my mind it translated as “more hutte in seats = higher payroll”. But given this ownership thats probably incredibly naive.
I have to agree about Davis. I do believe management messed with the kid’s head when he first got here. Move him to RF without experience there. Then pull him out and DH. Then fail to give him time behind the plate even in blow outs
Then come to spring training and say he’s got a shot, only to watch them bring in two other catchers.
You’re right, he’s worked hard despite all of this
The investigative piece should have spoken volumes to all fans and was supported by an interview with Mark Cuban in which he said that given how profitable this franchise is, the owner would be crazy to sell. In essence, attendance and merchandise is a small piece of the financial pie. I understand that any business exists to make money but the idea that somehow ownership just squeaks by in Pittsburgh is humorous.
We can talk about a GM who is in over his head all we like, but the real problem with the Pirates is an owner who refuses to spend anything above bargain basement prices
Williams was hired as President of Baseball Operations in part because of his tenure with the Penguins in increasing attendance at PPG Arena
He’s not a baseball guy and if attendance is an issue with Nutting, he should be fired too
Really doesn’t matter. All the nutjobs say that the 23rd is the rapture. All us being vaporized lol
What about Byron Buxton to the Pirates?
For Keller, Barco and maybe Henry Davis?
Are you serious?
He must be crazy. Maybe Keller straight up for buxton.
My problems with Buxton are that he loves it in Minnesota,he is always hurt and he is making a lot of money.
I don’t mind trading Keller but I hope that Cherington does not have the chance and they actually get good players for him.
What?
Henry Davis is a bust. He can’t crack the mendoza line. Pitch framing will be worthless soon with the ABS system.
And i figure Minn will need a solid offer in order to part with their top hitter.
Pittsburgh needs bats if they’re gonna contend in 2026.
Contend? You’re a funny guy
They gotta try while Skenes is under contract. Either that or everyone is gonna hate them in 3-4 years More than they do now.
You’re using common sense. I agree
But this ownership ‘s actions are based on greed. Nothing more
He has a no trade and had no desire to be traded. Guess he loves Minnesota and doesn’t care about winning.
Trading pitching for a bat should be plan Z.
Except for Keller and his $
You really feel Spencer Horwitz is capable of proving 7.0 O-WAR?
The Buc’s can’t shop for decent FA’s that can provide a fair amount of production, so they need to find players from other teams that have fallen out of favor for what ever reason and buy at a disc. Where the team will eat money or as a quote from ‘ moneyball’ – “naw, their paying part of your salary to play against them”
Castellanos, benentendi, O’Neil, Profar, yoshida, walker
Still have some production, plug a hole, vet .leadership
30-40 cents on the dollar?
Otherwise it ikf/pham again
Great minds think alike.
Castellanos will come in at 35 cents on the dollar.
A one year stopgap who will provide some power.
If they can’t sign fa’s like you said, wouldn’t be the worse idea to buy players to help out some of these teams and get someone at a discount and maybe a prospect.
They can have Tyler O’Neil for nothing most likely. Just not sure he makes the team better.
Hoof likely provides the only other scenario than what we are accustomed to here. Reclamation projects. Beyond the kinds of players either on their ways out of MLB or headed to Asia at some point, what else can they do?