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Pirates Rebuilding, Shipping Bay?

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Pirates fans, get ready for some big changes.  Rob Biertempfel reports:

Over the new couple of weeks, the Pirates will hire a new manager, scouting director, director of player development and assistant general manager. The turnover could extend to coaches and scouts throughout the system.

New facilities are rising in Bradenton, Fla., and the Dominican Republic. The club also plans to develop a leaner, more efficient data storage system.

Red Sox Pitching Coach John Farrell is the reported favorite to be the Buc’s skipper and Theo Epstein has been singing his praises, writes John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times:

"John has brought so much to our organization," Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said. "He’s brought a sense of accountability to the pitching staff and he is just so organized in everything he does. He prepares our pitchers both mentally and physically every day of the season. He is an extremely sharp guy and the only thing he lacks is much major-league experience as a coach."

Indeed it’s an exciting time to be a Pirates fan after a bit of a dry spell.  Tim noted that the Pirates may shop Jason Bay this winter.  With these structural changes taking place at the developmental levels it seems even more likely.

Posted By Nat Boyle

Odds and Ends: Wakefield, Guillen, Lowell

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Some random rumorage not quite worthy of individual posts…

Twins Interested In Jason Bay?

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Bucco Blog reports that the Twins may have some interest in Pirates outfielder Jason Bay.  It’s possible the Bucs would want Matt Garza in return.  It would be a blockbuster introduction for Neal Huntington and Bill Smith.

It’s always hard to part with young pitching (especially with the likely departure of Johan Santana), but the Twins have needed an offensive boost for a while now.  Bay is signed for 2008-09 at just $13.25MM, so the Twins can definitely squeeze him into the budget.  Garza looks like at least a #3, especially in the NL Central.  This seems like a trade that could benefit both teams.    Thoughts? 

Odds and Ends

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Here are some various trade rumors that didn’t quite have enough behind them for individual posts.

  • There’s a gossip section in the Boston Herald called Inside Track, written by Gayle Fee, Laura Raposa, and Erin Hayes.  They heard that Coco Crisp told fans at the recent Division Champs celebration that he expects to be dealt this winter to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury.  By most accounts Crisp has developed into a fine defensive center fielder, and he’s under contract for $4.75MM in ’08, $5.75MM in ’09, and an $8MM club option in ’10.  Perhaps Crisp could be used to acquire a third baseman in the event that Mike Lowell leaves and the Red Sox can’t sign A-Rod. 
  • Phil Wood of the Washington Examiner speculates that the Nationals could get in on Jason Bay.  Not the worst idea, but the Nats don’t seem to have the available young pitching for the deal.
  • Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution likes the Nate Robertson to Atlanta idea, tossing Joe Blanton and Shaun Marcum into the mix as other options.
  • Bob Wickman may quietly retire, bumming out these guys.
  • El Lefty Malo dissects recent comments from Giants GM Brian Sabean.
  • Peter Abraham suggests the Mets trade Carlos Beltran for pitching.

Pirates Could Shop Jason Bay

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Read between the lines in new Pirate GM Neal Huntington’s recent comments, and it certainly seems like the Bucs might consider trading left fielder Jason Bay this winter.  Bay wouldn’t be surprised to go.

The 29 year-old has experienced by far the worst season of his career this year.  After posting OPSs above .900 in his first three seasons, he’s down to just .748 this year (.248/.328/.420).  He only really looked like himself in May.

Back in December, Bay had arthroscopic knee surgery.  However, Bay has said that this has only affected his explosiveness on the basepaths and not his hitting or defense this year.  He’s missed time in September with tendinitis, but it’s been his other knee.  Bay’s not blaming his health at all for his down year, though he admits he’s slowed down.  It could be a confidence issue, it could be that he’s burnt out on all the losing.  It could be a good old-fashioned off-year, similar to those experienced by top comparables Tim Salmon and Dale Murphy.

At an incredibly affordable $5.75MM for ’08 and $7.5MM in ’09, many teams would love to acquire Bay.  He could certainly return to his elite level of 2004-06.  He’d be a nice addition for the White Sox, Twins, Padres (his former club), Orioles, Padres, Dodgers, A’s, Rangers, Angels…OK, almost any team.  I’m guessing the price would be two very good young players, one or both a pitcher.  It’ll be interesting to see if Huntington makes a blockbuster deal in his first offseason as GM, possibly at the Winter Meetings. 

Bucs To Let Chacon, Armas, Izturis Go

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According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are likely to cut ties with three of their veteran players this winter: Shawn Chacon, Tony Armas Jr., and Cesar Izturis.  As it should be.

Chacon, 29, has been decent in relief (3.52 ERA in 76.2 innings).  His 1.7 K/BB is worrisome, but Chacon has always been prone to the free pass.  One change is that Chacon is back to getting groundballs near a league average rate, as he did when he succeeded with the Yankees in ’05.  While Chacon wanted to stay, a contract of at least two years, $8MM would be required.  Such a deal just doesn’t make sense for Pittsburgh.  $3.8MM off the books when Chacon leaves.

Armas was a bad move by Dave Littlefield in the first place.  He was predictably bad this year.  Then again, I didn’t think much of Steve Trachsel in the AL East and the O’s spun him into two useful players (Scott Moore and Rocky Cherry).  Anyway, the Pirates will give those 93 innings Armas ate up to a younger player in 2008.  That’s $3.5MM off the books.

Izturis was an odd acquisition.  I think Littlefield expected to move Jack Wilson when he acquired Izturis.  When that fell through the Pirates just looked silly.  The Cubs paid the Pirates an undisclosed amount of cash to take Izturis so I can’t say how much is off the books here.

The result of dumping this trio is $8MM to play with for the next Pirates’ GM.  Let’s hope he or she uses it wisely for once.

Pirates Aim To Extend Capps, Sanchez

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According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the next Pirates GM will approach closer Matt Capps and second baseman Freddy Sanchez about multiyear contracts.

It certainly makes sense to lock up Capps.  The 24 year-old is having a spectacular season, his first as the Bucs’ closer.  He’s got a 2.04 ERA and 3.9 K/BB.  Kovacevic says the plan appears to be to throw him some extra bucks in ’08 in return for a discount covering his three arbitration years.  I wonder whether the Red Sox will consider a similar contract offer for Jonathan Papelbon, who has the same amount of service time.

Sanchez turns 30 in December.  He’s hitting .312/.352/.454 this year in 570 ABs.  Kovacevic believes the goal for him is to cover his final two years before free agency (2008-09).  However it’s not out of the question that the Bucs try to tack on 2010 as well.  His current $2.75MM salary will definitely increase next year through arbitration if a multiyear pact isn’t reached.  I could see an offer something like two years, $10MM or three years, $18MM.  

Jack Wilson Staying Or Going?

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Dejan Kovacevic and Rob Biertempfel both spoke to Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson recently.  While the quotes gathered from each aren’t mutually exclusive, they don’t seem to gel when compared.

The main point of Kovacevic’s section on Wilson is that he would like to stay in Pittsburgh, mainly because of the change in management.

Biertempfel had an extended Q&A with Wilson.  With him, Wilson speaks of a "very good possibility" this is his last season as a Pirate.  The shortstop has been mulling over some kind of goodbye to Pirates fans at the last home game this year.

Wilson’s OPS was down to .641 on July 28th.  But in 99 ABs since, Wilson hit .414/.474/.677 to raise his overall OPS to a more respectable .757.  The hot streak might make the shortstop’s contract go down a little more easily for another GM.  Wilson makes $6.5MM in ’08 and $7.25MM in ’09.  He has an $8.4MM option for 2010 with a $600K buyout attached.  Wilson can block trades to six clubs each year, but he told the Bucs in August he’d waive the clause for any trade.  The Pirates were in negotiations with the Tigers at one point.

Pirates Fire Dave Littlefield

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The reign of terror is over – the Pirates have fired GM Dave Littlefield.  He’d been the team’s GM since July 31st, 2001 and his contract actually runs through 2008.  A partial list of his bad moves is below.

  • 1/2/02 – Agreed to terms with free-agent RHP Mike Williams on a two-year contract with a club option for 2004. 
  • 12/20/02 – Acquired RHP Matt Herges from the Montreal Expos in exchange for minor league pitchers Chris Young and Jon Searles.
  • 1/31/03 – Designated RHP Bronson Arroyo for assignment.
  • 7/22/03 – Acquired IF Jose Hernandez, minor league RHP Matt Bruback and a player to be named later from Chicago Cubs for 3B Aramis Ramirez, OF Kenny Lofton and cash considerations. 
  • 11/20/03 – Claimed off waivers: pitcher Matt Guerrier by Minnesota, pitcher Duaner Sanchez by Los Angeles.
  • 12/16/04 – Acquired C Benito Santiago, along with cash considerations, from Kansas City in exchange for RHP Leo Nunez. 
  • 7/28/05 – Acquired Minor League INF J.J. Furmaniak from the San Diego Padres in exchange for C David Ross. 
  • 7/31/05 – Acquired OF Jody Gerut and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for OF Matt Lawton. 
  • 1/4/06 – Signed OF Jeromy Burnitz to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2007.
  • 2/28/06 – Agreed to terms with SS Jack Wilson on a three-year contract extension (through the 2009 season) with a club option for 2010.   
  • 7/31/06 – Acquired OF Xavier Nady from the New York Mets in exchange for RHP Roberto Hernandez and LHP Oliver Perez.
  • 2/1/07 – Signed RHP Tony Armas Jr. to a one-year contract, with a club option for 2008. 
  • 7/31/07 – Acquired RHP Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for OF Rajai Davis and a player to be named. 

Draft picks:

  • 2002 – Bryan Bullington at #1 overall (over B.J. Upton, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Jeff Francis, Jeremy Hermida, Joe Saunders, Khalil Greene, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher, Cole Hamels, James Loney, Jeremy Guthrie, Jeff Francoeur, Joe Blanton, and Matt Cain).
  • 2006 – Brad Lincoln at #4 overall (over Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain)

I admit that showing only this stuff is not fair, hindsight is 20/20, and the Pirates had certain financial constraints.  Littlefield made good deals and good draft picks too.  However, these are the reasons he was fired as far as I can tell.

Pirates Could Trade Duffy

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Remember Chris Duffy?  Before the 2007 season began, fantasy leaguers looked at his September ’06 numbers (.336/.403/.458, 12 steals) and cast him as a possible 100 run, 50 steal leadoff man for the Bucs. 

Indeed, Duffy entering ’07 with the Pirates’ starting center field job.  He suffered a sore neck in Spring Training, but shook it off to post a respectable .350 OBP in April.  He slumped in May and was moved to the #2 hole.  Then in mid-June he sprained his right hamstring.  That led to an ankle sprain later that month.  Now he’s got a shoulder problem and may miss the rest of the season.

With Nate McLouth having a fine August and top prospect Andrew McCutchen coming on strong, Duffy’s window with the Pirates may have closed.  According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are ready to move on from Duffy.  The implication is that they’ll trade him.

Whenever young center fielders come available, the Marlins are always mentioned.  Are the Fish still on the prowl for a center fielder?  Most likely – the Miami Herald mentioned earlier this month that the team had casual internal discussions about moving Hanley Ramirez to center field, but the current plan is to keep him at shortstop. 

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