Let's Make a Deal

[mouse]

mlbtr is running a poll on whether the Pirates should trade a catcher this off-season. Right now, trading one (with that one unidentified) is leading. See https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/ ... tcher.html

I'm not sure I would trade any position player (that another team might actually want).

[Surgnbuck]

I wouldn't. They have control over all 4, if they make a trade do it as a deadline deal. If Davis can get his hitting back, the Bucs have a rare commodity of 4 competent catchers.

[Bobster]

mlbtr is running a poll on whether the Pirates should trade a catcher this off-season. Right now, trading one (with that one unidentified) is leading. See https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/ ... tcher.html

I'm not sure I would trade any position player (that another team might actually want).

Bart established himself as a legit MLB starting catcher. He has trade value.

Davis is not attractive to other teams for the same reasons he can't make it with the Pirates. In a trade, he might fetch a 19 year old barely marginal prospect in a rookie league. (Not bad for a Cherington #1 overall pick.)

Rodriguez has some potential but is still an unknown commodity. Can he make it as a catcher? Who knows? Will he hit well enough to play 1B or OF? Who knows? He's got enough potential to fetch a relief pitcher or a marginal AA or AAA prospect.

Bart looks like the only reliable catcher they have. If they trade him, they might regret having to go with Rodriguez or Davis. If they trade one of the others, they would be trading them when they have the least trade value. So why bother?

IMHO, Bart is the starter and they keep the other two to either see them gain trade value or become assets to the team.

[Ecbucs]

mlbtr is running a poll on whether the Pirates should trade a catcher this off-season. Right now, trading one (with that one unidentified) is leading. See https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/ ... tcher.html

I'm not sure I would trade any position player (that another team might actually want).

Bart established himself as a legit MLB starting catcher. He has trade value.

Davis is not attractive to other teams for the same reasons he can't make it with the Pirates. In a trade, he might fetch a 19 year old barely marginal prospect in a rookie league. (Not bad for a Cherington #1 overall pick.)

Rodriguez has some potential but is still an unknown commodity. Can he make it as a catcher? Who knows? Will he hit well enough to play 1B or OF? Who knows? He's got enough potential to fetch a relief pitcher or a marginal AA or AAA prospect.

Bart looks like the only reliable catcher they have. If they trade him, they might regret having to go with Rodriguez or Davis. If they trade one of the others, they would be trading them when they have the least trade value. So why bother?

IMHO, Bart is the starter and they keep the other two to either see them gain trade value or become assets to the team.

keeping them all at this point seems like the best long term strategy. Your analysis makes a lot of sense to me.