2024 Off-Season Thread

[Babe Adams]

I think that Russell Martin is the only competitive free agent position player the Pirates have signed in the NH-BC era, is that right? Two years, $15 million. I guess you could argue for Jung Ho Kang, Four years, $16 million including $5 million to his Korean team. It seems like the Pirates plan contemplates signing this type of player as a last resort, at best.

[JollyRoger8]

Guardians just traded Josh Naylor to Arizona for a RHP (Ciccone) that had an ERA of 6.66
Meanwhile the Pirates traded Ortiz a starting pitcher with a 3.32 ERA and a 100 MPH fastball plus 2 highly regarded LHP prospects. For a 1B with mediocre power and terrible splits. I don’t really care that Horwitz has 6 years of control. Skenes will be gone by then.
How in the world did BC screw up this deal with Cleveland.

Just when you think the Pirates cannot go any cheaper, they manage to find a way. Josh Naylor was the heart and soul of the Guardians with power and a gold glove. He would have been a leader on this team. More of a leader than Cutch.

[JollyRoger8]

If I was GM I would have prioritized bringing Chapman back as risk mitigation for Bednar. Then I would have signed Pennsylvania native Christian Walker for 1B or traded for Josh Naylor. Finally I would see what it took to bring back Marte

[fjk090852-7]

Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana signed today for 12.5 million and 12 million dollars. When I see those numbers I wonder how much the Pirates may have to offer Cutch to return in 2025 ? I have a feeling it will be more than the 5 million dollars he agreed to the past two years. It may take around 8 million dollars to get him back for 2025.

[Doc]

Guardians just traded Josh Naylor to Arizona for a RHP (Ciccone) that had an ERA of 6.66
Meanwhile the Pirates traded Ortiz a starting pitcher with a 3.32 ERA and a 100 MPH fastball plus 2 highly regarded LHP prospects. For a 1B with mediocre power and terrible splits. I don’t really care that Horwitz has 6 years of control. Skenes will be gone by then.
How in the world did BC screw up this deal with Cleveland.

Just when you think the Pirates cannot go any cheaper, they manage to find a way. Josh Naylor was the heart and soul of the Guardians with power and a gold glove. He would have been a leader on this team. More of a leader than Cutch.

It was no screw-up. Spencer Horwitz is here instead of Josh Naylor because he earns $800,000 while Naylor's due $12 million. Money, not talent, is always the deciding factor.

[mouse]

Horwitz also has a few years before he gets expensive while Naylor would be gone next year (or at the trade deadline). They are hoping for someone cheap and adequate who will last a few years.

[JollyRoger8]

Horwitz also has a few years before he gets expensive while Naylor would be gone next year (or at the trade deadline). They are hoping for someone cheap and adequate who will last a few years.

The problem is cheap and adequate even with a few years of control is not going to make you a playoff team. Meanwhile the clock is ticking on the Skenes window.
This offseason has been a disaster so far. The Pirates are a lesser team today than they were at the conclusion of the season.
The have jettisoned another $20M of payroll which probably takes their current payroll below $70M.
Most of the better free agents have signed, because of the owners refusal to have a payroll over $100M.
The Dodgers will be paying a luxury tax of $103M this year of which Nutting will get a decent chunk. That money is “supposed” to be used for ML payroll among the recipients.

[JollyRoger8]

Between Nuttings refusal to to fund an average ML payroll and BC getting fleeced in trades, we are screwed

[3pirates3]

"The upside of years of (contractual) control. Wow. So you mean this guy isn't just mediocre but might be here for a while? Where do I buy tickets?" - Tribune-Review

[fjk090852-7]

Between Nuttings refusal to to fund an average ML payroll and BC getting fleeced in trades, we are screwed

I think Horwitz will surprise most of us. Sure, not 20 homers +, but solid contact with lots of doubles. I agree with many posters that many of the free agents who fit in the Pirates mandatory price range are off the boards thanks to penny pinching Bob.