2024 Off-Season Thread

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1876506318712066091

https://x.com/Pirates/status/1876666382273987047

https://x.com/EthanHullihen/status/1876440426162602110

[3pirates3]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/ ... agent.html

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... al01.shtml

https://x.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/1876712269310013916

[fjk090852-7]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/ ... agent.html

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... al01.shtml

I am probably in the minority as to whether the Pirates should pursue Alex Verdugo. Yes last season he didn’t have as good of a year as in the past, but I still like the lefty bat in PNC, as well as his defense. With the Pirates good starting pitching, the team needs a good defensive team in the field. I know another negative towards Verdugo is his average versus left handed pitching. On certain days play Billy Cook in the outfield. He handled himself fairly well when he came up in September. He hit a few homers, his defense was real strong, but he had his share of strikeouts. I want to watch how he works out over a longer period of games. A platoon of Verdugo and Cook may fill the open position in the Pirates outfield.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1876770949309043187

https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1876780183174168633

https://x.com/Feinsand/status/1876783883489870038

[Javy]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/ ... agent.html

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... al01.shtml

I am probably in the minority as to whether the Pirates should pursue Alex Verdugo. Yes last season he didn’t have as good of a year as in the past, but I still like the lefty bat in PNC, as well as his defense. With the Pirates good starting pitching, the team needs a good defensive team in the field. I know another negative towards Verdugo is his average versus left handed pitching. On certain days play Billy Cook in the outfield. He handled himself fairly well when he came up in September. He hit a few homers, his defense was real strong, but he had his share of strikeouts. I want to watch how he works out over a longer period of games. A platoon of Verdugo and Cook may fill the open position in the Pirates outfield.

I do not see any drawback to pursuing Verdugo. He's a solid defender, and doesn't strike out often, which would be a benefit to the offense. Not a lot of power, but that could change as he ages. Hits a lot of doubles, so adding a little loft to his line drives could help the HR's creep up. The only negative is I recall reading he's not the best teammate in the world, and sometimes doesn't hustle.
The biggest obstacle is that reports are out there that the Blue Jays and Mets are interested in him as well. I doubt he selects the Bucs over them unless he isn't comfortable in the big city atmosphere. If it is solely about the $$$ then he likely doesn't come here.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1877071208950178016

[Doc]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/ ... agent.html

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... al01.shtml

I am probably in the minority as to whether the Pirates should pursue Alex Verdugo. Yes last season he didn’t have as good of a year as in the past, but I still like the lefty bat in PNC, as well as his defense. With the Pirates good starting pitching, the team needs a good defensive team in the field. I know another negative towards Verdugo is his average versus left handed pitching. On certain days play Billy Cook in the outfield. He handled himself fairly well when he came up in September. He hit a few homers, his defense was real strong, but he had his share of strikeouts. I want to watch how he works out over a longer period of games. A platoon of Verdugo and Cook may fill the open position in the Pirates outfield.

I do not see any drawback to pursuing Verdugo. He's a solid defender, and doesn't strike out often, which would be a benefit to the offense. Not a lot of power, but that could change as he ages. Hits a lot of doubles, so adding a little loft to his line drives could help the HR's creep up. The only negative is I recall reading he's not the best teammate in the world, and sometimes doesn't hustle.
The biggest obstacle is that reports are out there that the Blue Jays and Mets are interested in him as well. I doubt he selects the Bucs over them unless he isn't comfortable in the big city atmosphere. If it is solely about the $$$ then he likely doesn't come here.

Verdugo would be an upgrade over whoever we had in RF in ‘24 but, again, it’s a low bar. I’d take him but I’d rather have him as a fourth outfielder because we acquired/signed a really good right fielder.

[fjk090852-7]

Tomorrow is the last day in which teams and arbitration players can settle on contracts for the upcoming season. If there is no agreement then they submit figures for arbitration. I would expect some Pirate player signings tomorrow. It seems like any free agent signing are not imminent, even though some information has appeared that the Pirates have some interest in a couple free agent outfielders.

[Dutton]

Just want to let the pro-Verdugo faction on this board know they can count me in. I think it was fjk who noted that a Verdugo/Cook platoon could work out well. I agree!