OnlyBucs

123F32232435226261500 wrote:

Have to believe 5 of Taillon, Keller, Musgrove, Brault, Kuhl and Brubaker head the list. Williams was good for one half of one season but has since regressed so much that it's hard to say he's better than any of those 6. They'll probably give Ponce a chance in ST and they always seem to bring in a washed up veteran to compete for a starting job.
That's my point, getting a washed up vet will cost you as much as Williams and you won't know what you have and a much older player.

77565E775C54330 wrote: You guys know that it seems the BC is hearing us.  He is dumping the salary of course but he is also dumping vets who will not really add to the Pirates' future and going with the kids.  That is what many of us have been saying all season.  Now we will see what the kids have.


He is dumping salary and that's the end of the sentence.

There is certainly more to chop - Bashlor, Poppen, Austin Davis, Perez the backup Catcher. I'd gladly use those spots for Rule 5 picks and see if they pan out since these guys have nothing.

6C4D456C474F280 wrote: That sounds like BC might not participate in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft.  Although if something comes up that want to go that way there are a few candidates we've already mentioned that could go the DFA route.


They are sure to DFA a few more players before the draft. The non-tender deadline is not until Dec 2.

475F5D5A5A4D5C5B464751340 wrote: We will see, if Cherington evaluations is good or not.  I personally thought Williams was good enough to keep who do they have that is better at least as a number 5 starter.  If Williams catches on and does well elsewhere it will tell us something.


Williams has been replacement level for a while now. He had no margin or error with his stuff, and they have more than 5 guys that are better, plus a couple young guys that can help next year. Not much reason to keep him.



Osuna was also bad, but fans seemed to love him. I dont get that at all.

14333A3A33202333142335560 wrote: We will see, if Cherington evaluations is good or not.  I personally thought Williams was good enough to keep who do they have that is better at least as a number 5 starter.  If Williams catches on and does well elsewhere it will tell us something.


Williams has been replacement level for a while now.  He had no margin or error with his stuff, and they have more than 5 guys that are better, plus a couple young guys that can help next year. Not much reason to keep him.



Osuna was also bad, but fans seemed to love him.  I dont get that at all.


I get it. But I disagree that the fans love him. I think they just wanted to see him get a chance, considering how little hitting the team has. He always hit well in the minors but never got much chance at the MLB level. He showed good power. He's a good defensive 1Bman and didn't hurt them when used at 3B. He sometimes struggled in the OF but has an excellent arm. But it's hard for any player to reach his full potential when he rarely plays with any degree of consistency. Even harder when he knows he's going to be optioned at any moment if he doesn't use his few opportunities to hit like someone who plays everyday.



Osuna has never had the chance to play everyday. He's never even spent an entire season on the MLB roster. The most he ever played in one period was when he played regularly the last month of 2019. He only hit about .230 during that period and was again a nonfactor on the 2020 team. So in 4 years of shuffling on and off the roster he's had 1 month of extended play. They weren't going to take Bell off 1B, in 2020 they had Bell and Moran for 1B/DH. When they needed an outfielder, they used infielders. So other than 1 month in 2019, they never seemed interested enough in Osuna to see what he could do if given a chance to play regularly. And since he spent that 1 trial month hitting like a guy who had never batted regularly vs MLB pitching, the Pirates seemed to conclude they had been right not to give him more of a chance.



So a team that's been desperate for hitting and for power has consistently treated Osuna as an afterthought despite his power and minor league hitting (.269-A+, .280-AA, .300-AAA) that improved at each level. I hope he catches on with a team that gives him a legit chance to play and see what he can do. I think he at least deserves more of a chance than the Pirates gave him. Especially considering the Pirates don't seem to excell at assessing their own talent.

Osuna had over 700 PAs in the majors and was not good.



He played the OF and 3B, but his defense at those spots is pretty suspect, especially when he does not really hit that much to make up for it with his bat. He had a few decent seasons and a couple good ones in AAA, but nothing really exciting. For his minor league career, he was hovering more around average power than plus. In the majors he was subpar for a corner player with minimal defensive value.



How much of a chance do you give a guy when he gives you no reason for one? Probably a reason he is likely going to Asia.

I'm with you on this, BVB. Our issue is the first 8 guys and pitchers, not the 25th. He's not the kind of guy I get upset about when they move on from him.

I hope Osuna turns into the next Jose Bautista!

7045525259605252595E52370 wrote: I'm with you on this, BVB.  Our issue is the first 8 guys and pitchers, not the 25th.  He's not the kind of guy I get upset about when they move on from him.






They have enough trouble filling that out. Pirates should take advantage this year with all the "financial flexibility" they have to pick up talent.