OnlyBucs

In looking at what it now costs to extend a pitcher who has posted good stats and is facing arbitration, the Pirates will soon be in even bigger trouble than they are now. The window on reasonable contract amounts for all of the Pirate starters will soon go puff.



With the potential exception of Keller, there do not appear to be any real pitching studs in the high A - AAA level of the system. Sure, there are a host of potential back-end starters, but no one who appears to be even a # 2 starter.



In short, if the strength of this team is pitching and the strength of the pitching will only be inexpensive through the 2020 season, and the owner wants to spend as little as possible, the owner and management should realize that the window to winning is now and they should invest accordingly.



Keuchel likely never was a potential target because of the accompanying compensation, but there were others out there who could have made this more competitive now, and who wouldn't have required a 5 year $137 mil contract.

133F37303B1C2B3D2D5E0 wrote: In looking at what it now costs to extend a pitcher who has posted good stats and is facing arbitration, the Pirates will soon be in even bigger trouble than they are now.  The window on reasonable contract amounts for all of the Pirate starters will soon go puff. 



With the potential exception of Keller, there do not appear to be any real pitching studs in the high A - AAA level of the system.  Sure, there are a host of potential back-end starters, but no one who appears to be even a # 2 starter.



In short, if the strength of this team is pitching and the strength of the pitching will only be inexpensive through the 2020 season, and the owner wants to spend as little as possible, the owner and management should realize that the window to winning is now and they should invest accordingly. 



Keuchel likely never was a potential target because of the accompanying compensation, but there were others out there who could have made this more competitive now, and who wouldn't have required a 5 year $137 mil contract.   


yes, when you have a strength and it appears like the Bucs have that in pitching for 2019 you have to capitalize. The way to capitalize is to reduce the question marks on the team. That was a pretty big fail this off season.



In hindsight the trade of Nova probably weakened the team for 2019.

1A3C3D2A3C2C5F0 wrote:



In hindsight the trade of Nova probably weakened the team for 2019.




I'm not sure that's even hindsight.

IMHO it may that teams are thinking Keuchel is trending to more average and not worth close to what he's asking. It just seems to me "ONE" team would take a shot at him before now.

It doesn't pass the smell test something more here than meets the eye.

76616E7667736A67726A060 wrote: IMHO it may that teams are thinking Keuchel is trending to more average and not worth close to what he's asking. It just seems to me "ONE" team would take a shot at him before now.

It doesn't pass the smell test something more here than meets the eye.


To follow your idea, it may be more than just his unrealistic salary demands but also the draft choice compensation that the signing team would have to give up to sign him. Who knows though, if he goes unsigned until after the draft a team could do so without losing a high draft choice. Yes, his situation smells worse than being sprayed by a skunk.

Glad Keuchel isn't signed. Glad to see these crazy soft markets continuing. The owner's are like a freight train barreling towards a 2021 strike.



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