OnlyBucs

0C3E32322614373E3336393E5F0 wrote: Next year is Machado and Harper.



It will be interesting if those two are traded this year so there is some return. 


I'd expect the Nationals to be in the playoffs so Harper will stay.


I expect the Nationals to be in contention too. So, it will be interesting. I have to think the Nationals will try to extend Harper and might be a thing all year. Before this off season, he was projected to get $400-$500 million deal.

7B70787471706B2E285F667E777070317C701F0 wrote: This is also what happens when the HR is cheapened.  So many players are hitting 20+ HRs.  Mike Moustakas has one year (2017) where he hit more than 22 HRs.  Even Gregory Polanco hit 22 HRs once.



I wanted Moustakas because I didn't think he would get a big deal and the Pirates could afford him.  I was told I was wrong and Moustakas had offers.



I did want Moran if Cole was traded to the Astros.  At least that worked out.  Moran will be cheaper and here longer too.  Hopefully, this solves 3B for years to come. 


Moustakas had offers.  He turned them down because he was told by his agent better ones were coming.  He was told to reject the 17.4 qualifying offer by his agent.



Moustakas could have been had with the way things were going in February.  I'm sure the Pirates didn't even try.  Meanwhile we are set with a rookie 3Bman that may or may not be a long term solution in Pittsburgh.  Personally, I would have tried with Moustakas, if the Pirates were truly serious about competing like they maintain they would.



I know what I get from Moustakas.  I don't with Polanco.  Polanco's 22-homer year seems like long ago and could be very much a fluke based on his last two years.



I did want Moran in the Cole deal too. Why? Because I knew Kang wasn't coming back and the Pirates weren't going to even try to upgrade 3B with a good option. Add in I knew who the Astros weren't trading in the Cole deal, Moran because obvious target.

What other offers did Moustakas turn down? The Angels confirmed they never made a 3 year $45 million offer for Moustakas. He turned down the Qualifying Offer hoping he would get a multi-year deal worth more. He and his agent were wrong.



He ended up signing a one year deal with a bad team that is rebuilding. All a long you said he wouldn't do that or even consider the Pirates as he wanted to win.



Moustakas might have had a fluke season. It was the first time he has hit more than 22 HRs. Time will tell.



I don't think the Pirates could have sat around that long not knowing their 3B situation. That's what they did last year and it backfired big time.

I think he would have been a decent offseason pickup considering our needs, but we're going overboard here. I have issues with the Cole trade in general but I'd rather be taking a chance with Moran than have Moustakas for one season.

0A3834342012313835303F38590 wrote: I think he would have been a decent offseason pickup considering our needs, but we're going overboard here.  I have issues with the Cole trade in general but I'd rather be taking a chance with Moran than have Moustakas for one season. 


I agree...there's plenty of things to be critical of NH for, but IMHO, this isn't one of them.