OnlyBucs

OK...wishful thinking here. But, after letting these deals sink in for a few days, I find myself thinking about the 25 man roster we'll have on opening day. Am I crazy to think that it's not THAT bad? In this projection, I'm assuming Harrison gets traded.



LF-Luplow

CF-Marte

RF-Polanco

3B-Moran

SS-Mercer (Newman waiting in the wings)

2B-Frazier

1B-Bell

C-Cervelli (should be Diaz, but that's another thread...hopefully Cervelli is traded)



Bench:

Rodriguez

Diaz (or Stallings if Cervelli is traded)

Osuna

Freese

Moroff



Rotation:

Taillon

Nova

Musgrove

Two of: Glasnow/Williams/Kuhl/Brault



Bullpen:

Williams/Kuhl/Brault/Glasnow losers

Rivero

Feliz

Crick



And two more from a slew of bullpen arms. I'm not enamored with this roster, but we've run a LOT worse out there over the years. I think if everything breaks right, this team could, COULD win 85 games. If everything breaks wrong, they probably win 65. But, in no scenario do I see them losing 100. They'll probably win around 75, but I see lots of reasons to hope for 2019, including continued development from Bell, Moran, and the rotation.



This doesn't change the fact that I'm fed up with this team, and don't plan to support them in any way in 2018. But, I do think they'll be better than we think. Remove the emotion from trading McCutchen and Cole, and there are still lots of quality players here.

This roster looks like it's ready to pull off a 70 win season.



Right in Dave Littlefield territory.



I'd tear it down more, try to get to the 55-60 win territory and get some high draft picks.

7353405D5C320 wrote: This roster looks like it's ready to pull off a 70 win season.



Right in Dave Littlefield territory.



I'd tear it down more, try to get to the 55-60 win territory and get some high draft picks.


Oh, I agree. I'm talking best case scenario here. I'd certainly look to deal Cervelli and Harrison at the very least. Maybe they could even eat some salary and, I don't know, get a decent prospect back in return. But, we all know that won't happen.

With so few guarantees for 2018, it's impossible to view this year as anything but a retool/rebuild.



I hope that they move Harrison, I think they need to see what they have in Luplow, Moroff and Moran. Maybe they have a Chris Taylor in one of those guys. And if Cervelli is healthy? They should have a good bullpen and a lot of guys that could hold down roles in the rotation.

Nice guess at Opening Day roster.  Only have problems with your selection of Starters/Relievers.  After the 2017 seasons they had, Williams and Kuhl deserve the 4 & 5 spots in the rotation.  If Glasnow or Brault pitch lights out in ST then maybe one of them goes into the rotation.



Speaking of Glasnow this is a make or break year for him. Will all is stuff and talent he needs to finally find out how to pitch with all of that. Otherwise he become a reliever and may not be of great use to the Pirates. Consider Keller might be here sometime in 18 if he produces at Indy. How nice that would be having so many young options for the mound.

5E56556274517679170 wrote: OK...wishful thinking here. But, after letting these deals sink in for a few days, I find myself thinking about the 25 man roster we'll have on opening day. Am I crazy to think that it's not THAT bad? In this projection, I'm assuming Harrison gets traded.



LF-Luplow

CF-Marte

RF-Polanco

3B-Moran

SS-Mercer (Newman waiting in the wings)

2B-Frazier

1B-Bell

C-Cervelli (should be Diaz, but that's another thread...hopefully Cervelli is traded)



Bench:

Rodriguez

Diaz (or Stallings if Cervelli is traded)

Osuna

Freese

Moroff



Rotation:

Taillon

Nova

Musgrove

Two of: Glasnow/Williams/Kuhl/Brault



Bullpen:

Williams/Kuhl/Brault/Glasnow losers

Rivero

Feliz

Crick



And two more from a slew of bullpen arms. I'm not enamored with this roster, but we've run a LOT worse out there over the years. I think if everything breaks right, this team could, COULD win 85 games. If everything breaks wrong, they probably win 65. But, in no scenario do I see them losing 100. They'll probably win around 75, but I see lots of reasons to hope for 2019, including continued development from Bell, Moran, and the rotation.



This doesn't change the fact that I'm fed up with this team, and don't plan to support them in any way in 2018. But, I do think they'll be better than we think. Remove the emotion from trading McCutchen and Cole, and there are still lots of quality players here.




That is a brutally bad roster. If the name being floated around from the Muts for Harrison does come in fruition to us, I think he is a bench player, possibly a starter in left over Luplow. Doesn't change the outlook.

Who from Mets for Josh have you heard?

4A7769646B616A486077666061050 wrote: With so few guarantees for 2018, it's impossible to view this year as anything but a retool/rebuild.



I hope that they move Harrison, I think they need to see what they have in Luplow, Moroff and Moran. Maybe they have a Chris Taylor in one of those guys. And if Cervelli is healthy? They should have a good bullpen and a lot of guys that could hold down roles in the rotation.


Based on the roster presented I agree these three could be the keys to a better than expected offense. Each provides better power potential at their respective positions than other internal candidates.



I am very confident in Frazier's bat, but I don't think his defense is professional grade at 2B. He might make the perfect super utility player getting 4 or so starts a week at different spots. And on off-nights, what a luxury it would be to be able to insert him as a pinch hitter at the highest leverage spot. Remember all those times we loaded the bases with no outs only to end up with a goose egg?

6A575A5D4A4C570A0900380 wrote: Who from Mets for Josh have you heard?


This guy. It's been reported that supposedly the Muts have NO PROBLEM sending this guy to Pittsburgh in a deal for Harrison.



http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?pl ... g/2017/ALL

I don't think Osuna makes the club unless he can play some 3b. I can see Bostwick making the roster since he can play LF/2b/3b.I was thinking Luplow goes back to AAA for some more AB only played 44 games there. Player stats aren't showing up @milb the last few days and its making me mad