2024 Off-Season Thread

[fjk090852-7]

The Winter Meetings will begin in a few days, and I am going to be optimistic and predict that the Pirates will return from the Meetings with at least one new position player. He may be acquired through a trade, or free agent signing at the meetings. There has been a lot of negative attention given to the Pirates so far this offseason, and one way to address it is through the acquisition of players who could get the team to postseason baseball. We know Nutting is not going to tell the media what the Pirates intend to do to address the negative narrative, but a couple of players that could solidify the lineup would go a long way to stop the negativity.

[fjk090852-7]

https://www.si.com/mlb/rob-manfred-buzz ... e-baseball

https://x.com/jonmorosi/status/1864032843216633977

OMG!!!

Most probably haven't heard of the proposal for a "Golden At-Bat," but the basic concept is that a team could choose one at-bat in every game to use its best hitter regardless of where they are in the lineup. So if, say the New York Yankees had the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they could bring Aaron Judge to the plate even if it wasn't his turn in the order. It would be a one-time replacement, not a substitution like a pinch hitter.

If MLB does this, on top of the other recent rule changes, they’ll lose me for good. This is the most ridiculous idea of them all, and that’s really saying something.

This is a very stupid proposal by the Commissioner. I have posted this before, and I would like the Owners and Players to agree on a rule which gives teams two healthy scratches each game. The previous starting pitcher, and the next day's pitcher would be scratched, and two players would be added to the roster. Sure, the owners would have to pay two additional players on each team's roster, but for each game 26 players would be available to play. Since two additional players were available maybe the 10 th inning ghost runner rule would go away or possibly teams play a couple innings before the league uses the ghost runner rule. Just some thoughts on a cold winter's night.

[mouse]

Rosenthal is suggesting the Pirates will use Reynolds part time at first base. I wonder if that's actual news or if he's just speculating. I would think if they were to shift Reynolds to first, they would do so, so he can fully adjust to it. Endy and Cook would then be available for spot starts and the Pirates could focus on getting a good outfielder (and I can hope the hitting people can find an answer for Suwinski (sp).

[Possum]

Rosenthal is suggesting the Pirates will use Reynolds part time at first base. I wonder if that's actual news or if he's just speculating. I would think if they were to shift Reynolds to first, they would do so, so he can fully adjust to it. Endy and Cook would then be available for spot starts and the Pirates could focus on getting a good outfielder (and I can hope the hitting people can find an answer for Suwinski (sp).

I think the Bucs have been talking about Reynolds to 1B. For that to happen he will need some off-season coaching instruction. Back in the day the Bucs had a LF move to 1B who became a HOFer.
With GMBC I have no hope that they will find a good hitting OFer. GMBC has not idea how to make a trade and should be fired.
With Bart as the #1 C, why not try Henry Davis at 1B?

[mouse]

I've wondered that about Henry Davis myself. If he learns to hit, that would be a way to get both he and Bart in the game at the same time. He does not look fluid enough to me to be a good outfielder but maybe Endy could shift there.

[Doc]

OMG!!!

Most probably haven't heard of the proposal for a "Golden At-Bat," but the basic concept is that a team could choose one at-bat in every game to use its best hitter regardless of where they are in the lineup. So if, say the New York Yankees had the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they could bring Aaron Judge to the plate even if it wasn't his turn in the order. It would be a one-time replacement, not a substitution like a pinch hitter.

If MLB does this, on top of the other recent rule changes, they’ll lose me for good. This is the most ridiculous idea of them all, and that’s really saying something.

This is a very stupid proposal by the Commissioner. I have posted this before, and I would like the Owners and Players to agree on a rule which gives teams two healthy scratches each game. The previous starting pitcher, and the next day's pitcher would be scratched, and two players would be added to the roster. Sure, the owners would have to pay two additional players on each team's roster, but for each game 26 players would be available to play. Since two additional players were available maybe the 10 th inning ghost runner rule would go away or possibly teams play a couple innings before the league uses the ghost runner rule. Just some thoughts on a cold winter's night.

I'm not someone who wants to change the rules every five minutes like the NFL does but I can appreciate owners wanting to protect the players, particularly the pitchers, from unnecessary exposure to injuries what with how much money players are paid now. Part of managing a major league roster through a game and a full season has mostly centered on how to handle the pitchers. It's always been true that the previous night's pitcher and the next day's pitcher are unavailable. But the addition of the 26th man helps to alleviate that. And utilizing guys from the minor league rosters also helps.

One of the game's great aspects is that once a player is removed from the game, he can't return, or that a player's position in the line-up can't be altered. It creates the need for strategies on how and when to use players in a way that's unique to baseball. I don't want that to change.

[Doc]

Rosenthal is suggesting the Pirates will use Reynolds part time at first base. I wonder if that's actual news or if he's just speculating. I would think if they were to shift Reynolds to first, they would do so, so he can fully adjust to it. Endy and Cook would then be available for spot starts and the Pirates could focus on getting a good outfielder (and I can hope the hitting people can find an answer for Suwinski (sp).

I think the Bucs have been talking about Reynolds to 1B. For that to happen he will need some off-season coaching instruction. Back in the day the Bucs had a LF move to 1B who became a HOFer.
With GMBC I have no hope that they will find a good hitting OFer. GMBC has not idea how to make a trade and should be fired.
With Bart as the #1 C, why not try Henry Davis at 1B?

The Cardinals had two guys who made the move from LF to 1B and are two upper tier Hall of Famers. It's certainly a switch that can be done with the right guy.

[Doc]

I've wondered that about Henry Davis myself. If he learns to hit, that would be a way to get both he and Bart in the game at the same time. He does not look fluid enough to me to be a good outfielder but maybe Endy could shift there.

I'd like to see Davis become the 1Bman if he can handle it. We already know he's not a capable outfielder and Endy, as athletic as he is, could probably handle RF much better. I do believe Davis can hit. He needs a consistent, long term opportunity, knowing he's not going to be pulled from the line-up if he goes a couple of games without a hit. Just tell him he's going to be the 1Bman everyday, let him relax, and then live with the consequences as he figures it out. He'll put the work in to become competent at the position.

[JollyRoger8]

I am VERY disappointed that the Pirates did not bring back Aroldis Chapman. Especially since he signed with the Red Sox for only $250K more than what the Pirates paid him. Chapman was lights out down the stretch when he tool over for Bednar and was consistently hitting 104MPH. Where can you find a LH reliever with that pedigree? We don’t know if Bednar will regain his form from 2023 do signing Chapman would have made sense. Did the Pirates even make an offer???

[3pirates3]

https://nypost.com/2024/12/05/sports/co ... ees-plans/

https://x.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/1865097872183595401