2024 Off-Season Thread

[Doc]

Trying to be realistic, if Bellinger came here, his intention would be to have the best year possible. As you said, he'd be playing for that next free agent contract and, at his age, he could still get a fairly substantial one. So I have no illusions he'd either want to stay here or that the Pirates would want to sign him to something long term. He'd be here for one, maybe two seasons. If the Pirates are having another non-playoff year in '25, and Bellinger is playing well, he becomes a valuable trade piece for the team. I see acquiring him as a smart move. The amount of money he's due next season shouldn't even enter the conversation. This is the kind of bold move the Pirates have to start making. Late-in-Spring-Training acquisitions of players no playoff contender wants, like Grandal, Marco Gonzalez, Martin Perez, and Michael Taylor, do nothing to make the team better.

I was reading on the MLB site this morning about where Nolan Arenado might end-up if he's traded. One landing spot is Boston, where the Sox are considering moving Devers over to first base. Tristen Casas plays 1B now, but he had a down year in '24 (an injury contributed to that) so, if Arenado comes aboard, Casas might be available in exchange for pitching. He's only 25 and had a good rookie season two years ago. He bats lefthanded. So maybe BC can interject himself into the Sox-Cardinals conversation, encourage the clubs to make a trade, and then offer Boston a pitcher for Casas. With Casas coming off a down year, maybe BC doesn't have to part with as much.

With Bellinger in center and Casas at 1B, the Pirates become a legitimate contender.

[Possum]

Trying to be realistic, if Bellinger came here, his intention would be to have the best year possible. As you said, he'd be playing for that next free agent contract and, at his age, he could still get a fairly substantial one. So I have no illusions he'd either want to stay here or that the Pirates would want to sign him to something long term. He'd be here for one, maybe two seasons. If the Pirates are having another non-playoff year in '25, and Bellinger is playing well, he becomes a valuable trade piece for the team. I see acquiring him as a smart move. The amount of money he's due next season shouldn't even enter the conversation. This is the kind of bold move the Pirates have to start making. Late-in-Spring-Training acquisitions of players no playoff contender wants, like Grandal, Marco Gonzalez, Martin Perez, and Michael Taylor, do nothing to make the team better.

I was reading on the MLB site this morning about where Nolan Arenado might end-up if he's traded. One landing spot is Boston, where the Sox are considering moving Devers over to first base. Tristen Casas plays 1B now, but he had a down year in '24 (an injury contributed to that) so, if Arenado comes aboard, Casas might be available in exchange for pitching. He's only 25 and had a good rookie season two years ago. He bats lefthanded. So maybe BC can interject himself into the Sox-Cardinals conversation, encourage the clubs to make a trade, and then offer Boston a pitcher for Casas. With Casas coming off a down year, maybe BC doesn't have to part with as much.

With Bellinger in center and Casas at 1B, the Pirates become a legitimate contender.

Do you trust GMBC to make deals like you propose? Maybe the Bucs could hire you as GM at a minimum salary so you won't break Nutting's bank.

[Doc]

Trying to be realistic, if Bellinger came here, his intention would be to have the best year possible. As you said, he'd be playing for that next free agent contract and, at his age, he could still get a fairly substantial one. So I have no illusions he'd either want to stay here or that the Pirates would want to sign him to something long term. He'd be here for one, maybe two seasons. If the Pirates are having another non-playoff year in '25, and Bellinger is playing well, he becomes a valuable trade piece for the team. I see acquiring him as a smart move. The amount of money he's due next season shouldn't even enter the conversation. This is the kind of bold move the Pirates have to start making. Late-in-Spring-Training acquisitions of players no playoff contender wants, like Grandal, Marco Gonzalez, Martin Perez, and Michael Taylor, do nothing to make the team better.

I was reading on the MLB site this morning about where Nolan Arenado might end-up if he's traded. One landing spot is Boston, where the Sox are considering moving Devers over to first base. Tristen Casas plays 1B now, but he had a down year in '24 (an injury contributed to that) so, if Arenado comes aboard, Casas might be available in exchange for pitching. He's only 25 and had a good rookie season two years ago. He bats lefthanded. So maybe BC can interject himself into the Sox-Cardinals conversation, encourage the clubs to make a trade, and then offer Boston a pitcher for Casas. With Casas coming off a down year, maybe BC doesn't have to part with as much.

With Bellinger in center and Casas at 1B, the Pirates become a legitimate contender.

Do you trust GMBC to make deals like you propose? Maybe the Bucs could hire you as GM at a minimum salary so you won't break Nutting's bank.

You're a funny man, Possum. If I were GM, God save us from all that's unholy. On the other hand, Nutting would be counting on my inabilities to keep the team below average, thus keeping his costs to a minimum. I just might be his perfect GM.

[Wildwoodcoach]

I see where Willie Adames is signing with the Giants for a franchise record 182 Million

[fjk090852-7]

The Pirates have signed Tanner Rainey to a minor league contract and have invited him to spring training.

[Surgnbuck]

I see where Willie Adames is signing with the Giants for a franchise record 182 Million

The two Bay Area (well, the team formerly Bay Area) teams have both signed a player to franchise records. The Orioles even doled out some money. Wonder if there might be some peer pressure starting on the Pirates and the two Florida teams

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/Feinsand/status/1865944506920792265

https://x.com/FOS/status/1865958833128169710

[mouse]

Wow. Just wow. 765MM? The Dodgers (and now the Mets) are really starting to underscore the financial gap that exists in the sport. That is a lot of money for one player.

[Doc]

Wow. Just wow. 765MM? The Dodgers (and now the Mets) are really starting to underscore the financial gap that exists in the sport. That is a lot of money for one player.

I really don't care how much money any player makes. If the owner's willing to pay the salary then I assume he's calculated that the return he's going to get will at least match the amount of the contract. But what I'd like to see is how that was determined, how Cohen's going to get all that money back. That, to me, is the interesting part of these deals.

[Wildwoodcoach]

Wow. Just wow. 765MM? The Dodgers (and now the Mets) are really starting to underscore the financial gap that exists in the sport. That is a lot of money for one player.

I really don't care how much money any player makes. If the owner's willing to pay the salary then I assume he's calculated that the return he's going to get will at least match the amount of the contract. But what I'd like to see is how that was determined, how Cohen's going to get all that money back. That, to me, is the interesting part of these deals.

I agree,doc. It's just too bad we have an owner who is at the opposite end of the spectrum