2024 Off-Season Thread

[Bobster]

Twitter reporter says buccos deep in talks with Anthony Rizzo. Wouldn't necessarily mind this if the 10 mil Chapman had goes this way on a one year deal. He is a career .298 hitter in PNC so he has that going for him.

I think this will happen. Rizzo is at the point of his career where he is on the decline and not in demand. He's 35 and missed a lot of games the last 2 years with injuries. He hit.228 last year. He would have opportunities with the Pirates that most teams wouldn't give him in his declining years. His career .298 BA at PNC Park needs a closer look. He hasn't played at PNC since 2021 when he hit .200 there but at least was a career .268 hitter at that time. Since then he has hit .231. So the last year he hit well at PNC was 2020 when he hit .286 there. He batted .185 there in 2019 and .200 there in 2021, and he's no longer the hitter he was when he batted .286 there in 2020. This is exactly the type of older, once good but now declining player the Pirates always look to sign in free agency. Rizzo isn't likely to get a lot of offers. I expect the Pirates to sign him.

[Surgnbuck]

This is the kind of signing I was okay with 2020-2023. Not last year, not now. They don't need some window dressing FA to prove to the MLBPA they're spending money. They're more than likely going to sign Cutch. That's two older, injury prone guys.

Count me out.

[3pirates3]

Post-concussion syndrome has affected Rizzo's performance at the plate and in the field.

[fjk090852-7]

Noah Hiles from the Post Gazette says the Rizzo rumors are not accurate. Glad to read that. With the list of remaining free agents out there, the Pirates could surely sign a player who is better than Rizzo at this stage of his career.

[mouse]

This is an interesting revenue sharing article from MLBTR on the Athletics and their payroll. One would think the Pirates would have the same issue -- https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/ ... eases.html

[Doc]

This is an interesting revenue sharing article from MLBTR on the Athletics and their payroll. One would think the Pirates would have the same issue -- https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/ ... eases.html

Interesting article, and I see why it applies to the Pirates. My immediate question is, what's involved in a grievance filed by the player's union? If it's not much more than bad publicity or a meager fine, neither of those will bother Nutting in the least. If the penalty doesn't require him to increase payroll to a level he's unwilling to reach on his own, what's the big deal to him? The man can't be shamed.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/18 ... 9760571788

[fjk090852-7]

The Bucs signed Elvis Alvarado a minor league free agent pitcher from the Marlins. He is being added to the 40 man roster.

[fjk090852-7]

Bucs have acquired Spencer Horwitz from Cleveland for Ortiz and Michael Kennedy.

[3pirates3]

The Pirates gave up LHP Josh Hartle in the trade as well. Not sure why you give up Kennedy (and then more on top of that) for a 27 yr. old who can't hit lefties. I realize Cherington has history with Toronto but this reeks of "do something" desperation.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pir ... 2405140108

Cleveland manages to get out of Gimenez's contract and get prospect capital in return.