2024 Off-Season Thread

[Bobster]

Cutch is a feel-good signing. They aren't trying to win a pennant, so why not? And he's as productive as most of the team, such as it is. I don't think there was a bidding war for him. Surg made a good point about Cutch not being deserving of a raise. And 5 million is nothing to sneeze at.

[JollyRoger8]

Regarding Cutch; as most Pirate fans, I am very happy that he is back. I find it disgusting that Nutting didn’t give him a raise over the same 5M salary he has had. He was one of our better offensive performers

He's a free agent. He didn't have to sign. I consider the fact he's getting 5 million is quite the raise over the zero million he was getting. His WAR decreased, his BA decreased, his OBP decreased, his walks decreased, his OPS decreased, his OPS+ decreased, his SO increased, his doubles decreased. His HR's increased by 8, but his RBI only increased by 7, and all of this was done with 42 more AB's. Being one of the better offensive performers for the Pirates last year is a pretty low bar.

I love the signing, I love Cutch, he can play for the Pirates as long as he wants. WTF do you find so disgusting that he's getting paid the same amount of money when he clearly was exceptionally less productive? If you'd be honest with the situation, it's already turned into a charity case. He doesn't bring fans into the gate. It's a feel good story, and that's okay with me, because that's pretty much all the Bucs have going for them, along with hope.

Be happy BOB at least ponied up for him. Be disgusted about not ponying up for some relief help, a right fielder, a proven first baseman. That's legit.

Perhaps you have not paid attention to the arbitration awards being handed out for players in which their performance decreased. Yes it might be a low bar, but Cutch was one of our better offensive performers. Besides Skenes and Reynolds, Cutch is still the most recognizable player they have. He is still responsible for additional marketing and merchandise dollars for Nutting.

And yes I remain disgusted that Chapman was not resigned. Especially since Boston only paid him $250K more. Most 1B and OF free agents that would have been an upgrade at reasonable costs have already signed. I really thought this offseason was going to be different given the riches in pitching the Pirates have. But ownership simply refuses to accept the fact that the goal in sports is supposed to try to win.

[Surgnbuck]

Arbitration and free agency is an apples and oranges argument. Arbitration is why teams ship players out with two years of control for bundles of pre-arbitration guys. Ask Connor Joe how arbitration is going to work out for him this year. Oh wait, he's gone. Why? That automatic kicker for arbitration. There's way more Connor Joes getting cut to avoid giving a raise than there are guys still getting that bump even after a decrease in performance. David Bednar anyone? If a team goes that route, they clearly believe it's in their best interest to overpay, because the trade value is low, but the bounce back potential to previous levels of performance is high.

[Wildwoodcoach]

Cutch is a feel-good signing. They aren't trying to win a pennant, so why not? And he's as productive as most of the team, such as it is. I don't think there was a bidding war for him. Surg made a good point about Cutch not being deserving of a raise. And 5 million is nothing to sneeze at.

Supposedly the Yankees were interested in Cutch.Don't know if they made him an offer.

[3pirates3]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/ ... tings.html

I know I'm usually critical of the FO but I was genuinely surprised by the prospect cost for a platoon 1B. Trading Jones would be another wrong move.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/espn/status/1872675561534832761

[Surgnbuck]

https://x.com/espn/status/1872675561534832761

I would be understating it if I said I were completely shocked with what Torres was able to sign for.

[fjk090852-7]

https://x.com/espn/status/1872675561534832761

I would be understating it if I said I were completely shocked with what Torres was able to sign for.

Baseball salaries are so crazy, that Torres who didn’t have as good of year he had previously gets a nice pay increase. Baseball is continuing to squeeze out the middle of the road type of player. There are still several of these type of players waiting to be signed from the free agency list.

[Doc]

Corbin Burnes signs with Arizona for six years, $210 million. What will Paul Skenes sign for five years from now?

[Surgnbuck]

Corbin Burnes signs with Arizona for six years, $210 million. What will Paul Skenes sign for five years from now?

That's a good figure to work with. If he's getting that for six years, I bet Skene's would go that for 7 years, and cover his first two years of FA. 15-20-25-30-35-40-45. I think the first 35 million would be the clincher, those are the pre-arb years.

Try and talk BOB into it. To sweeten the pot, tell him Skene's can hang out with me all day at the Vandergrift pool. Of course Livvy is invited.