Had to think this one over a bit. If Kang can learn to be adequate at 1B that would be great and he definitely can replace Freeze with some added power. With that said I am rooting for Ke'Bryan and Wil to pick it up in Indy this season so at least one of them is ready for 2020.
Speaking of Ke'Bryan does his prospects remind you of another young "Bonus Baby" named Bailey who came up in '63? What say ye Bobster?
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
Moderators: SammyKhalifa, Doc, Bobster
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BucsFaninGA
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
You mean old Beetle Bailey? He eventually became a Dodger than an Expo, then a Red and then a Redsox...I recall his bubble gum cards and that he hit homers in the double digits from 63-66. Recall the funny comic on the back of one card calling him a bonus baby...Know they had big expectations for Bob. Traded him to LA for Maury Willis..Somewhere I recall him being the final manager of the minor league Hawaiian Islanders in the Pacific Coast League 
Beat'em Bucs
Beat'em Bucs
Beat'em Bucs
Beat'em Bucs
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BucsFaninGA
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
According to Bucs Dugout ....Pirates signed Kang to $3 million in base salary, with $2.5 million incentives...
Glad they brought him on board. Now to get that SS, 4th OF and left handed reliever...
Beat'em Bucs
Glad they brought him on board. Now to get that SS, 4th OF and left handed reliever...
Beat'em Bucs
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Bobster21
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
1F2D21213507242D20252A2D4C0 wrote: Good news. Tho he'll go to ST without a starting job, I suspect he will force Hurdle to use him quite a bit. He'll have more power than anyone else on the roster and this team lacks power. And he's a huge defensive upgrade over Moran. It would be great if he could work out at all 4 infield positions in ST and at least be a sub at all four spots. And he'll likely play 3B vs all LHP as well as some RHP.
I'm still wait-and-see about what he's actually going to give us. I think people are getting ahead of themselves with what to expect.
I think that if the Pirates had gone out and signed an outside 32 year old who hadn't played major league ball since 2016, fans would be less than excited. I'm guessing that they would say it's a fine risk to take as long as it's a minor league deal.
Yes, my comments are based on the assumption that Kang will be able to be productive. There's no guarantee of that. But the Pirates must think he can produce or they could easily have moved on altogether from him. ST will be important for him to show what he can still do.
I'm still wait-and-see about what he's actually going to give us. I think people are getting ahead of themselves with what to expect.
I think that if the Pirates had gone out and signed an outside 32 year old who hadn't played major league ball since 2016, fans would be less than excited. I'm guessing that they would say it's a fine risk to take as long as it's a minor league deal.
Yes, my comments are based on the assumption that Kang will be able to be productive. There's no guarantee of that. But the Pirates must think he can produce or they could easily have moved on altogether from him. ST will be important for him to show what he can still do.
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Bobster21
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
67464E674C44230 wrote: Had to think this one over a bit. If Kang can learn to be adequate at 1B that would be great and he definitely can replace Freeze with some added power. With that said I am rooting for Ke'Bryan and Wil to pick it up in Indy this season so at least one of them is ready for 2020.
Speaking of Ke'Bryan does his prospects remind you of another young "Bonus Baby" named Bailey who came up in '63? What say ye Bobster?
I sure hope Hayes is better than Bailey was in his years as a Pirate. In 4+ years as a Buc he hit .257 and never had more than 13 HRs or 51 RBIs. He did virtually nothing for LA in 2 years but finally became valuable as an Expo. The Bucs rushed him. He made his debut at age 19 and was a starter at age 20 after only 2 years in the minors. If Hayes arrives in 2020, he will be 23 with 5 years in the minors. I think we should expect much greater things from Hayes than we saw in Bailey's years as a Pirate.
Speaking of Ke'Bryan does his prospects remind you of another young "Bonus Baby" named Bailey who came up in '63? What say ye Bobster?
I sure hope Hayes is better than Bailey was in his years as a Pirate. In 4+ years as a Buc he hit .257 and never had more than 13 HRs or 51 RBIs. He did virtually nothing for LA in 2 years but finally became valuable as an Expo. The Bucs rushed him. He made his debut at age 19 and was a starter at age 20 after only 2 years in the minors. If Hayes arrives in 2020, he will be 23 with 5 years in the minors. I think we should expect much greater things from Hayes than we saw in Bailey's years as a Pirate.
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SammyKhalifa
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:19 am
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
The reworked deal seems fair enough. If he doesn't suck, he will get the same amount he would have gotten before. I would have liked an additional option year but oh well.
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BucsFaninGA
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
Glad to have Kang back in the fold. Now I hope he can hit like he did before he missed the 2016 season! Fingers crossed! Beat'em Bucs
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
Although Kang has not played at the major league level for nearly 2 years, signing Kang for $3 mil is the best low risk potential high reward option available to the Bucs.
If he fails, $3 mil is no longer a big investment. If he succeeds, the Bucs will be thrilled to pay the modest incentives in his contract. More importantly, the Bucs may have acquired an infielder who can deliver some offense; which nearly all Pirate infielders failed to do last year.
While applauding this move, I believe there is a much greater likelihood that Kang will fail rather than succeed. That said, sure would be good (great) to see Kang return to being the player that he was in 2014. If he does, the Pirates may have made one of the best off-season signings of any team (Hey, I can dream can't I.)
If he fails, $3 mil is no longer a big investment. If he succeeds, the Bucs will be thrilled to pay the modest incentives in his contract. More importantly, the Bucs may have acquired an infielder who can deliver some offense; which nearly all Pirate infielders failed to do last year.
While applauding this move, I believe there is a much greater likelihood that Kang will fail rather than succeed. That said, sure would be good (great) to see Kang return to being the player that he was in 2014. If he does, the Pirates may have made one of the best off-season signings of any team (Hey, I can dream can't I.)
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BucsFaninGA
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
I'm Right there with You MaineBucs! Would love to see the baseball gods smile on Pittsburgh again in spite of the blockhead we have as owner of this club...
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steve49
Pirates have signed Kang for 2019
6C414C5D5A4B5C1C1F2E0 wrote: Had to think this one over a bit. If Kang can learn to be adequate at 1B that would be great and he definitely can replace Freeze with some added power. With that said I am rooting for Ke'Bryan and Wil to pick it up in Indy this season so at least one of them is ready for 2020.
Speaking of Ke'Bryan does his prospects remind you of another young "Bonus Baby" named Bailey who came up in '63? What say ye Bobster?
I sure hope Hayes is better than Bailey was in his years as a Pirate. In 4+ years as a Buc he hit .257 and never had more than 13 HRs or 51 RBIs. He did virtually nothing for LA in 2 years but finally became valuable as an Expo. The Bucs rushed him. He made his debut at age 19 and was a starter at age 20 after only 2 years in the minors. If Hayes arrives in 2020, he will be 23 with 5 years in the minors. I think we should expect much greater things from Hayes than we saw in Bailey's years as a Pirate.
Sees like yesterday ( I remember it well) Bailey signed as what I think was the Pirates's first big "Bonus Baby." I remembered it being 100K but looked it up and it was 150K. As you say , he came up too early and did finally have around 4 good seasons with the expos.
Speaking of Ke'Bryan does his prospects remind you of another young "Bonus Baby" named Bailey who came up in '63? What say ye Bobster?
I sure hope Hayes is better than Bailey was in his years as a Pirate. In 4+ years as a Buc he hit .257 and never had more than 13 HRs or 51 RBIs. He did virtually nothing for LA in 2 years but finally became valuable as an Expo. The Bucs rushed him. He made his debut at age 19 and was a starter at age 20 after only 2 years in the minors. If Hayes arrives in 2020, he will be 23 with 5 years in the minors. I think we should expect much greater things from Hayes than we saw in Bailey's years as a Pirate.
Sees like yesterday ( I remember it well) Bailey signed as what I think was the Pirates's first big "Bonus Baby." I remembered it being 100K but looked it up and it was 150K. As you say , he came up too early and did finally have around 4 good seasons with the expos.