The Gift is gone

LumberCo · Post by **LumberCo** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:11 am

traded to Toronto

mouse · Post by **mouse** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:08 am

What a shame he couldn't hit. He was certainly exciting to watch in the field.

BenM · Post by **BenM** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:45 pm

I'm glad he at least got a run with the MLB club.

Too bad Disney is all super heroes and Pixar now. They could have turned his story into a movie like they did with Singh and Patel.

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:46 pm

So we gave him to Toronto for a PTBNL.

That's quite a . . .

. . .

. . .

(present).

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:46 pm

Gift is 27 and can't hit. And the Bucs are loaded with utility infielders. He had no future with the team. This trade just looks like they did him a favor and found someone else willing to give him a chance.

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:55 pm

Yeah. It being a PTBNL might be just a roster spot tool because of the rule 5.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:00 pm

I suspect Gift was going to be released if they couldn't find a taker. At least he gets another chance with Toronto. The PTBNL will probably be someone Toronto would have released.

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:05 pm

or Dave Cash!

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:12 pm

The trade is also a face saver for both the Pirates and Gift. He was a feel good story with his South African heritage and is well liked. Simply releasing him would have suggested this groundbreaking player was not adequate and could make other international players (at least those outside the more usual Dominican area) less likely to sign with the Pirates. Trading him implies he is seen to have value both to the Blue Jays and in terms of what the Pirates get in return (which may not be the case but it looks better than releasing him). In other words, had he been from Poughkeepsie and not been in the unique position of being the first South African in MLB, the Bucs might have released him without a second thought.

dogknot17@yahoo.co · Post by **dogknot17@yahoo.co** » Tue Nov 21, 2017 4:28 pm

Gift was/is a great story, but he shouldn't have ever been up with the Pirates in my opinion.

Rule Five deadline is upon us. Meadows had to be added. Any players now in jeopardy of being lost we might have heard of?