OnlyBucs

0C212C3D3A2B3C7C7F4E0 wrote: Frazier can step in and hopes Polanco and/or Marte can finally break out. 


Just what would constitute Marte "finally" breaking out? He's a career .288 hitter with a season high of .311 in 2016. He's also had seasons hitting .280, .287 and .291. he had a 19 HR/80 RBI season in 2015. He's had 4 seasons of 30+ SBs. He's a former All-star and 2 X GG winner. Last year was a waste because of his suspension. But he's already been performing at a high level for several years prior to that. for




Just to build on that.  Has he reached his total potential?  Maybe get that OPS over .900 and hit that 25 HR plateau.  Get in the MVP talks.  He is hitting his prime years.  I think he can certainly improve.  Do you disagree?
No, I don't expect him to play at a higher level since he's already been very good. He was not a HR hitter in the minors and I see no reason for him to emerge as a 25 HR guy. But excluding last year, I'm very satisfied with his play with the exception of numerous mental mistakes. That's the only area I think improvement should be expected.


i'd like him to walk more but I don't think that is something that changes very much

052825343322357576470 wrote: Frazier can step in and hopes Polanco and/or Marte can finally break out. 


Just what would constitute Marte "finally" breaking out? He's a career .288 hitter with a season high of .311 in 2016. He's also had seasons hitting .280, .287 and .291. he had a 19 HR/80 RBI season in 2015. He's had 4 seasons of 30+ SBs. He's a former All-star and 2 X GG winner. Last year was a waste because of his suspension. But he's already been performing at a high level for several years prior to that. for




Just to build on that.  Has he reached his total potential?  Maybe get that OPS over .900 and hit that 25 HR plateau.  Get in the MVP talks.  He is hitting his prime years.  I think he can certainly improve.  Do you disagree?
No, I don't expect him to play at a higher level since he's already been very good. He was not a HR hitter in the minors and I see no reason for him to emerge as a 25 HR guy. But excluding last year, I'm very satisfied with his play with the exception of numerous mental mistakes. That's the only area I think improvement should be expected.


I think and hope he can combine his 2015 and 2016 seasons. Hit over .300 with more power. He can get his OPS in the .900's. Saying "finally breakout" might be a bad phrase. I just think he can be even better, that's all. He is a special talent. I also wish he was smarter on the base paths and didn't chase so many pitches.

5070637E7F110 wrote: Does everybody else here on OBN realize how fortunate we are that Dogknot knows which rumors are true and credible and deserve to be discussed and which rumors are not true, not credible and don't deserve to be discussed?



Quick note: stay away from Jon Heyman tweets until Dog gives us the OK. His tweets, until he tweets something that Dog likes, are not true and don't warrant discussion.


Right Aaron. Dog is the #1 at validating the rumors that are worth discussing. Thank goodness he does not charge us for the wealth of info he possess and share with us. He could be much richer if he did charge for his expertise.

4C474F4346475C191F685149404747064B47280 wrote: Teams are hoarding the ML ready players, because they want to benefit from the lower salaries. This is the Yankee issue. When even they are finagling to get prospects, it's clear there won't prospects easily available. The market inefficiency this year is in the mid-level veteran. That's the guy having trouble getting a job. Teams are looking to those prospects and early year guys to fill out a roster, while the mid-level guys will have to settle for a lot less or go without a job.


I wonder if players are mad they didn't take that Qualifying Offer with the way the market is going?



The Giants and the Evan Longoria trade opened my eyes.  The Giants wanted to get rid of Denard Span so bad that they would rather pay Longoria $20 million instead of signing Todd Frazier or Mike Moustakas. 



This is also why I think the Pirates need to strike and sign that actual free agent who can make an impact.  Frazier or Moustakas can be had for pretty cheap in baseball terms in my opinion.




You aren't getting Moustakas for cheap. Get that out of your head. He has offers. Just because he hasn't signed yet doesn't mean he doesn't have anything. Last I checked Hosmer hasn't signed, so under your line of thinking ...



Frazier would be a quality sign here, a realistic one if they try. I'm not sure trying is happening.

113C31202736216162530 wrote: Frazier can step in and hopes Polanco and/or Marte can finally break out. 


Just what would constitute Marte "finally" breaking out? He's a career .288 hitter with a season high of .311 in 2016. He's also had seasons hitting .280, .287 and .291. he had a 19 HR/80 RBI season in 2015. He's had 4 seasons of 30+ SBs. He's a former All-star and 2 X GG winner. Last year was a waste because of his suspension. But he's already been performing at a high level for several years prior to that. for




Just to build on that.  Has he reached his total potential?  Maybe get that OPS over .900 and hit that 25 HR plateau.  Get in the MVP talks.  He is hitting his prime years.  I think he can certainly improve.  Do you disagree?
No, I don't expect him to play at a higher level since he's already been very good. He was not a HR hitter in the minors and I see no reason for him to emerge as a 25 HR guy. But excluding last year, I'm very satisfied with his play with the exception of numerous mental mistakes. That's the only area I think improvement should be expected.


My gripe with Marte is he simply isn't consistent throughout the year. He is so hot and cold. His streaks are significant ... his routs are too. Same can go with Polanco when he is healthy.

The only scenario I wouldnt support signing an impact FA 3bman is if there's a young prospect 3bman that is having playing time blocked by the signing.



Since I know from past experience money "saved" during a rebuild wont be applied to future years payroll for any "push", I see no reason to support the cutting of salary for the sake of itself during a rebuild. I would definitely still be happy to see us sign a big FA even after selling. Why shouldn't I be?



Frankly, I'd support the org dumping 20 million $1 bills into PNC park and having a bonfire rather than "saving" by dropping the measley payroll lower than it already is.



(I'd much prefer the org openly give it to the city than burn it, but would rather rit be burned than "saved")

5E555D5154554E0B0D7A435B5255551459553A0 wrote: There was some buzz on Twitter that the Pirates are shopping McCutchen and Harrison now.



It's been a weird off season so far.  Are salaries dropping?  Teams are now worried about that luxury tax.  Not many free agent signings or mega trades (outside of the salary dump of Stanton). 



This is why I feel the Pirates can be buyers and sellers.  There are a few third basemen out there and there has to be some decent bullpen arms too.  The Pirates can still make their trades in hopes they get some MLB ready returns and compete in my opinion.  We will see.    


Why is it weird that Pittsburgh is shopping a declining Cutch that will become a free agent after 2018? I would send him packing if someone wants to give something decent. He isn't a core player past this year. They shopped him last year too. Was that strange? They aren't resigning him. The only question is will they use the money saved; go out and re-invest it. Everyone knows this answer.



Harrison ... have no clue why they are shopping him absent to get rid of his 10.3 million. He is the most versatile player on the roster and might be the most stupid to deal. He can play 3B. The master plan is to put Frazier at 2B, not Todd, and save money? There is no reason to trade Harrison.

454C44555B210 wrote: The only scenario I wouldnt support signing an impact FA 3bman is if there's a young prospect 3bman that is having playing time blocked by the signing.



Since I know from past experience money "saved" during a rebuild wont be applied to future years payroll for any "push", I see no reason to support the cutting of salary for the sake of itself during a rebuild.  I would definitely still be happy to see us sign a big FA even after selling.  Why shouldn't I be?



Frankly, I'd support the org dumping 20 million $1 bills into PNC park and having a bonfire rather than "saving" by dropping the measley payroll lower than it already is.



(I'd much prefer the org openly give it to the city than burn it, but would rather rit be burned than "saved")


Yes. I'd want a 3B definitely but not a first baseman, for example (well Bell is pretty established now so I guess this comparo would work better last year)

737A72636D170 wrote: The only scenario I wouldnt support signing an impact FA 3bman is if there's a young prospect 3bman that is having playing time blocked by the signing.



Since I know from past experience money "saved" during a rebuild wont be applied to future years payroll for any "push", I see no reason to support the cutting of salary for the sake of itself during a rebuild.



Frankly, I'd support the org dumping 20 million $1 bills into PNC park and having a bonfire rather than "saving" by dropping the measley payroll lower than it already is.



(I'd much prefer the org openly give it to the city than burn it, but would rather rit be burned than "saved")
I agree. When I see comments about trading Harrison to save money (don't know if that is true or not) I wonder "why?". They already have a low payroll and if they don't take on any significant additional salary what is there to gain by dealing Harrison? He's one of their best players and a positive influence on the younger, low priced guys who will likely make up the roster. They don't award prizes to the teams that get their payroll the lowest.

3222231402020E610 wrote: Teams are hoarding the ML ready players, because they want to benefit from the lower salaries. This is the Yankee issue. When even they are finagling to get prospects, it's clear there won't prospects easily available. The market inefficiency this year is in the mid-level veteran. That's the guy having trouble getting a job. Teams are looking to those prospects and early year guys to fill out a roster, while the mid-level guys will have to settle for a lot less or go without a job.


I wonder if players are mad they didn't take that Qualifying Offer with the way the market is going?



The Giants and the Evan Longoria trade opened my eyes.  The Giants wanted to get rid of Denard Span so bad that they would rather pay Longoria $20 million instead of signing Todd Frazier or Mike Moustakas. 



This is also why I think the Pirates need to strike and sign that actual free agent who can make an impact.  Frazier or Moustakas can be had for pretty cheap in baseball terms in my opinion.




You aren't getting Moustakas for cheap.  Get that out of your head.  He has offers.  Just because he hasn't signed yet doesn't mean he doesn't have anything.  Last I checked Hosmer hasn't signed, so under your line of thinking ...



Frazier would be a quality sign here, a realistic one if they try.  I'm not sure trying is happening.


I'd give it a 1 in 500 that they're  even trying to sign Frazier.  Considering of the FA 3bman, Frazier is the only one that's really gettable (Moose after a career year is way, way out of nuttingland), we should be aggressive.



Once Frazier is off the board,  then we will have to trade prospects for a 3bman.   



Situationally, if we wanted to add, we should be extremely aggressive because of the lack of Pirate-quality options.  We haven't even been mentioned as trying to buy anything ergo very unlikely we are trying



EDIT: Neil Walker. He would be a potential FA solution to the issue. Don't know if there's any chance of him coming back though