OnlyBucs

I don't know why the Pirates never trade prospects. I feel this is a perfect year to trade someone like Brault and a lower minor leaguer for a third baseman. The Pirates have young pitching depth. Some team has to want to take a chance on one of them, right?



Getting a starting 3B could be huge. Freese is a perfect back up. I'd also like to see Freese as the 1B back up again too.

I expect we'll see prospects traded this year. NH has suggested in the past that the excess there can be used in trades. I gather from what I see from various commentators that NH is deemed hard to deal with - that is, he wants a lot for whoever he is trading, and that stops some deals, so we'll see how this goes.

24263C3A2C490 wrote: I expect we'll see prospects traded this year. NH has suggested in the past that the excess there can be used in trades. I gather from what I see from various commentators that NH is deemed hard to deal with - that is, he wants a lot for whoever he is trading, and that stops some deals, so we'll see how this goes.


I thought that was the plan for the last seven years or so. The Pirates went after pitching a while ago as division foes went after hitters. Now, they have a bunch of "maybes" for the majors. We just don't really know what is there. They all seem to be the same as no one has really pulled away from the pack (Eppler, Holmes, Brault, Kingham).



I am not that high on Brault, why I bring him up. Plus, he won the Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the Pirates. I feel a team would like him to take a chance and maybe trade a blocked third baseman or someone with a young guy behind him approaching the majors.

the time to trade prospects was a few years ago, not so sure about now.



to be fair we dealt a FEW, just not ones it seems like they consider possible future cornerstones.

Oh, they dealt some alright. Dilson Herrera for Marlon Byrd comes to mind. And then of course Ramirez and McGuire.

If they go the FA route I sure wouldn't mind Walker coming back. Of course getting Jung Ho back in the fold is probably the best chance of have a real difference maker at the position.

5E697F6F5A7D7275725B5D1C0 wrote: For the sake of conversation...Who do you posters think would be a good player to target for 3rd if Kang fails. I know Osuna is going to winter ball to play 3rd, but you wouldn't want to stick a guy there who has never played there and count in him to play 162 games.



I don't think the front office will pony up for KC's Mike Moustakes. I know Todd Frazier (former Cinny Red) from Yankees is a free agent? Would love to have Bregman from Astros, but know that isn't happening.

Thoughts who the front office and No Deal Neil will target?



Beat'em Bucs  


There are dream/fantasies and then realities. Sure, would love a capable young kid like Bregman, but that is fantasy.



Todd Frazier is the guy I would target. He still plays a good D and can hit 25-30 homers a year.

76746E687E1B0 wrote: I expect we'll see prospects traded this year. NH has suggested in the past that the excess there can be used in trades. I gather from what I see from various commentators that NH is deemed hard to deal with - that is, he wants a lot for whoever he is trading, and that stops some deals, so we'll see how this goes.


He really hasn't used that method before too many times. All the guy does is stockpile picks/prospects unless he has to get rid of a large contract then he throws two in the mix.

Josh Donaldson might be traded this off season. The Pirates should at least be in the talks if he is being shopped.

5A51595550514A0F097E475F565151105D513E0 wrote: Josh Donaldson might be traded this off season. The Pirates should at least be in the talks if he is being shopped.
He made 17 million last year and is eligible for arbitration now. He's coming off a .270/.385/.559 season with 33 HRs. Toronto can either nontender him or give him arbitration (unless he agrees to a new deal with them). He can't be shopped unless he is under contract, which means an increase over his 17 million of this season. If he's nontendered he'll go to the highest bidder, which no doubt will be an increase over last season. What is it about the Pirates' way of operating that makes you think they would acquire a 17+ million player?