2024 Off-Season Thread

[PooperScooper !]

Pirates loading up AAA with 1b . I can see ST stud appear from the scrap heap.

[Surgnbuck]

Pirates right now have only 37 players on their 40 man, that includes Cutch. There is no doubt in my mind that once ST starts, Dauri Moreta goes on the 60 day IL. I could also foresee the same thing happening with Oviedo, but Moreta is a lock.

That will leave 4 spots open on the 40 man roster. There are guys who won't be remain on it, simply by looking at the numbers. I don't see how they keep all of Alika Williams, Tristan Gray, Tsung-Che Cheng, Billy Cook, Nick Yorke, Liover Peguero, Jared Triolo, and Emanuel Valdez.

Of that group, Peguero has no more options left, according to Cots, which surprises me I don't recall him being brought up three separate seasons. But he was, and lost an option for just coming up and playing one game in 2022.

Joshua Palacios also has no more options. That's worrisome, because if he doesn't figure it out in ST, he's either the newest albatross in the MLB squad, or he's risked trying to get back through waivers.

I have no idea what they are seeing in Cheng. Maybe he'll figure it back out. He hasn't exactly been stellar with the bat since he was in Greensboro. He was protected from Rule 5 in 2023.

Falter, Santana, Strzelecki, Wentz all are out of options. Falter is the one I'm most worried about if he regresses, they'll be in the same position with him as they ended up with Roansy Contreras.

Joey Bart is also out of options, so cross our fingers he comes back the same guy.

So long story, but here's my question to all. Does it seem like the Pirates could be in a really bad spot with the bullpen if the 3 relief pitchers are busts? Santana did well for the Bucs, but remember he was a waiver pickup. And with all those "utility" type players, does it worry you that there's too many who are a jack of all trades but a master of none?

I'm worried we're about to see another round of throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks.

[Possum]

Pirates right now have only 37 players on their 40 man, that includes Cutch. There is no doubt in my mind that once ST starts, Dauri Moreta goes on the 60 day IL. I could also foresee the same thing happening with Oviedo, but Moreta is a lock.

That will leave 4 spots open on the 40 man roster. There are guys who won't be remain on it, simply by looking at the numbers. I don't see how they keep all of Alika Williams, Tristan Gray, Tsung-Che Cheng, Billy Cook, Nick Yorke, Liover Peguero, Jared Triolo, and Emanuel Valdez.

Of that group, Peguero has no more options left, according to Cots, which surprises me I don't recall him being brought up three separate seasons. But he was, and lost an option for just coming up and playing one game in 2022.

Joshua Palacios also has no more options. That's worrisome, because if he doesn't figure it out in ST, he's either the newest albatross in the MLB squad, or he's risked trying to get back through waivers.

I have no idea what they are seeing in Cheng. Maybe he'll figure it back out. He hasn't exactly been stellar with the bat since he was in Greensboro. He was protected from Rule 5 in 2023.

Falter, Santana, Strzelecki, Wentz all are out of options. Falter is the one I'm most worried about if he regresses, they'll be in the same position with him as they ended up with Roansy Contreras.

Joey Bart is also out of options, so cross our fingers he comes back the same guy.

So long story, but here's my question to all. Does it seem like the Pirates could be in a really bad spot with the bullpen if the 3 relief pitchers are busts? Santana did well for the Bucs, but remember he was a waiver pickup. And with all those "utility" type players, does it worry you that there's too many who are a jack of all trades but a master of none?

I'm worried we're about to see another round of throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks.

Me too!!!

[Ecbucs]

now that a lot of players have signed I can see some players getting a little antsy to sign a contract. This means Ben will pounce to get them.

My guess is that either Randall Grichuk or Harrison Bader will be Bucs. Remember this is the team that signed Michael Taylor last year showing that offense doesn't matter.

[Doc]

Pirates right now have only 37 players on their 40 man, that includes Cutch. There is no doubt in my mind that once ST starts, Dauri Moreta goes on the 60 day IL. I could also foresee the same thing happening with Oviedo, but Moreta is a lock.

That will leave 4 spots open on the 40 man roster. There are guys who won't be remain on it, simply by looking at the numbers. I don't see how they keep all of Alika Williams, Tristan Gray, Tsung-Che Cheng, Billy Cook, Nick Yorke, Liover Peguero, Jared Triolo, and Emanuel Valdez.

Of that group, Peguero has no more options left, according to Cots, which surprises me I don't recall him being brought up three separate seasons. But he was, and lost an option for just coming up and playing one game in 2022.

Joshua Palacios also has no more options. That's worrisome, because if he doesn't figure it out in ST, he's either the newest albatross in the MLB squad, or he's risked trying to get back through waivers.

I have no idea what they are seeing in Cheng. Maybe he'll figure it back out. He hasn't exactly been stellar with the bat since he was in Greensboro. He was protected from Rule 5 in 2023.

Falter, Santana, Strzelecki, Wentz all are out of options. Falter is the one I'm most worried about if he regresses, they'll be in the same position with him as they ended up with Roansy Contreras.

Joey Bart is also out of options, so cross our fingers he comes back the same guy.

So long story, but here's my question to all. Does it seem like the Pirates could be in a really bad spot with the bullpen if the 3 relief pitchers are busts? Santana did well for the Bucs, but remember he was a waiver pickup. And with all those "utility" type players, does it worry you that there's too many who are a jack of all trades but a master of none?

I'm worried we're about to see another round of throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks.

You should be worried, Surge, but you also shouldn’t be surprised because throwing stuff and hoping for something to stick has been their way of doing business for quite some time. The Pirates have one super star in Skenes, and three guys who’ve been All Stars but were mostly there because the team needed representation in the Game. The rest of the 40-man roster is filled with guys who could leave and it wouldn’t make much of a difference. The guys who’ve been brought in since 2016 haven’t made much of an impact because they were lower tier players.

This offseason has been a repeat of the recent past. The club president has been changed, the GM has been changed, the manager has been changed, and the players have been changed. There’s been one consistency throughout. That’s why none of us should expect anything to be different or improved.

[fjk090852-7]

now that a lot of players have signed I can see some players getting a little antsy to sign a contract. This means Ben will pounce to get them.

My guess is that either Randall Grichuk or Harrison Bader will be Bucs. Remember this is the team that signed Michael Taylor last year showing that offense doesn't matter.

If the Pirates couldn’t make a trade for a player like Ward from the Angels, I wouldn’t have a problem with either Grichuk or Bader. Possibly Palacios or Suwinski could grab the fourth outfielder position with a strong ST.

[Bobster]

I’ve read the Astros are interested in Grichuk.

[Doc]

now that a lot of players have signed I can see some players getting a little antsy to sign a contract. This means Ben will pounce to get them.

My guess is that either Randall Grichuk or Harrison Bader will be Bucs. Remember this is the team that signed Michael Taylor last year showing that offense doesn't matter.

If the Pirates couldn’t make a trade for a player like Ward from the Angels, I wouldn’t have a problem with either Grichuk or Bader. Possibly Palacios or Suwinski could grab the fourth outfielder position with a strong ST.

Both Grichuk and Bader are upgrades over whoever we had as a third outfielder last season. To be honest, it’s a pretty low bar to get over. But we need stars, guys who scare opposing pitchers, who allow other guys around them in the line-up to be better hitters. Both are very good support players. They’d help here but I can’t see them making the difference it would take.

[fjk090852-7]

I know I am old school, and everyone wants a player who crushes the ball, but I would prefer a player who hits around .275 and doesn’t strikeout tons of times. Put the ball in play and make the defense work. I might be wrong but it appears that Spencer Horowitz might be that type of player. He won’t hit a lot of homers, but he will walk, get his share of extra base hits etc. Good pitching and defense will win many games, and I like our top 3 starting pitchers. With Cruz playing centerfield the shortstop position is much better than 2024, and he may become a natural for centerfield.

[3pirates3]

Horwitz did hit better on the road (he has a few noticeable splits - he hits much better at night and on the grass fields).

https://x.com/FiresideYankees/status/18 ... 8419283037