OnlyBucs

202B232F2A2B307573043D252C2B2B6A272B440 wrote: Looking at their AA and AAA level pitchers, they have a bunch that are ready to break through. That can't seem to encouraging to a free agent thinking of signing here. Unless it's someone looking for a one-year, rehabilitate his market sort of deal, he would be concerned about getting traded in a year.


I wonder if that does come into play?  I remember Marlon Byrd saying he wouldn't sign with the Pirates after 2013 because of Polanco. 




Maybe, but consider the source

John Danks signed with Atlanta Braves on Monday, it was a minor league deal.



Bucs Fan in GA

75776D6B7D180 wrote: Looking at their AA and AAA level pitchers, they have a bunch that are ready to break through. That can't seem to encouraging to a free agent thinking of signing here. Unless it's someone looking for a one-year, rehabilitate his market sort of deal, he would be concerned about getting traded in a year.


Who exactly are the break through candidates that are impactful? Glasnow? Brault isn't anymore more than a five. We don't have a solid three ready to break through.

Glasnow, Brault, Duncan, Williams, Kingham, Hutchison, and Kulh (off the top of my head) can all make impacts.



There are some young guys in AA like Dickson, Eppler, and Waddell too. They were all pretty high picks.

1000013620202C430 wrote: Looking at their AA and AAA level pitchers, they have a bunch that are ready to break through. That can't seem to encouraging to a free agent thinking of signing here. Unless it's someone looking for a one-year, rehabilitate his market sort of deal, he would be concerned about getting traded in a year.


Who exactly are the break through candidates that are impactful?  Glasnow?  Brault isn't anymore more than a five.  We don't have a solid three ready to break through.


I think we need a long term 3 like you, but if I were to pick one of our guys with an outside shit at being a 3 I'd pick Kingham.

35372D2B3D580 wrote: Looking at their AA and AAA level pitchers, they have a bunch that are ready to break through. That can't seem to encouraging to a free agent thinking of signing here. Unless it's someone looking for a one-year, rehabilitate his market sort of deal, he would be concerned about getting traded in a year.
There's a much greater chance none of them make it than all of them making it. I'd go so far as saying there's a better chance none of them making it than even one making it.



Right now the Pirates have 2 SP. No free agent is worried about signing with the Pirates and not having a spot in the rotation.

7252415C5D330 wrote: Looking at their AA and AAA level pitchers, they have a bunch that are ready to break through. That can't seem to encouraging to a free agent thinking of signing here. Unless it's someone looking for a one-year, rehabilitate his market sort of deal, he would be concerned about getting traded in a year.
There's a much greater chance none of them make it than all of them making it. I'd go so far as saying there's a better chance none of them making it than even one making it.



Right now the Pirates have 2 SP. No free agent is worried about signing with the Pirates and not having a spot in the rotation.


I have to agree with this. I think this is another case of "planning around hope" that is really no plan at all. Paul Z even referenced this type of thinking in today's PG.



I think there's a reasonable basis to count on Tallion, Glasnow, Kingham and Kuhl. This core is still a year or so away as Kingham and Glasnow are going to take time. At the same time we're one year away from moving Cole on to the trade block. The Pirates need to be building around the 2017 core (Tallion and Cole) and the possible 2018 and beyond core (Tallion, Glasnow, Kingham and Kuhl). The a Pirates have a chance at a good core going forward. They do not, however, have more pitching then they need.



Which team has the better chance of advancing:

Cole, Tallion, Kuhl, Williams, Vogelsong or

Sale, Cole, Tallion, Nova, Kuhl?



We all can see: one's a pretender, the other stands up against the Cubs, Nats and Mets. The difference between option 1 and option 2? About $25M (Sale is water under the bridge, but I bet Neal could find the right guy if he had the green light).



Two totally different approaches. I'm pretty sure the Pirates could use a couple high end starters.

The next team in the history of baseball to have enough pitching will be the first.  I could see a position player not wanting to sign somewhere because of a logjam, but not a pitcher.  Injuries always happen.  It's not a matter of if, but when and to whom and how severe.  Guys stink and get pulled from the rotation.  It's not a matter of having five starters.  It's a matter of having seven or eight.

7D7A6C646A7D3A364F68626E6663216C60620F0 wrote:



I think this is another case of "planning around hope" that is really no plan at all. 
I have no faith or trust in the Nutting regime. I believe that planning around a rotation of (other than Cole) essentially minimum salaried pitchers is the whole idea. It enables the FO to say they thought these guys gave them the best chance to win when, in reality, it was all about spending as little money as possible.

ml trade rumor chat answer today was they expect the Pirates to sign some low end pitcher.



basically said that is all the Pirates can afford to do and fans should get used to it. No way that ownership would raise the payroll to a 140 million and lose money.



Personally, I am at the stage where I expect NH to put a winner on the field this year. If he can't do it then he should be fired or resign. Another team will hire him and most likely pay him more. Upon resigning NH should tell ownership (hopefully he is already telling them this in private) that without a larger payroll it is nearly impossible to put together a well above average team that can contend for championships.



If the best management team in baseball can't successfully navigate a bridge year (and turn into at least a 2 year bridge project) than maybe they aren't the best or aren't the right fit for Pirates circumstances.