OnlyBucs

It was all just talk during the winter because we didn't know what management would do before the end of ST. It looks like we can put a wrap on this offseason.



Significant moves:



Well Cutch was not traded and he moved to RF.

Kang is gone.

Nova signed.

A bit of bullpen/bench help, but nothing significant.



Overall grade for the offseason?

Are the Pirates better or worse then Breaking camp last year?



I don't think the Pirates can be held accountable for their approach to Kang.



They signed Nova which I agree with. Cole and Tallion look to be ready to lead this team. I don't know what to think about Bell short term; long term I think he'll rake.



Clearly one starter short. There is zero room for error or injuries. Not much "ready" depth anywhere.



Final grade for off season: D, very poor. But Nova keeps the grade above "failing".



2016 v 2017 opening day roster:

Healthy Cole, tested Tallion and wildcard Nova elevate the top end of the rotation over last year. Back end is no worse this year than last year. Rotation 2017 > 2016.



Lineup - Kang was absent last year as well. Bell should be an Upgrade at 1st at least with the bad; his power could be critical. The rest of the lineup is pretty much identical but with a bit more critical experience for Polanco and Mercer. 2017 > 2016, slightly.



Bench - not much to be said 2017 < 2016.



Pen?



2017 is slightly better than 2016. Let's hope we get significantly better performance from most position.

Personally, I don't think it's been as bad as people are making it out to be. I think the entire thing with Cutch was overblown. I think he'll be a lot better this year, though he didn't look very good in the WBC, IMO. I like the Nova and Hudson signings. I don't think the bench will offer as much power as last year, but this time last year we were all criticizing them for how dumb they were for bringing S-Rod back. I don't think anyone expected the production that he and Joyce provided.



Like you, i can't fault them for Kang. I'm still hopeful that they'll get him back and that he will not enjoy driving privileges in this country. Let's say they get him back in June. Can Freeze provide adequate coverage until then? I think he can.



Ultimately, I think this team can compete for the WC, and I don't think we need everything to break justnright, either.

We have a mediocre rotation, a talented pen but serious questions at the back end of it (closer), we're short the best hitting 3bman in the NL and plugging in a very mediocre replacement.



So rotation is NL average

Pen is maybe a tick better than average, but who really knows?  I don't

Run production should be a little above average.



Playing in the division we play in?  we're fighting for .500.   Lets break the new 1 year losing streak!  Yay Nutting's Wallet! 



2016 Rotation was 4.67 ERA 11th out of 15. We may slide up to 9th or so this year.



2016 Pen was 3.57 5th out of 15th. Doubtful we improve on that with Melancon gone.



2016 run production was 729. 5th out of 15th. Probably end up right around there again with Cutch rebounding, and Kang out maybe permanently.



So It seems reasonable that we're going to end up a couple games under .500 or a couple games over .500.

I guess I would give it a C. I think the team beginning 2017 is better than the one that began 2016.



I'll take Cole, Taillon, Nova, Kuhl and ? over Cole, Liriano, Niese, Locke and Nicasio.



The starting lineup was good other than Jaso at 1B and Bell should be an upgrade.



Bullpen in 2016 began with Melancon, Watson, Feliz, Hughes, Caminero, Vogelsong and Lobstein. Now it's got Watson, Rivero, Hudson, Bastardo, Nicasio, and 2 more who can't be worse than Lobstein and Hughes (and might still include Hughes).



Bench last year began with Stewart, Joyce, Rodriguez, Morse and Rogers (as Freese was starting at 3B). Joyce and S-Rod provided power but Morse and Rogers had to be dumped. Now it's Stewart, Frazier, Gosselin, Jaso, and Hanson (?). Much less power but maybe a better bench overall.



Certainly not enough moves to threaten the Cubs. But it should be an improved Pirate team.

I think the off season was fine as much was not needed. Nova was a big signing. Hudson was a good signing.



Cole, Taillon, and Nova are a good top of the rotation. I think Kuhl is very underrated too. Liriano, Neise, and Nicasio were bad last year. Removing them made the team better.



Watson might be a worry, but he has had so much success before. If he fails, Rivero and Hudson can fix the back end of the rotation. I loved Melancon, but the new guys can fill in.



Kang is a big blow. But the line up had only one hole. That hole was filled by Bell. Players like Harrison, McCutchen, Mercer, and Cervelli need to rebound. If they get back to their normal hitting, the line up will be very strong.



The bench was a question mark coming into last year too. Hopefully, Frazier can replace Rodriguez's surprise season. Freese is back too.



Overall, not many changes were needed. The young guys in place can fill some of the holes from 2016. I would give them an average grade, but that is based on not needing much. They brought in two top pitching free agents.

By the way, I didn't give them a grade. I agree with Bobster...C.

Signing Nova, Hudson and Gosselin were good moves. Not getting one more decent experienced starting pitcher was an unfortunate non-move.



On balance this is better than the 2016 off season but that is certainly faint praise. I'll give Pirates management some credit for trying and take some away for not trying hard enough. They get a C- from me.

I think Freese should count as part of the off season work. I know he was signed in season last year, but that was just because they were proactive with him. In hindsight, that signing was huge. They now can insert a solid, above average major leaguer into the lineup everyday while missing Kang. If they wouldn't have signed him last year, there would be a glaring hole in this team right now.



Given that there weren't that many holes to fill and the Kang loss was beyond the FO control. I give them a C+/B-. Another starting pitcher could have pushed them into the B category. Quintana or Archer would have pushed them to the A area.

776A4E4C42270 wrote: Quintana or Archer would have pushed them to the A area.


Depends on what they gave up. No way I am trading Glasnow, Keller, and Bell for either of them. Local media guy noted on Twitter that the Pirates should have pulled the trigger: those three for Quintana.

303B333F3A3B206563142D353C3B3B7A373B540 wrote: Quintana or Archer would have pushed them to the A area.


Depends on what they gave up.  No way I am trading Glasnow, Keller, and Bell for either of them.  Local media guy noted on Twitter that the Pirates should have pulled the trigger: those three for Quintana.




I would move those three. Keller is the biggest loss. We can replace Bell if need be. Glasnow is going to bull pen.



Off season grade would jump to A.