Trade deadline fantasy

[Crimson's Ghost]

Josh Bell and others for Anthony Rizzo would be a nice move I think.

[abpk2903]

RP upgrades is a must, 1B upgrade would be nice, SP upgrade would be icing on the cake.

Do you think the Pirates would be willing to swallow their pride and make a move for Morneau?

I like the Rizzo idea but I'm not a fan of trading within the division.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I think pitching is the only move the Pirates end up making, they will definitely add another late inning guy. If you can have Watson-Street-Melancon on the back end, and you still have Hughes who has pitched well and Wilson with a lot of talent, that's not a bad bullpen.

I don't think the Bucs get an ace or anything. Cole and Morton are your guys. Locke and Volquez should be your 3-4. LIriano's value to this team needs to evaluated, he's not helping them win games. Worley has done a nice enough job to hang, and Cumpton has been OK. I think the Pirates could stand to add a veteran that's better than Worley and Cumpton and well, Liriano.

As far as position players go, I don't see where they can make many upgrades. The bench is where they could make a move, and within the bench, I'd like to see a backup catcher that can actually hit the ball out of the infield, Chris Stewart stinks. Possibly another outfielder better than Snider. Other than that, Harrison obviously is fine. Barmes has value, and Gaby makes up half a platoon.

The thing with going for a first basemen, I think we need to wait on Ike Davis. When we give up on young power hitters, Brandon Moss and Jose Bautista things happen. He deserves at least this season and an off-season and a few months with the squad next year. We still don't know what he could be.


Regarding Anthony Rizzo and even Strarlin Castro, they would be awesome additions, but the Pirates have been and will continue to be protective of their top prospects. In order to get those two, it would probably take Josh Bell, Nick Kingham, and Alan Hansen along with a lower level prospect. And they would be begging for Tyler Glasnow too. Still, that's 3 or 4 top 10 Pirates prospects for two players. I don't see NH doing that. Kingham is right with Taillon and could join the Bucs staff mid-season next year. Bell could be the future first basemen down the line, Hansen could be the SS too. And Obviously Glasnow has future ace hype already.

The Pirates have a nice shot this year, but this team still has a window for 4-5 more years with this core. I think if I'm going to make a blockbuster move I do it when my star outfield is settled and dominant, and my starting rotation has Cole, Taillon, and Kingham. That's when this organization will have a World Series contender, not sure if this is my year to go "all in"

[dadw/2sons]

very good post does anybody think somebody would take Davis in a trade to get back a first baseman in return like a Morales (Twins). I think he would be an upgrade and Davis could be a DH or first baseman for them.

[voncap]

The best additions this team could use is a healthy Cole and the 2013 version of Liriano.

At this point in the season, I am not as optimistic about the Buccos' chances of making the playoffs this year. They have to pass three teams in the standings. A tough task especially considering the Pirates' record against those three so far this season is 12-26.

IMO,one reason they will have a tough time catching those teams is because they have too much dead weight in the bullpen. They are carrying three guys in the bullpen right now who are not very good. Pimentel has not been good but he has to stay or risk losing him, Frieri has proven to not be very useful, and even though Gomez has a specific role he is still not a guy Hurdle would turn to in the crunch unless he has no choice. Hughes has been solid out of the pen, but when he is the guy you have to turn to get the big out in the 6th or 7th inning - Yikes. So some bullpen help would be good.

That being said, I would really like to see them make a move for a long term answer at SS. Mercer is decent, but I don't believe he is good enough either offensively or defensively to be a long term solution. Even though Hansen has being playing SS this season for the Curve many feel he is going to be eventually moved to 2nd. If that is the case, then there is no SS prospect in the system other than this year's number 1 pick who is at least four years away.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I posted a big thing on the Pirates farm system in a different thread. I agree, I see Hanson playing second down the line. The kid playing low-A West Virginia is having a monster year, Jacoby Jones. He may have moved himself into prospect status, but he could also make a move himself, to third base. Middle infield is not a strength within this organization. So if may be Mercer until they make a deal or signing.


As far as this year goes, Huston Street and Andrew Miller are the two biggest names the Bucs can go after in the relief market.

[abpk2903]

I really don't have a issue with Mercer now or the long term. Look the Pirates aren't going to be able to put studs all throughout their lineup with the salary restraints placed on the front office by ownership. Mercer is a guy that can bat in the .240-.260 range and pop out 10-15 hrs a year. They aren't going to find a long term option at SS with better numbers without breaking the bank to do it. In all honesty, the pirates have enough "pop" in this lineup to not need a whole lot more from SS. His range doesn't compete with Jack Wilson or Castro but he doesn't commit many errors either. I think Mercer is a great value at short.

What is the issue with losing Pimentel? You can't throw away innings in a "pennant race" just to keep a middle reliever on the roster. I think you will eventually see Worley in his spot.

[crfball]

I'd trade Bell and Taillon for Goldschmidt....

[PLDragons24]

Goldschmidt isn't going anywhere. He just signed a brand new long term contract that is extremely team friendly, plus you don't give up a young superstar for 2 prospects that have potential to be superstars. Goldschmidt took a lot less money then he could have got anywhere else to stay in Arizona

[PLDragons24]

In other words he is their Andrew McCutchen.