Bucco offseason

[Eaglealum]

Haha, I got a buddy who's a diehard Phillies guy, he calls Philly GM Ruben Amaro.... Ruin
As far as Hamels or Lee. If the Phillies want any chance to win at all, they have to keep both. If they want to blow it up, trade both, they could get a huge haul of prospects for both. Hamels w/l wasn't great... But all his other numbers were better than good, the Phil's just stunk most days he pitched

[Manfred]

Snider should go anyway.

[abpk2903]

Unless the Phils are willing to eat 75% of their contracts, I don't see any teams expressing much interest at all for those two let alone top prospects...if they package them, what teams honestly have $50 million in salary open to their budget next season. Here is the list I can even remotely see being interested:

-Mariners
-Dodgers
-Astros
-Cubs
-Yankees
-Rangers

I think Cubs and Astros are too far from being a contender for this deal to make sense. The Dodgers seem to have a already great pitching staff (but who knows they spend money just to spend it). Recently, the Yankees have been reluctant to spend money. So to me that leaves Rangers or Mariners...

I know I wouldn't be happy if my favorite team's GM ate up a ton of salary space and gave away draft picks for either of these 2.

[Eaglealum]

160 mil for elsbury... They'll spend, they just want to be smart... After never having done that, not sure they can. They have 400 innings in rotation to replace and Kuroda as their #2 behind a sagging CC.... They'll be in front of line... Yanks problem is they don't have the prospects to interest the phillies... Also Hamels is controlled for 6 years... That's huge in this market.. They want max yrs on pitching and the fewer the better for position guys

[Eaglealum]

Bucs shopping Justin Wilson ... Any thoughts? IMO it's a huge mistake.. 96 mph leftys aren't easy get ahold of.. Especially ones controllable for several more years

[Manfred]

Agreed.

[voncap]

Don't have a problem with them shopping him. No harm in seeing what is out there. If he can be traded for a decent every day player who can help the team next season, I don't have a problem with that. If they are looking to move him for a backup middle infielder that is a problem.

Allot of tweets and internet postings linking the Pirates to different 1Bmen. I now see Logan Morrison's name being tossed around. Not sure what to think of him in a Pirate uni.

[Eaglealum]

Pirates extended Charlie Morton today, 3 years 21 million.. I'm good with that.. As long as we get a shortstop that can keep suck up ground balls he's good for 13-17 wins.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Logan Morrison was dealt to Seattle today. Conversely, the Pirates have some interest in their first basemen, Justin Smoak. Smoak was once a top prospect, but has dealt with some injuries through his career.


Pirates sign Edison Volquez, as he seems like a contingency plan for the fallout of Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez's pending injury return.


The Bucs appear solid 1-2-3 with Liriano, Cole, and Morton, and with the knowledge that Taillon is not far way, and assuming Wandy Rodriguez comes back and still is productive. By signing Volquez, I do not believe that takes them out of looking for more pitching or re-signing Burnett. It just means they are adding to the stable. Low risk, high reward type move.


I think Wilson is expendable simply because Tony Watson is better than he is. Pirates know how to build a bullpen, I'm not worried in that regard. I like Wilson a lot, but two hard throwing lefties is rare, and thus valuable. Could get a good return for him.




My hope is simple, sign James Loney. Add a veteran bench player (or resign Barmes) and either sign Burnett, or trade for something worthwhile. AND just pray Taillon and Polanco are as good as we have been told.

[Eaglealum]

I completely agree.. Wilson may be expendable if they move Locke to pen... Personally, I'd keep Wilson and shop Locke