Colin Beazley's Pirates chat: 03.06.26
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JollyRoger8
12:48
What are your thoughts on Esmerlyn Valdez?  He looks like the real deal. I know he is targeted for Indy, but do you see him getting a call up when the rosters expand?
One other comment. I think Temarr will be ready to take over for Lowe next year. I don’t see the Pirates giving out a big contract for Lowe. Call me crazy, but Temarr reminds me of a very young Joe Morgan.
You thoughts Colin?
Colin Beazley
12:50
All Esmerlyn Valdez does is hit. Nice guy too, someone who will surely be popular in Pittsburgh once he gets here. I agree that he's targeted for Indy, as he has barely played above High-A and struggled a bit once he got to Altoona. However, the power is real and it's not just pull power. I could see him making a September debut, though he's also behind somewhere like Password in terms of the outfield pecking order.
12:53
As for Termarr and Joe Morgan, I never saw Morgan play so I can't make the comparison there. He's looked good this spring training. We actually asked Don Kelly about Termarr today, Kelly's quote:

“He’s grown a lot, just his maturity, the questions he asks, his work and the way he goes about it. Continuing to mature, continuing to get better from a skill development standpoint out on the field and being around the big league camp and maturing, I definitely see growth there.”

I hesitate to say he'll be ready for the call for opening day next year, but he does have to be added to the 40-man next offseason or he'll be Rule 5 eligible. I'm sure he will be, but I hesitate to say he's the immediate Lowe replacecment if Lowe is not re-signed/extended.
Guest
12:54
The Pirates prefer opening a 40-man spot allowing Harbin to accrue service time rather than option him prior to the deadline?
Colin Beazley
12:56
Is this Ethan Hullihen? I was just talking with him about this specific instance. (Ethan loves these sorts of rules/contract minutiae.)

Optioning Harbin is more likely instead of burning service time, I'd agree. Just said it's an option if they decide they'd rather keep all the players they have.
12:58
Final call for questions...
Guest
1:00
Lol! Not Ethan. I do have an understanding on the surface. Ethan digs deep.
Colin Beazley
1:00
That's awesome. Great catch, thanks for the mention.
Jim
1:00
5th rotation spot prediction?
Colin Beazley
1:02
Hi Jim. I lean Urquidy just because he has the experience and has looked solid so far. I do think Barco will be ready at some point, though he may start in Triple-A to continue working on the three (!!!) pitches he's added this offseason. I consider Mlodzinski a reliever and think he'd have to be very, very clearly better than the others to justify messing with something that's worked.
Jim
1:02
and an over under on Cruz homers + or - 25
Colin Beazley
1:03
Under, but I do expect over 20 and a more productive season for him this season.
Wayward
1:03
Colin, at what point should there be concern about Bart and Davis bats, given how they have started?
Colin Beazley
1:04
A tiny amount of concern now, but not real concern until roughly the home opener. Spring training stats can be a guide, but they don't actually matter.
mikeinpgh
1:04
Your pre-season prediction of our 2026 final record & do we make the POs?
Colin Beazley
1:05
And our final question of the day, from mikeinpgh:

The Post-Gazette will have a special section closer to opening day which will involve predictions and projections and all of that. I'll dedicate some more thought to that one. But for this one, as of March 6 in Dunedin... I'll say 84-78 and the third wild card spot.
mikeinpgh
1:06
I'm going 82-80 & missing out (barely) on a wildcard spot.
Colin Beazley
1:07
Thank you all for joining my first P-G Pirates chat! Been a pleasure talking Buccos as we counted down to first pitch. Hoping to make these a weekly thing -- likely this same day and time, but will keep yinz posted. See you next time!
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