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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 01.26.24
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Jason Mackey
1:31
If nothing else, I don't think it ends the conversation. And it could be enough, yeah.
Tim
1:32
4.21, 4.31, 4.78.  Those are the respective ERA's last year for Keller, Oviedo, and Ortiz. None are good, none are bad. Ortiz really wasn't that far off by that measure.  Or do you think the ERA's mask a greater disparity between them?
Jason Mackey
1:32
Yeah, ERA isn't a perfect stat by any stretch. Oviedo doesn't matter for 2024. There's also context. Keller had some dips, Ortiz had a lot of them.
Justin
1:33
Do people who you talk with get more giddy when talking about any particular prospect than they do with any other prospect?  Like maybe they will say good things about Jones and Solometo but then just slobber over Chandler or something like that.
Jason Mackey
1:33
Ummmm ... I'm not sure what you're asking. The people I talk to do this for a living. They're pretty objective about all of it. No slobbering.
Stash
1:33
Jason, have you ever indulged in one of those hot chocolate facials that the Mrs. highly recommends?
Jason Mackey
1:34
Haha. I have not. Read Abby's article last night. That struck me as odd. I usually remedy the cold by turning up the thermostat too high, but that didn't make her piece.
Jimmy
1:34
How worried do you think the Pirates would be, in the situation you laid out above on Skenes--in him coming up early enough to garner ROY consideration, thus losing that oh so valuable extra year of control? Meaning they may wait a little longer to bring him up to take ROY off the table?
Jason Mackey
1:34
I would hope not at all. You sacrifice a couple sure starts for one minor thing -- preventing a year of club control. If he wins RoY, that's friggin' awesome. Would mean great things. I don't think they would actively try to prevent that.
Richard
1:35
Hi Jason! Anything to report on the Davis front and the progress he's made this offseason at Driveline? Cheers!
Jason Mackey
1:35
Not a ton other than what he said at PiratesFest -- very happy with the changes, feeling more natural, should keep him athletic in the box, etc.
Cappy
1:35
Have you heard anything about the Buccos interest in Michael Lorenzen or Michael A Taylor? I feel like both would be perfect fits
Jason Mackey
1:36
Lot of asks about Lorenzen today. Is this because of the Murray thing that didn't directly link the Pirates to Lorenzen? I don't see it. I still think trade is more likely.
The fort
1:36
Why did I post a cryptic message on Twitter yesterday about Carlos Santana??
Jason Mackey
1:36
Because you wanted to make sure this chat was bumping.
Guest
1:36
Any word on Contreras current state?  Has velo returned?  Is he mentally and physically healthy?  He’s out of options, right?
Jason Mackey
1:37
Yes, believe he's out of options. No, no update on his current state. He's supposed to be in Bradenton, but I have not seen him or heard a ton about him.
BDS
1:37
What Players would you include in a package for Cabrerra?
Jason Mackey
1:38
One of the 2B guys ... a prospect in like the 10-20 range on MLB Pipeline ... and maybe like Connor Joe or have a conversation about a third option who wasn't a premium prospect.
Honk 4 Jason
1:39
Were the Pirates ever really in on Hoskins? What did you think of his contract? Why have they neglected 1B for what seems like forever?
Jason Mackey
1:39
I can't imagine so. $17 million/year for 2 years? Whether you like 'em or not, they spent more on that position than anywhere else last offseason with Choi & Santana.
Guest
1:39
Is the front office content with a Tellez/Joe platoon at first to start the season? Hoping for a Santana reunion at this point
Jason Mackey
1:40
Yes, I think the FO is content with a Tellez/Joe platoon at first base.
Dan
1:40
I saw yesterday Olivares was the unluckiest hitter according to xHR when it came to home runs due to Kauffman Stadium last year. He had a pretty  solid ops+ last year. Could you see him becoming the every day starter in right if the bat plays regardless of his defensive struggles?
Jason Mackey
1:41
I could. And I think they think that. Right or wrong, I think they're intrigued by him playing a decent amount out there ... which is why I don't totally see Taylor as a fit.

Taylor OPS+ = 94
Oliverares OPS+ = 109
Cobra
1:41
Tell me I am wrong:  Ben reads your Nutting interview basically saying Ben has the budgetary flexibility he needs to add talent, and expectations are that we need to get better this year —  and Ben’s like ,”well then Bob thanks for that hot potatoe - here’s a $10 million reliever before we even sign a starter” 😆
Jason Mackey
1:42
I would really hope Ben is not structuring his offseason around an interview the owner gave to the Post-Gazette. Now, does Bob want Ben to take more risk than he's comfortable taking? That was one of my takeaways. And I don't know who wins that one. Because if it backfires, Ben has to wear that. But Bob owns the team.
Justin
1:42
To Gene: Mitch Garver signed with Seattle a few weeks ago
Jason Mackey
1:42
On Christmas Eve, right? Thanks for the reminder.
Nathan
1:42
Thoughts on Michael A Taylor
Jason Mackey
1:43
Solid player, but I'm not sure they can't replace him. Twenty-one homers but a .720 OPS. Would not overextend to do that.
NP
1:43
Was the Chapman signing a pivot based on the cost of free agent pitching or was it maybe always a Plan B (or C or D of theirs), even though Cherington said publicly that a significant bullpen addition was unlikely?
Jason Mackey
1:43
My money would be on the first one -- a pivot based on the SP market.
Tyler
1:43
any word on a possible santana reunion?
Jason Mackey
1:44
I don't think it's likely, Tyler.
Guest
1:44
Can you clarify the thinking with paying a mostly washed up 35 year old 10M a year, yet only paying 3.2M for a strikeout king at 1B when first base was the biggest needs by far, outside of starting pitching?
Jason Mackey
1:45
Wait, we're saying Chapman is washed? Had a 3.09 ERA and was in the 99th percentile for velo, believe 100th when it came to strikeout and whiff rates. I'm also OK with the platoon at first. I think several folks are. Now, they need more pitching. Not OK with that.
NP
1:45
What were your impressions of the Pirates' DR facility being there? Better than what you expected? Or what you expected? Worse?
Jason Mackey
1:46
Far better, honestly. And a little surprised it took this long to get to a DR question. But it really was eye-opening. Not only with the quality of facilities and care-taken but also just what it requires to make it down there and how much it means.
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