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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 01.29.26
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Jason Mackey
12:50
I don't know who Ortiz is.

I'd prolly go:
Cruz, CF
Reynolds, RF
12:51
Lowe, 2B
O'Hearn, DH
Horwitz, 1B
New 3B
Mangum, LF
Triolo, SS
Davis, C

Note: This is assuming they start Griffin in Triple-A. We'll see. A lot to learn between now and opening day.
Tyler
12:51
Favorite Bob Weir song?  Also do you think Cruz has a better year at the plate? (My favorite Bob song changes but Cassidy always hits the spot)
Jason Mackey
12:52
I'll go off the board a tad: Throwing Stones. The energy with which it builds, incredible. By the end, feels like the sky is ripping open.

I do think Cruz has a better year at the plate. Tempering expectations, but he was very different at PiratesFest. If he puts it together, man. Could be something.
Yark
12:52
Hearing anything new at all?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Not much. Pretty quiet, Yark.
Yark
12:52
Do you think there will be any surprise guys to open the year in the pen?  Harbin bidois devenski a signing?
Jason Mackey
12:54
Devenski would be my pick there. Those will be up, I think. Devenski is someone who could force his way on with a strong spring. Other than that, I look at it like:
Santana
Mattson
Soto
Lawrence
Montgomery
Nicolas
Mlodzinski
Ramirez

Again, maybe Sisk. Maybe Devenski. Some of the recent 40 adds.
T
12:54
Do you think the pirates are waiting for Suarez to make a decision and that is why they have not done anything since the o Hearn signing?
Jason Mackey
12:54
I don't think it's only that. But I think it is one input right now for a lot of teams, yes.
Sully
12:54
Jason your articles are wonderful and to the point. Thanks for the insight. My feeling is the pirates need a big bat to be in the world series talk.
Jason Mackey
12:55
Thank you, Sully. They definitely need a bat. Don't think that's going to ignite World Series talk. But if they would sign Suarez, I would certainly agree that they profile as a possible playoff team.
Yark
12:55
Do you think any other team would offer #22 anything more than a NRI at this point considering age recent performance and defensive ability etc?
Jason Mackey
12:56
I think they might, yeah. Like, the White Sox? Surely. But a team that's going to compete for anything in 2025? No, I don't.
Robert
12:56
Konnor Griffin has been getting a lot of comparisons to players like Bobby Witt and Mike Trout in recent prospect write ups. Have there been serious discussions internally with the Pirates and/ with Griffin's camp about an extension?
Jason Mackey
12:56
Those usually don't start until February-March, when everyone gets to spring. Right now people are soaking up the last of family time. Myself included.
Ryan
12:56
Good afternoon Jason with baseball starting soon who will lead the pirates in hits RBI’s and home runs And saves I’m going with Reynolds Cruz and Lowe and I’m going with mattson for saves even though Santana is the closer Let’s Go Bucs
Jason Mackey
12:57
Hi Ryan. I'll go with Reynolds, O'Hearn and Cruz, just to be a little different. Santana on saves. Hope you enjoy spring training!
Robert
12:57
You mentioned above that a Skenes extension is unlikely, what would need to happen to at least make it more of a possibility outside of winning of course.
Jason Mackey
12:58
Maybe Bob Nutting winning the Powerball. Twice.
Tim
12:58
Hi Jason - is there any optimism from the Pirates that Solomento will bounce back from the last two years?
Jason Mackey
12:59
I don't think it's something they're expecting based on how things are gone. That said, it is maddening. Ability is in there. As such, I'm not sure how shocked anyone would be if it happened.
Austin Bechtold
12:59
How do I work 4 hours a day with this weirdo? Please help me
Jason Mackey
12:59
Fernando Mendoza!
Ethan
12:59
May not be possible to answer this until everyone's in Bradenton but do you have the sense that the pitching staff (assuming they wanted to replace Marin for a guy who can get more out of them) feels like they got what they wanted with Bill Murphy? Still seems like a crazy good hire to me. Hard not to see what Hunter Brown has become the last two years and not have crazy high hopes for Chandler/Ashcraft/healthy Jones
Jason Mackey
1:00
I can answer that one easily. These guys are flat-out thrilled with Murphy. Man, you can tell. They love the dude. He's been in touch with a lot of them. I liked the hire when it was announced. I love it after hearing more about how Murphy operates.
WVJames
1:00
Hi Jason, not sure why I think this but I feel like an Alec Bohm addition ( if possible) would be a better fit than Suarez. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
1:01
Depends on what you would have to give up, but I think I agree with you. If the acquisition cost is small, I'm cool with it. That said, if they could Suarez for 2x17, I'd do that in a heartbeat. I just don't think that gets a deal done.
Tori
1:01
Where do Endy and Flores fit on this team?
Jason Mackey
1:01
Probably Triple-A to start, then earning their way to the big club if they actually hit.

Flores would be ahead of Endy and could start with the MLB team if the Pirates wind up trading Joey Bart.
Mark
1:01
Hi Jason.  I was reading a story about Horwitz on MLB and he talked about the possibility of playing 2B.  I was surprised.  Have you heard that?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
1:02
Not surprised. I mentioned it in my story that ran a couple days before. He talked about it Saturday. He played one game there in '25, 39 I believe in '24. He's comfortable at 2B.
Chris
1:02
Have you heard any concrete changes Bill Murphy has planned? Ex. Any pitchers going to ditch pitch X and focus on Y?
Jason Mackey
1:03
Not that concrete, no. It's more about relationship-building at this point. That's stuff that's way more prevalent in spring.
Chris
1:03
Any chance the pirates are worried about upsetting cutch with their offer? Like they want him back at league minimum, or  ask him to sign mid-season?
Jason Mackey
1:03
No, that's not the issue.
Douggy18
1:03
Houston needs a backup catcher:  would a deal including Joey Bart, Thomas Harrington and Termarr Johnson be enough to get Isaac Parades?
Jason Mackey
1:04
That would make a lot of sense, Douggy18. Don't know if it gets done. I'm not Houston. But I'd imagine that at least gets the convo going. (I don't like trading more pitching, though. I'd try to lessen the arm I give up; someone in High-A or something.)
Frank. Slippery Rock
1:04
More of a Pirate Organization question but are the Pirates still planning on opening the area next to the ballpark which would provide an atmosphere before games, including a large screen TV .Keep up the fine work!
Jason Mackey
1:04
I believe so. Was there a few days ago, however, and it looks like there's still a lot of work to do.
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