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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.02.22
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Bill
12:29
What position do you think they need to target with their 1st round pick this year? Will they employ the same strategy as last year where they try to go under slot with the 1st pick in order to get higher ceiling players later on?
Jason Mackey
12:30
They need to target the best player available. This is not the NFL draft. Their draft pick should have nothing to do with the major league team. They're largely balanced across the board in the minors. And I'm always in favor of taking a high-end pitcher if he's there. But bottom line, should come down to the best player available not any specific target.
Honus
12:30
Do you think the Pirates are too passive on the FA market?   It seems like average regulars are a good value, especially at positions they need (Corner OF, RP).
Jason Mackey
12:31
Boy this is a loaded question. Heck yeah I think the Pirates are too passive on the free agent market. So do others, I'm guessing. I'm wishing they spent a bunch more than they did, obviously. But I also get the position they're in, how they're trying to grow this thing, etc. Spending a ton of money now doesn't really matter to me. I would much rather save it and spend it when there's something more to spend it on. It's also worth pointing out that I don't spend my hard-earned money to attend games, so I want to be sensitive to fans spending disposable income -- and wanting to see major league talent -- caring about such things, even if I don't.
Honus
12:31
Any "off the radar" players in the organization that jumped on and have become intriguing?
Jason Mackey
12:34
Yes, plenty. Tsung-Che Cheng has been turning some heads. Maikol Escotto is another you should know but probably don't. Jackson Glenn and Jack Herman at Low-A Bradenton last year; will be interesting to see how they handle the jump. Jared Triolo won a GG w/High-A. Pitching-wise, Omar Cruz isn't flashy but gets the job done. Michael Burrows doesn't get enough pub. I'm also intrigued by Kyle Nicolas, who came over in the Stallings trade.
Canyon
12:35
Any reason why the pirates haven’t signed any minor league free agents? Other teams are but I don’t think they signed a single one during the lockout.
Jason Mackey
12:36
Can't give you a super definitive answer, but I will say this: Most of those guys are Class AAA-caliber players. The Pirates figure to have a pretty competitive roster there this season. With not only some fringe guys at the major league level, but think about the jumps from Class AA Altoona: Martin, Bae, Castro, Cruz, maybe Fraizer, etc. Makes more sense for them to preserve those spots for auditions.
DaquidoBazzini
12:40
Any idea why Bob Nutting hasn’t been more proactive in trying to get some kind of cap/floor imposed? You don’t suppose he likes the current set up…Do you?
Jason Mackey
12:41
I don't get the sense that he has been passive with it. I asked Rob Manfred at the All-Star Game about Nutting's involvement, and he confirmed that Nutting has been a strong advocate for small-market owners. But just because Bob pushes for something doesn't mean it happens. What he would want isn't terribly popular with the rich teams, who have more stroke.
Honus
12:41
The Pirates seem to have one of the deeper minor league systems.  Has/will the reduction in minor league teams made it difficult to manage development time?
Jason Mackey
12:42
Yes, it will. Flat out. They need to be more intentional about who is playing where and why. Now, I don't think it's a huge hindrance. More just a reason to step back and think, but it absolutely has impacted how they structure things.
The REAL ev
12:42
If I recall, and my memory might be wrong, but when Syd Thrift saw Barry Bonds in AA, he brought him to Pittsburgh right away, years of control and AAA seasoning, be darned.  I know they have no immediate impact players like Bonds in the minors, but why season them in AAA and have 1 year FA in the majors, when they will just trade them away for future prospects anyway?  What I'm saying is that if your best players are in the minors, shouldn't they be in the majors?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I'm not about to expect Pirates prospects of today to have a trajectory of Barry Bonds. That's wholly unfair. And I do think the Pirates under Ben Cherington are going to be more liberal with MLB debuts. They gave Cruz a chance, and I think you will see him again and for longer. Watch. This season will feature of plenty of MLB debuts at PNC Park.
Seth
12:46
Just for the sake of accuracy...Eickhoff, Ritchie, Goldfarb, Mitchell are MiFAs that the team has signed, but I'm not sure if they were all technically during the lockout
Jason Mackey
12:47
Thanks, Seth. I believe Goldfarb and Mitchell were after, Eickhoff and Ritchie before, if memory serves. But I understood the premise of the question. It's a good ask.
Willie Maz Clemente
12:47
What are the prospects on the 40 man allowed to do? Anything? Or will we have to be content to watch non-40 man prospects?
Jason Mackey
12:48
I think they will get this figured out and not lose any RS games, but I would encourage you to take an interest in the minor league clubs. It's fun. I've made the plunge because I have to. But games are cheaper, the towns are fun, and you're watching some legitimately very good players. Teams on the 40 are allowed basically no contact with the team, FWIW.
Andrew
12:48
Is there a real potential that there may not be a season? Or do you see something like the 2020 season? Or will things start relatively on time?
Jason Mackey
12:48
I think money is going to motivate everyone to find a solution and start the season on-time. Can see spring training being like four weeks.
Jay Strongbow
12:48
I know you addressed this topic in a story a few years ago -- but with both the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins moving on from their nicknames and mascots since that story was the published, are the Indianapolis Indians long for this world? I know their logo isn't as cartoonish as the Cleveland Indians' was, but it's still a red face. Any pressure to change it in the next few years?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Yeah, that's probably worth checking on. They said they were going to explore possibilities I believe. They didn't commit to changing, but I would be interested in learning what they found out.
DB
12:49
I was pissed at Archer trade! :-)  mostly over Glasnow who was ridiculously compelling to watch, good or bad
Jason Mackey
12:50
That's a completely fair thought. An underrated thought exercise there is how badly they screwed up the development of Glasnow and Meadows in the first place. They should have been considered untouchable, Bryan Reynolds-level pieces.
Benson DuBois
12:50
I know that they are not for sale, but would a different owner really make much of a difference in terms of the Pirates' MLB payroll?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Yes, I think so. Now, I do think there's a misconception that Nutting is walking around just throwing bills in the air or diving into a pool of good coins; there's a difference between generational wealth and liquid funds, that sort of thing. But if, say, a maniacal/crazy aggressive sports owner wanted to buy the Pirates and make it his or her play thing and toss a bunch of money at it, their financial situation would definitely improve. That said, that person better be damn rich because it's an unfair fight combatting the Dodgers and their TV contract.
Justin
12:52
Do you think Cherington needs to produce a dirt-cheap winning season before he's allowed to spend in, say, the top 20 of teams?
Jason Mackey
12:54
No. But I think Cherington needs to accumulate enough talent to make the investment worth it. If I've learned anything about Nutting and the Pirates while covering them, it's that he's incredibly thoughtful about how and where he spends his money. I would argue he's too thoughtful or careful. I think sports fans want someone who spends stupidly because they're quite literally fanatics, and that is the 180-degree opposite of how Nutting runs his businesses. But to answer your question, I think Cherington needs to assemble a bunch of talent and a real baseball team that wins baseball games, and he will get the resources necessary to support that. Is that fair? Not totally. But it is different than saying I don't think Bob will ever spend.
Mark
12:54
You were talking about Barry Bonds before.  What do you think about the Giants or Pirates brining him back for one AB to restart his clock?
Jason Mackey
12:55
I was *asked* about Bonds before. And, no. I didn't even think of that, to be honest with you.
Nob Butting
12:55
I have a friend who just sold his ski resorts, should he spend that money on his Baseball company or do like he has always done, keep it for himself ? Again. Asking for a friend
Jason Mackey
12:56
Nob, do me a favor: Next time you see your friend, grab the financial documents that prove he's been pocketing money. Would really like to see those. Would probably make a good story.
Matt
12:56
What's the timeline for Davis to debut in Pittsburgh?  Any chance we see in 22?
Jason Mackey
12:56
I think that's pushing it. I do think he could jump a couple levels, but I would look for him -- as of now -- to debut in '23. If he proves me wrong, I don't think anyone would mind.
Forever Stink
12:56
If they even play this year the Pirates easily break the 1962 Mets record for losses. This franchise is utterly devoid of talent and always will be. These "prospects" are nothing more than that and will likely flame out in the Majors like Hayes and Taillon and so many others ?
Jason Mackey
12:58
I admire your optimism, even if it's not connected to reality. If the Pirates don't have talent, what would you call Reynolds, Hayes, Perez, some decent pitchers. ... Plus Cruz, Contreras, a top-five farm system. Look, I get it. Next year probably won't be pretty with wins and losses. But I don't get operating like there's some rule that they're always going to suck. It is possible for some things to change, and it is possible (Rays, Athletics, etc.) for MLB teams to win without spending an absurd amount of money.
12:59
But, yeah. Nutting owns the team. So that apparently casts a spell over drafting well, making good trades, developing players or finding them internationally.
OK, folks. That does it for this week. Thanks so much for participating. A better turnout than I expected, if we're being honest. Hope to do this again next week with some better news on the lockout front.
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