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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.02.24
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Tim
1:13
In the second base battle, what carries more weight: minor league stats or transition to the big leagues last year?  Gonzalez has much better minor league stats, but Peguero transitioned better last year.
Jason Mackey
1:14
Minor league stats don't mean crap. The battle for 2B will come down to spring, who's more consistent and better at the plate, in the field, all that stuff. Maybe transition feeds into it some, but it's mostly gonna be how players are handling themselves in the present.
Guest
1:14
I saw that Smith Ngiba was dfa'd for Chapman.  I thought he was a top prospect; any chance of getting him back?
Jason Mackey
1:14
I dunno about top prospects. And, yeah, it wouldn't shock me if he clears.
Ski
1:14
I would think most teams pay their GM for wins. I think the pirates compensate theirs on profitability.  To me that is a conundrum the GM is handcuffed here in Pittsburgh. Many of Cherington decisions are made to make sure the Pirates organization keep some kind of profit matrix, I think. What you think?
Jason Mackey
1:16
They underwent a full-scale rebuild. Ben should be evaluated on how the Pirates come out of that, sure. But do you legitimately think from 2020-22 -- and even parts of 2023 -- he was making moves geared at thinking the Pirates were on the brink of the postseason? It's a team-building process. One that takes too long and they've screwed parts of it up, sure. But some kind of profit matrix? My goodness.
Thomas
1:16
When it comes to options years, why are the Pirates so reluctant to offer them when dealing with Free Agents?
Jason Mackey
1:16
They've done that some with Vogelbach and Tellez, no? Hembree might've had one, too. I get the multi-year thing. It's been addressed a couple times. But they have done some options in contracts.
Tim
1:16
To follow up on the question about an opener, in your opinion, what is the benefit to having Reliever pitch 1st inning, then Starter 2-6, versus Starter pitch 1-5 and Reliever pitch 6?  I don't understand it.
Jason Mackey
1:18
It's often matchup-based. Say you want Borucki to open because two of the first three hitters are lefties. You might reduce the number of times those lefties face, say, Priester to one.
Ed
1:18
How are you expecting Hayes to perform with the bat this year? Hoping his second half performance last year was more of an indicator of how he’ll be moving forward
Jason Mackey
1:19
Yeah, I don't see Hayes' second half as an anomaly. I absolutely think that's who he could be as a hitter. I'm excited to see what I think will be a repeat. He's a smart, athletic and strong kid who has learned a lot over the past couple years. It all coming together for him isn't an accident.
Ethan
1:19
Jason, assuming Paul Skenes is as good as we expect, gun to your head: will he be a Pirate for life?
Jason Mackey
1:19
Not a chance. And please don't put a gun to my head.
Tanner B
1:19
What is Bailey Falter's role going to be for this team?
Jason Mackey
1:20
I see Falter as a tweener type ... and probably more of a long reliever than anything.
Thomas
1:20
By saving money at 1B, the Pirates could realistically make a large splash for a SP. Nothing has worked out yet in regards to making a trade. Any chance they swing back to the FA market and sign a top of the rotation starter for more than $16M?
Jason Mackey
1:20
I think a trade for a young, club-controlled starter is much more likely.
Sauerkraut Saul
1:20
Let’s hypothetically say the pirates trade for a controllable pitcher, and their last offseason move is to sign a bat for around 10 mil, who would you want them to target?
Jason Mackey
1:25
Honestly, I would prefer they added more pitching. Is that an option? Oh, it's not. Tough one. I guess I'd have to seriously entertain a catcher (Sanchez?) but also maybe Whit Merrifield (119 OPS+ in '22) or Jorge Soler.
Ed
1:25
Sorry you probably get this question a lot, but what do you think Paul Skenes timeline is? And on that note, our other top 100 prospects?
Jason Mackey
1:26
Ha. Yeah, been asked that a few times, Ed. As long as everything goes the way it should, I'd say around mid-May. ... I don't see it for Termarr this year. Needs more time. He's young. Could see a September start or two for Solo or Chandler. Jones I think is probably June or July. He has some development left.
Justin
1:26
Have any current players on the team, off the record, expressed any frustrations about what seems to be a lack of urgency from the front office?  Or do they just tend to more or less just be happy to be here?
Jason Mackey
1:27
Right or wrong, I don't think they view it as "a lack of urgency." I think they think their team is close. They felt encouraged by the 35-32 finish from last year. I think they've been a little confused by the lack of starting pitching adds this offseason. But I think they just look at their team differently than fans do.
Ano
1:28
With no options left, would the pirates be willing to trade Ro or does that represent the kind of not understanding what we have/giving up too early that Bob mentioned having to avoid
Jason Mackey
1:28
I don't see why they would do that. At his lowest point? You're better off sticking it out and seeing if you can help the kid.
Ed
1:28
What would have to happen for you to consider this upcoming bucco season successful?
Jason Mackey
1:28
Over .500, 84-85 wins, flirting with a wild-card spot. Plus the growth and development of key young players.
Thomas
1:28
Does Theo Epstein returning to Boston have any impact on the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
1:29
I don't see how it could, honestly.
Greg
1:29
Is there still money left for Michael A. Taylor? Mike Clevenger?
Jason Mackey
1:29
I don't see either of those two as terribly likely. Taylor, especially, I don't see as being worth the cost.
GH
1:30
Any new rule changes in 2024 for MLB?
Jason Mackey
1:30
Yeah, a few. Kinda hard to go through them all individually. This piece will help. Biggest is the widening of the lane to 1B: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2024-rule-changes-runners-lane-to-first-b...
Ed
1:30
Do you see the pirates making a similar move pikes the Brewers and signing a player prior to making the majors to try and save money on what that player could eventually be worth?
Jason Mackey
1:31
They did that with Polanco. I think they would love to strike early with Cruz, but I don't think anything is terribly likely at this point, even though Cruz did switch agencies.
Adam
1:31
What’s your best guess, right now, at the Pirates opening day lineup?
Jason Mackey
1:33
Something like this: Cruz, SS; Reynolds, LF; Hayes, 3B; Tellez, 1B; McCutchen, DH; Suwinski, CF; Triolo, RF; Davis, C; Peguero, 2B. ... I expect Olivares and Joe to play a bunch, too.
Henry Davis
1:33
Am I the next in a long list of first round busts
Jason Mackey
1:33
62 games. Settle down.
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