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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.14.23
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Jason Mackey
11:41
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Different day today, as I used yesterday to talk my family to the airport. Leave your question now, and I'll be back very soon to answer. Thanks!
12:01
OK, let's get started.
Warren Morris Fan Club
12:01
assume Endy Rodriguez will not make the team out of spring training. Assuming he continues on his current trajectory, how long do you think he'll spend in AAA? A few weeks or are we looking at a mid-June call up?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Thanks for the question, WMFC. It's tough to say, because while Endy has hit well, his defense hasn't been great. There's absolutely no way he's ready, plus they're paying Austin Hedges $5 million to handle a pitching staff and be good defensively. I would say Endy will be up when he's better defensively, assuming the hitting continues. I don't think this is all of it, but I'm sure a part of it is the fact that the Pirates wouldn't mind if it took two-plus months to get ready for Super-2 implications.
Craig Toth
12:09
I have seen it reported that Pirates Prospect Dariel Lopez is going to be out for the season due to injury. Can you confirm?
Jason Mackey
12:10
Hi Craig. Yes, it is accurate. I'm expecting more info when we chat with Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk for his weekly session tomorrow.
Cullen
12:10
Saw that the Pirates renewed Cruz contract for the minimum today. Are they probably looking for a year of production before offering him an extension? What would one possibly look like?
Jason Mackey
12:12
Hey Cullen. Tough to say what they could be looking at or for. Doubt it's for a year of production, though. If that happens, Cruz may well price himself out of their range. I think the Corbin Carroll extension in Arizona is fascinating. Eight years. A huge gamble. $100-plus million. Small sample size of games but projectable talent. There are a lot of things similar to the Cruz situation. Now, will they spend that much on a player? I have my doubts.
Cullen
12:12
Have the Pirates and Reynolds started contract conversations again? I figured they'd talk before Spring Training ends but so far nothing.
Jason Mackey
12:14
My suspicion is they have, but I don't know that for sure. I know the team wanted to go at it again. I also know it has been really hard to get info out of either side, which is often the case when these things advance. Note: This doesn't mean I'm saying something gets done. Just that it has turned super secret on both sides.
Fire Hextall
12:14
What is the bullpen going to look like? Garcia is out for a length of time and I don't want to see scrubs like Y. Ramirez and Chatwood continue to get lit up
Jason Mackey
12:17
Good question here. Chatwood has struggled. Ramirez has options and profiles as a Triple-A guy to start. Here's where I stand: Bednar, Holderman, Crowe, Underwood Jr., Hernandez, De Jong ... then basically take two: De Los Santos, Moreta and Oviedo. Don't think Stephenson will be ready. Selby needs Triple-A time. Don't love Oviedo in a relief role; would rather he start. But maybe you use him as a swing or piggyback with someone. Don't see how he has anything to gain in the minors. Plus, you need those innings for Burrows, Priester, Ortiz, Mlodzinski & Nicolas.
Canyon
12:17
It’s been quiet lately in regards to the Reynolds situation is this a good or bad thing?
Jason Mackey
12:18
I think good. It's never a win for stuff to be out in the media so publicly (though I don't mind). If they're deciding to keep it internal and try to make legitimate progress, great.
Cullen
12:18
Who are you looking at for the Pirates to take 1.1 in the draft? Paul Skenes has been dealing and Crews and Langford have both hit well.
Jason Mackey
12:19
There's a bunch of time, so I don't know if I feel super passionate about anything here, knowing how much can & will change. But I've really liked Crews' start. If you made me choose right now, that would be my pick.
Mark
12:19
Is Swaggerty showing enough to where he can win the starting CF job? I think he’s the missing link to a strong outfield opening day.
Jason Mackey
12:20
No, I don't think so. I've liked Swaggerty's spring, but I still think they'll go with Suwinski in center, Reynolds in left and McCutchen in right on Opening Day. Now, should something happen, could Swaggerty be first up? Absolutely. He, Cal Mitchell and Canaan Smith-Njigba have all had strong springs. Miguel Andujar not so much.
Fire Hextall
12:20
Why is Oviedo being tried as a starter? St. Louis seemed to have him as a sort of swingman/occasional opener, and they certainly know more about developing pitching than the Pirates. Besides, guys like Priester and Burrows are on the horizon anyway, so wouldn't it make more sense to have Oviedo in that swingman role?
Jason Mackey
12:21
Not always. You want to be mindful of what enables guys to thrive, right? In my eyes, Oviedo has performed as a different guy when starting. Plus, you're talking a big dude who throws 95-96 mph with five legit pitches. Still young. Great head on his shoulders. I'm willing to hear him out on starting. Not sure it has anything to do with this team knows more than that team.
Wayward
12:22
Jason, Are you starting to see some clarity around the competition at 2B, Utility and RP?
Jason Mackey
12:23
A little, yeah. Castro looks like the Opening Day 2B to me. Bench a little in flux. It'll be Joe, backup C, then two more. I like Chris Owings' chances of making the team. They like him. Then beyond that, who knows? Could be Bae or Marcano. Mitchell, Cal or Swaggerty maybe. Hit on the bullpen above.
Austin
12:23
Bae, Swaggerty, Oviedo. Where do you think these 3 start the season?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I'm gonna say Triple-A for all three.
Bill
12:23
Do you think the competition for roster spots is genuinely still playing out or do you think minds are made up and those decisions (barring something unforeseen) have been made?
Jason Mackey
12:24
I think there's competition for select spots. Who starts at 2B, the backup C and 1-2 bench spots. Not the starting rotation. The fringe of the bullpen has some competition. I think it's overblown, sure, but not a total farce.
Brian B
12:24
Out of all of the young Bucs potentially making a debut this year, who do you think becomes regulars by seasons’ end?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Another good one. This is obvious, but I could see Endy sticking around in some capacity, though not necessarily as a No. 1 catcher. I could see Colin Selby as a relief option. Rotation-wise, wouldn't surprise me if Burrows and Priester were in it fairly solidly by the end as well.
Matthew
12:25
Hayes off-season looks to be paying off early. He hasn’t been in the lineup a ton but it has me curious where you think he mainly hits in the lineup and what you think the ceiling is for him at the dish.
Jason Mackey
12:27
This is a good one, Matthew. Shelty has hit him leadoff, second and a little further down. I think ideally, he's 2/3 opposite Reynolds, however they want to play that. And ceiling-wise, I wanna see him get to at least a .750 OPS this season. I think his ceiling is higher -- I can see 15+ HR, 80-90 RBIs and .280+ BA -- but this would be a great first step. Should be able to hit the ball hard and drive it gap-to-gap, and we've seen improvement there this spring.
LetsGoPens
12:27
Hey Jason, what was the reasoning behind the Mark Mathias move?
Jason Mackey
12:27
Infield depth. Nothing more, nothing less. Can play multiple positions. Some offensive track record. They love those types. Not looking for him to take on a starring role or anything.
Wayward
12:27
If the Bucs go shopping in the late cuts, veteran opt-outs what  spots do you think they would look at?  Lefty reliever maybe?
Jason Mackey
12:28
That's an easy one with Hernandez down. Don't disagree. Perhaps an upgrade over Owings who can play SS? Any relief pitching, honestly. Pitching depth.
Jeff
12:28
Do you think Cruz is the best option for lead off, especially against lefties. Looking at bottom of order, I can’t see many RBI chances after 1st inning.
Jason Mackey
12:30
It's something I think about a lot. I see why. I also think batting order gets too much attention. Don't love Cruz hitting behind Hedges, who obviously doesn't run well, but I like him functioning as a threat ahead of Reynolds and theoretically upping the number of fastballs Reynolds sees. So if they went Cruz > Reynolds > Hayes, not sure I would hate it, if Hayes was productive.
Paul
12:30
I know this isn't your area of expertise, but I'm sure you know the broadcast crew. Have you spoken to them about how they feel about the speed of the game? Their time to talk has been significantly reduced.
Jason Mackey
12:31
I do know them, yes. And it's an adjustment. It's an adjustment for everyone. Shoot, I write 140 games stories or so a year. I have habits that have developed over time and now need to revisit them because the pace is different. Less time to talk. Less time to interview & analyze. I think they ultimately like it, but it just takes adjustments.
Connor Williams
12:31
Crews should be it
Jason Mackey
12:31
Hard to say you're wrong.
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