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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.16.22
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Jason Mackey
11:38
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Thanks for stopping by. Doing this while watching the Pirates work out at LECOM Park, before afternoon clubhouse access. Leave your questions now. Will be back at noon to answer 'em. Thanks!
11:57
And away we go ...
Wayward
11:58
Jason, Were you a little surprised that they signed another leftie 1B/DH type.  Both guys are pretty positionally limited.  I know they were looking for a little more power but thought they would go with a RH when it came to that slot?
Jason Mackey
11:59
I wasn't terribly surprised, no. The position the Pirates are in, I think you do the best you can. Vogelbach has power. Good clubhouse presence. Chance they let him play, he produces, and they can trade him. I get the samey-ness here, but let's be honest, having too many hitters for not enough spots is a problem the Pirates are nowhere near having. And when you're not going to spend a ton, well, this is about the best they could.
Wayward
11:59
What other moves do you see, if any?  Another RP or back end starter?  Another utility/bench guy in lieu/addition to guys like Park?
Jason Mackey
12:01
Yeah, another swing type pitcher. Kinda doubt they'll consider a utility/bench type at this point. Sounds like, from talking to him yesterday, that could be Cole Tucker's role. They also have young guys -- Cruz, Castillo, Swaggerty, Castro and others -- who deserve a look. With Vogelbach in the fold, that may have been pushed out.
Jeff
12:01
Bucs should still be in the market for a RH hitting 1b/DH.
Jason Mackey
12:01
Thanks, Jeff. I understand the want there, but I don't think it's going to happen.
Guest
12:01
Voglebach inks deal with Primanti's, yes or no?
Jason Mackey
12:02
Ha. I will say this: If Vogelbach hits, dear God is going to be a Pittsburgh cult hero. Seriously. And to top it all off, he's like unfailingly nice. And seems to embrace his non-traditional ... body shape/profile. Again. if he hits, this should be really, really fun.
ev
12:03
Hi Jason

The Atlanta Braves signed newly acquired 1B Matt Olsen for $21M / year, even though he wasn't eligible for free agency until 2023. The Braves locked him down as is the Pirates modus operandi when it comes to building a core group. What is the likelihood of the Pirates keeping Reynolds if that's the going rate? I don't see Nutting coming up with that kind of cheddar for anyone.....
Jason Mackey
12:05
HI Eric, got your email as well. Sorry. Have not had a chance to respond to much this morning. Not good, honestly. I'm not sure that fits within the Pirates' way of operating -- where they know they're going to lose good players and drafting and development has to be how they do things. Now, they could re-sign him. Kevin Keimaier has been in Tampa for a long time, right? But I agree with you. It's a lot of money. Olson basically got two times the biggest contract in Pirates history. That's a pretty wide gap.
Justin
12:05
Is it just me, or are the pirates pretty much a solid LF away from fielding a... gasp... solid lineup?   Something in the mold of LF Pham, CF Reynolds, RF Gamel, 3b Hayes, SS Cruz, 2b Newman-or-whichever-other-guy-breaks-out, 1b Yoshi/Chavis, DH Vogelbach/Chavis, C Perez actually feels like it could make some noise if they added some pitching too.
Jason Mackey
12:06
I think they're more than that away, Justin. However, they do have some decent pieces. They have a bunch of guys who have done well in spurts and may do well again if given regular playing time. Are they good players? Verdict is still out. They're still thin depth-wise, especially when it comes to pitching. But you asked about the lineup. Yeah, their offense might not be 25-to-30 bad. Might be 20-to-25 instead.
Justin
12:06
Do you think we see any interesting SP or OF signed in the next few days?   Any opinions on candidates who you think would be realistic and would fit?   I personally have a Tommy Pham bounceback and Matt Boyd on my short list.
Jason Mackey
12:09
Hi Justin, I don't know if I see Pham making sense here. For fans, yes. But in terms of opportunity and what the Pirates are trying to do, I'm not sure it tracks. I could certainly be wrong. I don't know everything. Boyd won't be back until late June, last I read. Not sure I see what sense that would make. They could certainly sign a SP, but I doubt it'll be one any of us expect.
Marc
12:09
Jason, seems like there are a number of teams trying to shed salary (Wil Myers in SD is a good example). Do you get the impression the Bucs would take on a high salary for a year or two if it also nets a prospect? Seems like they have money to spend in the short term. Thanks for your work.
Jason Mackey
12:10
Hi Marc, put simply: no. Now, when you say high salary, you mean actual high salary. Like MLB high salary. Will the Pirates take on some money, play a guy and try to trade to that player for prospects? Potentially, yes. But I don't think that contract would be terribly large is all I'm saying.
Will
12:10
I'm sure others will chime in on the new acquisitions but I'll and $.02. These players will not majorly move needle but are quality upgrades who fill needs.  Pirates would be better served by making incremental improvements before wave of prospects arrives. This team will lose plenty but doesn't need further stink to fan base of more tanking.  They have a few marketable pieces now and daylight ahead.  Wish they'd take same approach by bolstering rotation more than Quintana.
Jason Mackey
12:11
Good points, Will. Wanting more in the rotation is reasonable. I hope they add there, too. But to your other point, Pirates fans should see the playbook by now. They're not marketing it like this, but it very much seems like, 'Stick with us for 2022. We may stink, but we'll show you some signs. By 2023, we hope our new prospect/development push starts bearing fruit." And I'm not sure they're wrong for thinking that way.
Drum Dad
12:11
Please tell me that Oneil Cruz makes the Opening Day roster, He looks like the real deal.
Jason Mackey
12:13
I wish, Drum Dad. Would be a lot of fun. But he's played eight games above Class AA. The Pirates also have someone at his position under contract for nearly $2 million, which is a lot of money for them. He could still make the team, certainly, but I think it would take a lot during spring training to make that happen.
PrinceBob
12:13
Hi Jason. Next time you're talking with Bob Nutting  could you ask how he expects fans to take him seriously when he says he wants the Pirates to win when he voted for a CBA that does nothing significant to make it easier for lower revenue teams to compete? I know, prospects, the bright future...but we've been hearing that for maybe 28 years and have had all of four winning seasons. Could you ask him if he's considering signing some of the middle class free agents who are out there and making a run at an expanded playoff spot rather than forcing a mildly enhanced AAA team on us until that golden future arrives and if not, why, given that he seems to feel like the current system is acceptable? Sorry for the bitter tone but honestly for the first time since 1959 I really am not looking forward to baseball season very much.
Jason Mackey
12:17
I think I might word it differently, but I fully intend on asking him why he voted in favor of the new CBA, as do others. And also what he sees in there that helps the Pirates compete or how he sees that process playing out. Because I don't. I also have no problem asking if/when he's going to spend more money, because I've done that twice, but he and they have also talked about this plenty. Yes, it may be a "AAA" team, as you're saying. They may not be very good at the major league level in 2022. I and others also think that will change. I can ask Bob Nutting 72 questions and shine bright lines in his face like a police interrogator, but that doesn't mean it will change the responses.
Justin
12:17
Do you think the new rules involving getting draft picks in exchange avoiding service time manipulation on the top rookies *will* incentivize them to start the season with Cruz and Contreras on the roster?  *Should* the new rules incentivize them to do this?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Good question, Justin. I think it will for some. I also think the Pirates need to approach this differently. They need to rely on younger players, right? They've talked about building a player-centric culture, right? Well, to me, the way of handling this is letting the player dictate what happens. If Oneil Cruz shows he's ready, you play him. If he doesn't, you don't. Fairly simple. I would not be affected by service time and things of that nature.
PrinceBob
12:18
And on a less bitter and not quite Pirates note, what do you think happens to Trevor Bauer now that we know he's not going to prison? Can the Dodgers take the PR hit that will come if they use him? Can any team?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Somebody will, for sure. But I think it would have to be a team that was prepared to take some criticism for it.
Jack
12:20
Any chance the Buccos trade for Wil Myers, Eric Hosmer, or Randal Grichuk in order to attain some prospects while taking on the contracts of one of these players?
Jason Mackey
12:21
Not a very good one, Jack. What would the Pirates be giving up to get these guys? Would it be worth it? And why would they give up something? Just avoid it, roll with what you have and keep your prospects.
Will
12:21
Why do you think the Reynolds trade rumors continue to have such legs for national MLB coverage?  I can see very few plausible reasons to deal Reynolds given the haul needed from acquiring team.  Reynolds has said repeatedly he wants to be in Pittsburgh and only turned down extending at his lowest potential value after 2020.  He remains affordable for Pirates in short term and there's plenty of time to either extend or deal down the road.
Jason Mackey
12:22
I think because people want to real salacious crap -- this is a problem with media in general, not just here -- and MLB Trade Rumors just aggregates anything that comes out. The "rumors" are ridiculous. I've written and talked about this a ton. Yeah, they'll listen. The offer would have to be massive. There's no need to trade Reynolds now, and they've never seriously entertained it. What happens in two years? Nobody knows.
Guest
12:22
In consideration of how Nutting runs the team, wouldn’t they have to consider trading Reynolds for the right offer?  While they have time, the longer the control period for his next team should improve any offer.  Since nutting will never pay market value for star players, isn’t the only real option to continue to acquire as much younger talent (hopefully close to major league ready in the case of a return for Reynolds) and hope that you replenish those players lost (or traded) each year with new talent?
Jason Mackey
12:24
Why would they have to trade Reynolds right now? What is wrong with letting him play and rack up numbers? The return only increases. Meanwhile, he's a zero maintenance personality and under contract for a reasonable amount of money. What MAKES them do it now? I don't get that. They should listen, sure. But I would try to sign him and, at minimum, keep him for as long as you can.
Jack
12:24
Will Oneil Cruz be on the opening day roster?
Jason Mackey
12:24
My heart says yes. My head says no. I wanna see it, believe me. He's fun. But there are just too many signs saying he won't.
BillC
12:24
Looking at the potential lineups you posted on twitter….ugh. GMBC really needs to find another outfielder other than Alford. The bottom of that lineup is going to be a real dead zone.
Jason Mackey
12:25
Don't disagree with you. Could counter with Greg Allen, but not sure that's gonna fix much. That being said, their future is prospects. Not sure I care that much about what you mentioned versus making sure guys who are MLB-ready have a chance to prove that.
Jack
12:25
What's the likely rotation when the season begins?
Jason Mackey
12:25
They haven't played a spring training game yet. Can we watch some of those before stacking out the rotation?
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