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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 10.09.25
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Chip
1:17
Were the Hayes and Bednar trades straight salary dumps? There was no actual need to trade them correct? Thanks!
Jason Mackey
1:18
I'd say both, Chip. Hayes was a great defender and terrible hitter. They need a great hitter and can live with a terrible hitter. Wrong player. Also helps to get the contract off the books. Bednar would be a FA after next season. You have a potential replacement in Santana, and his arb number could be like $8 M. He had also struggled, was on an upswing, and you had an opportunity to cash out. Not sure if that's a salary dump or making a business decision.
Ryan
1:19
Good afternoon Jason welcome back to the Pirates Beat reporter What do you think about the Season Bryan Reynolds Had and also what do you think about Donnie Kelly coming back as the Manager i think Reynolds had a Good Season and i think it was a Good Idea to bring back Kelly Let’s Go Bucs
Jason Mackey
1:19
Thanks, Ryan. Good to be back. I like the decision to bring Donnie back. They have issues, but he isn't one of them. I think Reynolds had a bad year. He thinks he had a bad year. It was better late, but he wasn't himself. I also don't think he suddenly forgot how to play baseball. I look at 2026 as a clean slate for him.
Paul
1:19
Do you think we resign Skenes or is he gone after next year?
Jason Mackey
1:20
Neither. I think he's gone with one season left on his contract. Don't know the exact year because of a potential lockout in 2027.
Mark in Kennedy Twp
1:20
Do agents hit Cherington with a significant premium for a player to sign here now? In the Pirates '13-'15 run it seemed like bonified MLB players wanted to play here. Also, where does switch hitting Endy Rodriguez play if he can stay healthy. His arm issues seem like his catching days are over.
Jason Mackey
1:21
Yes, bad teams having to pay more to entice players to play somewhere isn't new, nor is it unique to the Pirates. ... Endy needs to hit. Stay healthy, too, sure. But Horwitz is a far better hitter at 1B. I'd prefer Henry, Flores or Bart behind the plate. I think Endy probably has to go to Triple-A, hit, stay ready and take advantage of his opportunity.
AG Pennypacker
1:22
Did you agree with the removal of Oscar Marin? Pitching wasn’t the issue on this team. Outside of Holderman & Ramirez, the rest of the staff seemed to have a good season. Their decisions make my head hurt.
Jason Mackey
1:22
I don't think I know enough. If you have a staff that feels it isn't maximizing potential, who am I to object? I'm not in meetings. I don't know exactly how they're prepared. It's like any job. You might have a staff that does good work, but is it because you have smart people or a good boss? Hard to say from the outside which it is.
Chris
1:23
Why is Matt Hague returning as hitting coach? He was a below average hitter and we had the last overall hitting team this year. Is it simply cause he is under contract?
Jason Mackey
1:24
His playing career has nothing to do with anything, first off. Sadly, yeah, I'd imagine the contract has at least something to do with it. They probably also don't want guys having to cycle through another set of hands and feeling like there's a delay in providing coaching. Hague and the offense wasn't good. But at least both sides have some level of familiarity.
Rob
1:24
Horowitz's bat would be great out of a second baseman or right fielder. Is there any chance they could move him around to try and get true power at first?
Jason Mackey
1:24
They could. I don't think it's likely. But they could, yes.
Aces High
1:24
Which teams besides the Orioles should GMBC be calling when the WS ends to see about moving some young arms and or Keller for a bat??
Jason Mackey
1:25
I'd be calling the A's. Bleday may be squeezed out. Casey Schmitt is someone who might make sense, too. Blocked by Matt Chapman with the Giants.
maz01
1:25
Jason, is it realistic to believe that a possible work stoppage in 2027 can last an entire season or two?
Jason Mackey
1:25
It's realistic, yes. It's also realistic to believe there'll be a lockout but no games missed. Very speculative at this point.
Jim
1:25
When Neil Huntington was hired he constituted part of what Nutting referred to as "The Best Management Team in Baseball". A PG writer used to use the TBMTIB to mock them, I just changed the best to worst. Sorry for the confusion.
Jason Mackey
1:26
Ha! I should've known that. Darnit. Thank you for clarifying, Jim.
Overcast in Naples from Bentleyville
1:26
Do you see a free agent LHP in the rotation next year?
Jason Mackey
1:26
It depends on other moves. I could see it, yes. I like the variety. I like how lefties play at PNC. But as I've said to other questions, they have bigger fish to fry first. If there's money left over -- funny thing to type when it comes to the Pirates -- then I could see them doing that, yeah.
Aces High
1:27
How can the Bucs ownership not at least get the payroll to 100 million when the last time they were anywhere near this number was 2015?? That was 10 years ago!!! The price of EVERYTHING has increased 10 fold since 2015. It's embarrassing and shameful. This is why a Salary Cap is a must!! What are the chances in your opinion, there is a Salary Cap after the negotiations next year?
Jason Mackey
1:28
I don't disagree with you. It should be there. Their reasoning is probably something like, it got there because they won, people came, etc. But I do have a brain. You have to spend. You have to give people a reason to come.

No, I don't think a lockout results in a cap/floor. I think there are too many important and powerful voices opposed. I hope I'm wrong.
K’B Hayes
1:28
Thanks again for trading me. I still can’t hit but I thoroughly enjoyed a taste of the postseason
Jason Mackey
1:28
I'm glad you had fun, Key. Enjoy Cincinnati.
BH
1:28
Which internal MiLB options are you looking at for possible contributions offensively next season?
Jason Mackey
1:29
Konnor Griffin, Termarr Johnson ... maybe one or two others. Don't have a lot of hope in Peguero, Bae, Cook, Yorke types. Would rather see them obtain some more certainty this winter.
TJMC
1:29
Some trade targets for your response--
Jason Mackey
1:29
Think I got to this. If I didn't, TJMC, lemme know.
Soggy
1:29
After this past offseason when Nutting stated he had done enough to field a competitive tea, do you honestly believe anything that team officials say?  I really do not think this offseason will be much different than 2025.  Lip service about being competitive & doing virtually nothing to bolster the lineup.  Thanks for the chats Jason.  Glad to have you back on the Pirates again
Jason Mackey
1:31
Good to be back. I'm a reporter. Trust but verify. Something like that. Also, it doesn't matter. If he feels that way, he's allowed. Doesn't make him right. You don't have to agree. I think there have been enough resources to win. Other teams -- Tampa, Cleveland, Baltimore and others -- have had similar resources. They've won. Why can't the Pirates? Well, they've mad bad decisions. And their margin for error is too thin because they don't spend enough.
Frank slippery rock
1:31
Glad you are back on the Pirates beat. Have you heard any rumblings regarding pitching coach or bench coach?
Jason Mackey
1:31
Have not heard much, Frank. Sorry. Actually sent some messages this morning on this. Nothing back yet that tells me anything.
Bruised Orange
1:32
Some trade targets for your response...Brett Baty,3B...Andy Pages, LF...Wilyer Abreu, LF...and I agree, definitely Bader if available.
Jason Mackey
1:32
There we go.
62 Stack Monster
1:32
Jason,  Glad you're back on the Pirates beat!  I enjoyed reading your column regarding your return.  You're very fortunate to do what you love.  Cheers.
Jason Mackey
1:32
Glad to be back, 62. This is awesome.
RickinNC
1:32
As I watch hitters in these playoffs many have an ability to follow the pitch and realize it is a curve in the dirt or a slider away or a fastball down the middle.  They have great pitch recognition and act accordingly to avoid foolish strike outs.  Many of the struggling Pirates seem to have no pitch recognition and “look lost” as they say.  While some of that is clearly ability, do you feel maybe this is a teachable or skill that can be developed that Pirates administration has no clue how to do it for our players?
Jason Mackey
1:33
I do think it's teachable, Rick. It's part of having a plan, sticking to a plan, etc. All of that can be coached. Do the Pirates have the right people? It doesn't look like it. Although we on this side also don't have full info on whether hitters are truly listening to the plan. What I know is that the plan hasn't been good enough.
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