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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 11.06.25
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Jason Mackey
11:37
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Thanks for stopping by. You know the drill. We'll get started at noon. Feel free to ask away now.
11:57
And away we go ...
PrinceBob
11:57
If MLB owners decided they were going to close the game down until they got a salary cap no matter how long it took and how many seasons were lost, and assuming they really stuck to their guns and did that, do you think it would ever happen? Would the union ever give in?
Jason Mackey
11:59
I mean, I'm sure eventually. But it's a waste-of-time hypothetical. Owners aren't going to go without profits for that long. I question how much they're united in going without profits to get a cap. Look at what baseball just achieved -- the excitement and ratings surrounding the World Series. I think the sport would be better off with a cap/floor, believe me. I'm just saying I think there's probably going to be a line of thinking that doesn't want to disrupt momentum with the national TV bundle expiring.
Baron Dionis
11:59
Any buzz not the Pirates bench coach or third base coach? Would love to see Tony Beasley come back and Don Mattingly just left the Jays
Jason Mackey
12:00
I'd love to see Beasley, too. Makes a bunch of sense. I'm not sure why Don Mattingly would leave being the bench coach for a World Series entrant to take the same job with the Pirates. Maybe manager, but that job isn't available.
PrinceBob
12:00
I've seen suggestions that the Pirates shorten the outfield fences presumably for them to hit more home runs. Do you think it would help them win more games? After all, visitors would also hit more home runs.
Jason Mackey
12:01
I don't. I think they should play better & acquire better players. You're right. Would help both teams. And affect an advantage the Pirates have -- their pitching staff. I also don't think it's as dire as some make it out to be. There hasn't been offense for the home team at PNC because the roster hasn't been good enough, not enough spent. The fence is a much smaller part.
Benson DuBois
12:01
Will the Bucs roll with Triolo at 3B in '26?  Bat came alive down the stretch.  Fits the budget.
Jason Mackey
12:02
Maybe as a fill-in. But I think they'll look for an offensive upgrade. I think it's more likely Triolo plays short until Konnor Griffin is ready, then shifts into a super utility role. Which, to be fair, fits him & them perfectly. Especially if he hits.
Slippery Pete
12:02
Rank in order of bad to unwatchable: First Take, First Things First, Talk Pittsburgh.
Jason Mackey
12:03
Lemme first list all of those I actually watch ...
epiballo
12:03
Hi Jason! Thanks for the chats! Triolo is as good defensively as Hayes and came on at the plate late in the season. Hasn't he earned a shot at being the starter at third? I know the power numbers aren't ideal, but I don't want to see a 'he was good three years ago and we are hoping he recaptures that form.' How often does that work?
Jason Mackey
12:04
I think they need to go out and buy actual offense at third. Or trade for it. No hoping. No thinking two months is real. Go. Get. Offense. I don't think it's Triolo. It's nothing against him; there's just more evidence saying he's average at best. They need to upgrade at 3B and LF. Triolo isn't that.
demosthenes98
12:04
So now that it's over, what are your thoughts on the World Series?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Kind of a snooze, no?
demosthenes98
12:04
What's your stance on the designated hitter? Kind of seems pointless in a world with Shohei Ohtani, doesn't it?
Jason Mackey
12:05
I hate it. I wish pitchers hit. Of course, this is coming from a former pitcher who always at least thought he could hit. (I do have more homers in college baseball than most people here, however -- 1.)
demosthenes98
12:05
As someone who's been covering him for a long time, what do you think Ben Cherington's mindset will be heading into the offseason? Will the continuous, unchecked losing humble him? Or will the fact that he hasn't been fired for it give him more unearned/undeserved confidence?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I think Ben is very realistic where the Pirates are at. I don't think he's happy. I don't think he's unaware that a lot of it has been his fault. Or, if not directly his fault, he's the one at the controls and warrants blame. I think he sees this as an offseason where he needs to hit on a bunch of stuff to save his job. As he obviously should. I'm not defending anything, but I can't imagine he's having a great time here, either.
demosthenes98
12:06
You wrote a story last week with the headline "Pirates largely satisfied with development strides made[.]" I'm not faulting you or whoever wrote that headline, but...given, well, everything, really, does anyone employed by Bob Nutting have any business being even the least bit satisfied?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I mean, the headline doesn't say they're satisfied with the major league win-loss record, does it? Doesn't say they're satisfied with the offensive numbers put up by the big club. They've made strides in the minor leagues. They've stunk offensively in MLB. I don't think it's crazy to say both can be true.
epiballo
12:07
What are your thoughts on Cutch? Some think he does not bring enough to DH, and signing him is more PR than improvement of the club.
Jason Mackey
12:09
I'm sort of in the middle. Any other place, I'd move on. Cutch does have a legacy here, and I think you have to respect that. My offer would be a part-time DH for like $3 million. And this has to be it. If he's not willing to do that, I'll wear it. The ultimate charge should be improving the club, and they can go other places to do that. As long as they actually do it, of course.
Benson DuBois
12:09
If the Pirates trade Keller, should we prepare to be disappointed in the return?  At 3 years and $54MM owed, other teams could simply sign a comparable FA.
Jason Mackey
12:10
If I said you shouldn't be disappointed, I should cite a recent example where they traded a player with term and proven performance for multiple pieces, right?

That example doesn't exist. So, yeah. Can see why anyone would be skeptical.

They obviously need to hit on a potential Keller trade after plenty of swings & misses.
PhilinCT
12:10
Mr. Mackey, always grateful for your time and insight. So Bae and Perguero are off the 40 (a necessary decision). Who else SHOULD be removed from the 40 (including those who may come off the 60-day IL) to make room for Rule 5 and acquisitions? Thanks as always.
Jason Mackey
12:14
My pleasure. Thank you for participating and making this chat special.

They need to bring guys off the 60-day injured list today by 5 p.m. That shouldn't be hard. Believe they're only at 40 now.

For Rule 5 stuff, which is again down the line, could easily look at Darrell-Hicks, Sanders, Simon, Valdez or Canario.
epiballo
12:14
Will this be the offseason the Bucs finally make a splash addition or (gasp) two that energizes the fan base, or more of the same potential prospects and fading stars?
Jason Mackey
12:15
I'm not expecting them to make a splash because when I think of that, I think of like Tucker, Schwarber or one of the big-time names. But I do think they're going to do something that's more aggressive than they've done in the past. (Low bar, I know.)
Johnny
12:17
I saw in your last Q&A you said that you asked Bob Nutting what it's like to be hated. I don't ever recall reading that you asked him that. But if you say so, I would absolutely love to know how he feels about being the most absolutely hated, most despised, detested, abhorred, person in Pittsburgh(and possibly all of the sports world). I mean the guy is just absolutely execrated everywhere, and for very good reason. What do you think his true feelings are on that? And not the generic HR answer he drivels out about "appreciating the passion of the fans". Give me break, winnutting.
Jason Mackey
12:19
Sure. Here's the quote. From March 2021: "I respect that they care so much to get mad. They deserve the team to perform better certainly than it did last year. They expect me to make the decisions, frankly, that we made. It was time for a fresh direction. They deserve to expect that. They should know that I appreciate and respect the passion and the caring."
Nippleponi
12:19
Still pretty sore over here. Great job on the chats. Looking forward to another off season of lousy free agent signings.
Jason Mackey
12:19
I can't believe the Poni nipple talk has made its way over here.
Firsthoff
12:20
Still surprised at the lack of any real outcry at the retention of Cherington at GM. I recall reading around the end of August about his departure being a foregone done-deal. Then when it was announced he was staying - nothing really in print or by fans. Have we all just given up and moved on?
Jason Mackey
12:20
There's been a lack of outcry over Cherington staying? I thought there was a fairly decent outcry myself.
epiballo
12:20
Do you know if the two most frustrating Pirates, Davis and Cruz, are playing winter ball? If not, any word on what they are doing to prepare for spring training? They need to step up if the Bucs are to compete in 2026.
Jason Mackey
12:23
Same answer. Nothing communicated to us. I have not heard if they are. I'd frankly be shocked if it happened. They need to improve, but I'm not sure winter ball is the setting.
russellhalloffame34
12:23
Jason, I know you have been a critic of Cherington and Nutting rightfully so. With the lockout looming this the last chance in the Skenes era to get bats to get competitive, because once arbitration  hits he's gone.  What's your percentage of the trust you have of those two to make the Pirates competitive in 2026?
Jason Mackey
12:24
First off, I don't think he's gone once he hits arb. Let's start there. Two, I'm not good at percentages, but here's how I think about that:

I have skepticism now, sure. On the spending front with Nutting and the execution of productive deals relative to Cherington. There isn't much evidence to convince anyone otherwise.

However, look back at the 2013 Pirates. They pitched it well and sat around 18-21 in most offensive categories. Do I think the Pirates can get there? I do. And I think if they do, they could have a pretty decent season.
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