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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 11.06.25
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Ryan
12:25
Good afternoon Jason with Fred agency Starting today anyone you think the pirates will be signing also i think Tony Beasley comes back as a coach GO PIRATES
Jason Mackey
12:26
Would love to see Beasley back. I think that makes a ton of sense.

Obviously not any of the upper-tier free agents. I think about guys in need of playing time who might have a bounce-back. Max Kepler would make sense. Michael Conforto or Cedric Mullins, too. I like lefty bats at PNC. I also think trades will be important.
Firsthoff
12:26
Do you think Henry Davis will be on the roster next year. I feel he is burning through his 9-lives. I would love for him to turn it up a notch and get over .240. Do you feel he is a poster-child for the Bucs lack of player-development over the past 5-10 years?
Jason Mackey
12:27
I think he will be on the roster, yes. I don't think he's a poster-child for the Pirates' lack of player development. Oddly, Firsthoff, he's developed a lot as a defensive catcher. He just hasn't been able to hit. I think there comes a time where you need to see offense. That's fair. But right now he's far better than Joey Bart defensively. He's also a 1-1 pick who works his butt off. I'm willing to hear him out a little longer to see if he can figure it out.
epiballo
12:28
I am with you on ditching the DH. It took away late inning drama and managerial decisions. Who didn't love when a pitcher ... a pitcher ... came through with a key hit! Oh ...  a question. What was your W-L record in college?
Jason Mackey
12:29
Right. I miss the strategy associated with it.

I don't know, honestly. Probably not very good. I was a reliever. Made a few starts. They weren't good. I had 2 1/2 pitches, a flat four-seamer I struggled to locate (with OK velo), a cement mixer of a breaking ball and a halfway decent change/split. I wasn't dominating anyone.
Joe Starkey
12:29
Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Limits, Thank you Mr Hester, Limits, Limits, Limits
Jason Mackey
12:29
You OK, Joe?
Wayward
12:29
Jason, thanks for the chats. Colin's article got me thinking.  What is Keller's trade value?  Is he enough to get someone like Westburg?
Jason Mackey
12:30
Yeah, I think could make sense. I don't know his trade value, primarily because it's whatever anyone will give up. But a package centered around those two could certainly make sense.
epiballo
12:30
This came up elsewhere and I turn to you for an answer. Bae was often put in to pinch run, and then stayed anchored at first. Do the players have the option of stealing if they think they can, or are they told when to steal. I know it is situational ... I am asking in general. Thanks!
Jason Mackey
12:32
It depends on the player. If you're a veteran, you steal bases and know what you're doing, you have more latitude than the young guy who runs into outs (like Bae). You also have to figure, someone like Bae may be less willing to take a chance because if it doesn't work out, he's jeopardizing his career. I'm not talking about going when told. I'm talking about going on his own.
Cullen
12:32
Cherington got lampooned prior to last season for spending dollars on analytics, tech, and development instead of free agents per yours and Noah's reporting. Would you attribute any of the leaps forward in minor league development to that spending?
Jason Mackey
12:33
I can't say they're not linked. If that makes sense. But I don't think it's the biggest input. You could maybe say coaching, too. There are a lot of things that could explain some improved development. It's also not all the way where it should be.
Cullen
12:33
Any chance the Pirates go after one of the Japanese international free agents this offseason? Okamoto is projected to get under $20 million for 4 years and should be able to stick at 3B.
Jason Mackey
12:34
It would make sense for them to try, certainly. But these guys have their pick of teams. Why would they come over here, with leverage, and choose to play for the Pirates when other, more competitive teams are offering multi-year deals? They could try to find a diamond in the rough out of Japan or Korea, but that's getting harder and harder to do.
Cullen
12:37
Could Isaac Parades be a realistic trade target for the Pirates now that the Astros have a full infield after acquiring Correa and their top prospect being MLB ready? They desperately need pitching so it seems to be a good fit
Jason Mackey
12:38
I've certainly heard worse suggestions. Especially with Bill Murphy. Might have a lens on the clubhouse character, that sort of thing. They need more lefty power -- Parades hits right-handed -- but would just depend on the ask.
Steve Bonanno
12:38
Hey, Buddy, welcome home. Missed you.  If you were the G.M., and had an extra $100 million, how would you try to save my team that hasn't been to the World Series since I was 15?
Jason Mackey
12:39
An extra $100 million? Holy Lord. So the Pirates would spend $190 million? Can you imagine? I'd buy bats. Pretty easy. I'd probably get 3 for $75 million or 4 for $80, then use the rest to bolster my bullpen.
Wayward
12:39
Jason, who do you think the Bucs best potential trade partners are?  Orioles, Rangers, Angels, maybe the Blue Jays?
Jason Mackey
12:41
Orioles are up there. Could be the A's because of Bleday, who I think would make sense. Good with some of those you mentioned. I'd put the Rays on there because of Brandon Lowe. The Isaac Parades suggestion doesn't stink, so maybe the Astros, too.
JuniataKid
12:41
Is Cherington’s thinking that if he can lower the overall club ERA by around half a run or so, he won’t need to acquire all that much hitting in the off-season?
Jason Mackey
12:42
I think his thinking is that if they can lower the ERA by a half run, it'll help. Because there'll only be so much ceiling on the offense.

I say it that way because I don't think they're resigned to stinking offensively. They know they have a lot to fix. But if you're going to be pitch-first and hit-enough, a half-run could actually matter.
Joe Starkey
12:42
No, I’m the farthest from ok.
Jason Mackey
12:42
Alright, Joe.
epiballo
12:42
The Bucs have the pitching (and then some) to compete. They need a power bat or two and have their players (Reynolds, Cruz, Horwitz) step up. They WILL compete in 2026 and be over .500! Bucs fan since the '60s ... am I delusional?
Jason Mackey
12:43
I don't think so. If you told me they were going to spend $100 million and actually hit on their offseason moves for bats, I actually think they could be pretty good.
Firsthoff
12:48
To f/u on Henry Davis. I love the kid. Unlike others, he really shows how much he cares and is trying. His defensive improvment was so obvious. This is not so much a reflection on him but Bucco PD - if he improves significantly on D but digresses offensively, what does that say? Would he benefit from some new blood mentoring/
Jason Mackey
12:49
Yeah, I can personally attest that Henry Davis obsesses over this. Dude cares a crazy amount. I know he hasn't hit. He'd be the first to tell you. It ain't for lack of effort. If he was hurting the team, I'd say to get him out. He's not. He's actually been pretty good defensively.
epiballo
12:49
Who will qualify for the post-season first: the Pirates or the Penguins?
Jason Mackey
12:50
Very possibly the Penguins. This coming April.
Johnny
12:50
Again, spare us the generic, HR-fed drivel about "appreciating the passion". You mean appreciating the hatred? What do you think his true feelings are? Not that it's important. We all hate him, we all want him gone, yesterday. Just sell the team and go away forever, loser.
Jason Mackey
12:53
Dude, I can't make him answer a certain way. You said you would love to read his answer, so I went back to the interview and got the quote. Don't know what you're looking for me to do. Not interested in perpetuating the conversation because no matter what I say, you're just gonna use me to express your vitriol.

And, to be clear, you have every right to be mad. I just don't understand what yelling at me accomplishes.
epiballo
12:53
Most think that Keller will be traded this offseason. Do you see any position players being moved out?
Jason Mackey
12:54
None of any consequence. Like, if they packaged Termarr or Yorke, does that count? I think if someone made an offer for Bart, they would listen. But coming off a down year offensively, and one where he also struggled behind the plate, not sure that's gonna happen.
JuniataKid
12:54
Their ceiling on hitting relies on a ton of “ifs” breaking their way. If Reynolds, Cruz, Gonzales, insert-catcher-here and Triolo can hit consistently, if Griffin is ready. Please tell me they’re looking for a LOT more than just a third baseman and left fielder.
Jason Mackey
12:55
They're looking at a lot, Juniata. Will they do a lot? We are talking about the Pirates. Same time, I'm fine with giving Reynolds and Cruz a chance to show they're better. They very well might be. Gonzales shouldn't be a shoe-in. One of the four catchers needs to hit. Then you go buy a couple bats. Again, you should be aiming to be 18-21 in runs, with an elite pitching staff. That would be both doable and effective.
epiballo
12:56
Kudos on your article about Bonds and others qualifying for the Hall of Fame. It generated a TON of good discussion. Always look forward to your articles!
Jason Mackey
12:56
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
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