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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 12.18.19
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Danny
1:33
Out of Marte, Frazier, Kela and Bell which of these 4 do you think get moved? Also, could a guy like Taijuan Walker make sense as a buy-low or will the pirates be more inclined to sign a pure innings-eater for the rotation?
Jason Mackey
1:36
I see Marte and Frazier going, Kela and Bell staying. ... If I'm the Pirates, I wanna see what this new regime does. I also wanna see what Bell does. Say they stink, but he blows up. Has an even better 2020. I'm fine waiting because the return will be that much better. ... I'm striking now on Marte because his stock is high, and he's 31. Who knows what can happen. Also, there's a market for Frazier. Strike while the iron is hot, especially when you can go Hayes-Tucker-Newman for a halfway decent 3B-SS-2B of the future. I'd like to see them win the games they should win, thus the reason for keeping Kela. But again, if the team doesn't turn it around, he could wind up being a very good reliever on a bad team. Sell that at the deadline when a contender is desperate. I think some of this is attacking the market while also allowing things to play out some on the Pirates' end, if that makes sense.
Morty
1:49
I get the calls for a tear down, bit there's no reason they cant add some modest priced vets on 1 yr deal and trade players with a market.  For example - deal Marte and sign Dickerson with Reynold sliding to CF.  Cost net savings and gets return without tanking.  Is that too much to ask for?
Jason Mackey
1:51
I'm right with you. I'd add Frazier to the list, too. It buys you some time to see if things are going to be immediately different with Shelton/Cherington. Also, let's look at Bell. His second half last year kinda stunk. His value is high, but it could be even better if they ride this out and let him put up more numbers. And, then, if you're rebuilding or trying to maximize return on Bell, it's really not that big of a deal to wait another half-season or even another year, presuming you're going to lose him. I'd rather get the most back.
Canyon
1:51
Do you think Matt Arnold would have been the better choice at gm
Jason Mackey
1:52
Oh, boy. Can we at least let Ben Cherington have one game as Pirates general manager before saying someone else would've been a better choice?
Mike
1:52
Do you think this new regime can help Colin Moran with his power?  He has been average at best hitting and his defense is awful.
Jason Mackey
1:53
I'd rather see them help Moran with his fielding, to be honest, but I would certainly like to think so. Moran and Rick Eckstein are close. I think that will be a big offseason project for Rick -- helping Moran find more power. Also, I wanna hear what Shelton's input into all of this will be. Remember what he did last year in Minnesota. The Twins didn't drastically change personnel or anything, yet they got much different results. What did they do, and can the Pirates mimic some of it?
Dan
1:54
I saw where the Pirates signed Socrates yesterday...good thinking huh 🤔
Jason Mackey
1:54
It's definitely an interesting philosophy.
Jon
1:54
Do you expect an increase in homeruns this year similar to the Twins with the addition of Shelton as manager?
Jason Mackey
1:55
I'm not expecting that sort of jump, but I do agree with what Cherington and Shelton have both said -- that the Pirates have more power than they've shown. Do they have enough? I don't think so. But I do expect something of a bump, whether that comes via different approaches or more of a focus placed on launch angle. I think it will be one of the more important parts of their 2020 season, too.
Jon
1:58
What’s the logic in moving Frazier? He seems like a solid piece to have. Is it solely a sell-high reason?
Jason Mackey
2:00
There's been a lot of interest in him, and you can move Kevin Newman to second base. If you believe in Cole Tucker and Ke'Bryan Hayes, then you might have to anyway. But Frazier is coming off a pretty good year -- Gold Glove finalist, hit well, especially the second half -- and would apparently offer something decent in return, at a position where the Pirates are actually somewhat insulted.
Bo
2:00
Do you know if Pittsburgh media is still working to report the Pirates' latest TV contract details? Why do you think other media markets are able to report those kinds of stories, and not here?
Jason Mackey
2:04
I'll handle the second part first -- because other markets are amenable to that number getting out. Not here. And yes, I (and I'm sure others) have absolutely tried. I've been told that only a select group of people know. Those who do are under very, very strict instructions to stay quiet. For what reason? I don't know. They'll tell you something about competition, but I don't see how knowing the Pirates' TV deal would harm that. I could see the Pirates not wanting to be held to a certain number -- if it's good, people will expect them to spend more -- but that's not a reason, in my mind, to withhold information from people who go to games and pay for cable packages to watch games at home. Paying customers deserve to know the rules decision-makers are playing by, in my opinion.
JimM
2:04
If they trade Frazier do you see them moving Newman to 2B and giving Cole Tucker a shot @ SS?  His hitting picked up a bit in Sept
Jason Mackey
2:04
I do. I think that would be the most logical step. Could see Erik Gonzalez getting more time, or maybe they sign a guy on a one-year deal who can play both third and second, buying time until Hayes is ready.
Mike
2:04
I am shocked that the Pirates and penguins didn't try to get together to form their own cable network.  it would seem there would be more money in that for them if they controlled everything
Jason Mackey
2:05
I can't imagine the Pirates have the following to support that. They could if they consistently won; people in this town do care about baseball and want to see the Pirates do well. But given how things are at the moment, I can't imagine that would work.
2:07
OK, folks. That's gonna do it for this week. Great questions. A lot of them, too. I think that Santa dude ("I know him, man, he's with Motown.") will take precedence over baseball next week, but hope yinz have a wonderful holiday. Will (likely) talk to you next year.
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