JotCast | Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 12.23.22

Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 12.23.22

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Jason Mackey

12:34

Hi Barbara, RIP Franco. Yes, I wrote that story the other day. Pirates people loved him. No, I unfortunately never met Franco. Had only heard stories. Another thing I didn't mention but could have: Believe he was part of redeveloping the Crawford Grill. Old jazz club, sure, but also an important part of Negro Leagues lore.

Ricky

12:34

This team is garbage

Jason Mackey

12:34

Yasiel Puig would fix it.

Brad

12:34

What are the chances we extend Cruz this off-season?

Jason Mackey

12:35

Tough to put a percentage on it, Brad. I think it's also contingent on what happens with Reynolds. But say there's a Reynolds trade. I'd say at least 40% or so. I think they would like to. Just a matter of finding figures that work for both sides.

Bucco123

12:35

Have trade talks around Reynolds actually sped up in recent days, or is this all white noise and the Pirates stance remains status quo?

Jason Mackey

12:37

Tough to answer. The Pirates' public stance has been no trade. They're also not stupid. They're listening. And there's been a consistent level of interest. As far as "speeding up," not sure what that means. They've gotten calls on him. They've gotten offers. None have met the line they've established, which is obviously high. Will an offer meet that line? I can't answer that. Sorry if that answer sucks, but that's just trying to explain the situation. I guess I would probably describe what has come out recently more as white noise, but I wanna be careful in not completely discounting stuff either.

Ryan Iverson

12:37

Hi Jason, can we maybe just maybe expect the Pirates to sign a free agent starter like Michael Wacha or Nathan Eovoldi? Or is that wishful thinking…thx

Jason Mackey

12:39

Those guys specifically are wishful thinking, IMO. I would love Wacha for their rotation, believe me. But I think both would wind up with better options than the Pirates. I could see them going with more of a project, but that would likely be the extent of it.

Irwin M."Fletch" Fletcher

12:39

First, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the best dang MLB beat writer in the country. There's a few relief pitchers still on the market that have had success and could certainly help the Pirates at a reasonable price. Do you think the Pirates might be in the market for one of them?

Jason Mackey

12:40

Hi Fletch. Thanks for the kind words. Definitely not deserved. But appreciate you reading. ... I don't think they go that route. From what Cherington has said, this is probably the bulk of the bullpen group. Could be a nip or tuck, but I don't see a significant addition coming, unless there's a trade or some other change first.

Retire21

12:40

I am totally ambivalent on moving Reynolds. One one hand, didn’t we trade Cutch to get him? It would be a vicious cycle. But we need starting arms bad. I think I’d trade him if we get two starting pitchers?

Jason Mackey

12:41

I'm OK trading him at this point. I don't love it, but it is what it is. I see what they're going for here. It's Tampa, Oakland or Cleveland. Those models lose stars. It sucks, but chances are people would care a lot less if the Pirates can consistently back-fill with younger players. That matters more than one guy.

Steve

12:41

Hello

Jason Mackey

12:41

Hi Steve!

Matt

12:41

% chance Bryan Reynolds is traded by opening day?

Jason Mackey

12:41

I'll go 64.876%.

Retire21

12:41

With the new play-them-all schedule and the universal DH, it’s really one league now with separate conferences. Isn’t it tome to reseed team by market size? Pitt-Cleve-Cincy-Milw-Detroit?

Jason Mackey

12:42

Dear God don't make me go to Cleveland regularly. I've heard these questions -- grouping because of market size, geography, etc. -- and as much as I would love to go to D.C. regularly or Detroit (yes, I love it) or a couple other close ones, I'm not sure if you're really making much better. Think I'm fine with the status quo.

Mike S

12:43

Hello Jason, thanks for the chat and merry Christmas. With Oneil Cruz seemingly sticking at short for now, what is the plan for Liover Peguero? Is he in line for a position change or will Cruz eventually end up in right field and Peguero sticking at short?

Jason Mackey

12:44

Hi Mike. My pleasure. And Merry Christmas to you as well. Would say we probably don't know. Need to see Peggy at Triple-A and see what happens. Learn more. Meantime, I think they wanna see how Cruz responds defensively. Maybe he wins the job. Or maybe he makes 72 errors, and Peguero takes over in '24, with Cruz going to RF. Need more info.

Retire21

12:44

MLB seems to be open to add two more teams to get to 32. I’d like to see Nashville and LV come in although Oakland and Tampa could also relocate. Who would you pick?

Jason Mackey

12:45

Seems like Oakland is relocating to Vegas, which is fine by me, even though I don't like Vegas. Tampa seems sturdier now. ... If you're talking pure expansion -- and I agree; 32 feels imminent -- my picks would be Nashville and Raleigh. Bigger, beautiful, clean southern cities with money. Baseball matters there. Could also be biased because I love visiting them as well. :-)

Maz01

12:45

Merry Christmas Jason, You do an excellent job on Pirates coverage. Now that Conforto has been signed by SF, do you believe Bryan Reynolds will be traded, and if he is what type of return should GMBC get and would Texas be a good trade partner? Thanks

Jason Mackey

12:48

Thanks Maz! Merry Christmas to you as well. ... I do think Reynolds will be traded. Not saying now. Could be midseason. But if you ask me do I think he will go, yes, I do. ... Texas could make sense. They have the prospects with Carter, White and Porter. Probably the willingness to be aggressive, too. There are plenty of matches with Reynolds, though. ... I think GMBC should be targeting multiple players, including at least one MLB-ready who isn't a flier. Should include a pitcher. At least one top-100 guy and maybe two.

Maz01

12:48

Is Rudolfo Castro a short term solution to the secondbase job? If he is, and he hits, I am sure there is a DH furture for him.

Jason Mackey

12:49

Not sure, Maz. If he hits, there's some sort of future for him, I know that. I don't necessarily see him sticking at 2B with Gonzales, Peguero, Johnson and others in the pipeline; however, if he hits, you gotta find a spot. Would be curious to see how he fares at first. Could also maybe learn the outfield.

Mike S

12:49

Speaking of Endy and Henry Davis, is the plan for Endy to get more time at first base or the outfield?

Jason Mackey

12:50

Wouldn't be surprised if it's both, honestly. Has also played some 2B. My sense is that they will keep working him at a couple of non-catching positions to keep options open.

12:50

Looks like more of the same in 23 for Pirates. DFA young players. Mears, Castillo and getting 185 hitting catchers and 238 hitting outfielders. Not real impressed with pitchers either. Could have got similar players on minor league deals

Jason Mackey

12:51

Optimism abounds! No issue with DFA'ing Mears or Castillo. Would not evaluate players based solely on batting average. They're also rebuilding. Doesn't mean you have to like it, but I'm not sure the point of following something if you immediately dismiss.

Bucco123

12:51

Has the front office shown any interest in being McCutchen back, or was the Connor Joe move the extent of addressing the OF.

Jason Mackey

12:52

I've heard nothing to indicate they're seriously considering a Cutch reunion. Now, if they dealt Reynolds and needs changed, could see it. I think a lot would depend on Cutch's other offers, too, and I don't have a great feel for those.

Devin

12:52

Not that it's breaking news but the Mets payroll is pushing a half billion dollars while the Bucs will likely be in the seventy million range. Simply put, what are we doing here?

Jason Mackey

12:53

Not defending the Pirates' spending, believe me. But they will pay more in luxury tax than 10 MLB teams. Need a cap and floor, plain and simple.

Maz01

12:53

Jason, I really like GMBC but if the Pirates don't show improvement in 2023, Will Ben be in the hot seat? I don't believe he should.

Jason Mackey

12:54

I think this will be a moot point, but sure; if they go 60-102 and a bunch of prospects flop, they take a step backward, Cherington's seat should be hot, and people should start to ask questions. Or continue to ask them, I should say. Don't think that's how it will play out, personally. I also think they went into this knowing it would take a long time.

Joel

12:54

Hi, Jason. Best wishes for the holidays to you and your family. Thanks for *trying* to spin the Bucs’ acquisitions so far as positive developments, but the stats don’t lie: the new position players are all trending downwards in a major way. When you’re celebrating a .338 on-base percentage by a guy who played half his games at Coors Field, you know you’re in trouble. The only hope for 2023 is for the youth to take steps forward. If they do, the Bucs might crack 70 wins, but if they don’t, it will be another season of little progress.

Jason Mackey

12:57

HI Joel. Happy holidays to you and your family as well. ... I'm not trying to spin anything. My favorite beat writer in the country (Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) uses this analogy: As beat reporters, we need to aggressive analyze. People seem to think it's my job to offer opinion. I think there's a different between that and analysis. Anyway ... I don't see Joe's OBP being hugely inflated by Coors. He had about a 12% walk rate, and I don't see how walking has anything to do with thin air. That being said, I'm not saying Connor Joe is gonna win the triple crown. They need a lot of guys to produce and for the young guys to come along for progress to occur.

Brad

12:57

Any chance the Pirates give Cruz a long extension this off-season?

Connecting…

Philly bob

5:23

Jason,

Chris R.

5:25

Jason, Hotel Illness is one of the greatest, least appreciated freaking rocking songs by any artist, let alone a solid music man such as myself. Your thoughts?

Mike S

5:26

Chris R.

5:28

Hypnotized by your rotten behavior. I always thought "raunchy" would have been a better lyric. Still one hell of a jam. Concurrence on your end?

Ryan

5:32

Good afternoon Jason what starting pitchers available for us to sign Merry Christmas and Happy New year

J$Money

5:33

What percent chance do you see the Pirates bringing back McCutcheon? And what team looking for an outfielder do you believe has the best assets to obtain in a Reynolds trade? Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Bob

5:37

Jason, should I have held onto those cold weather assets for awhile longer? I bought into the global warming thing, I guess. Buy low, sell high is always the goal, no?

Jerry

5:49

Jason, trying desperately to head where those chilly winds don't blow, but I'm frozen out of my VW Microbus. You happen to have any of that stuff they squirt into door locks?

Lionel Richie

6:10

Jason, please tell Steve I said “Hello.”🎵. Thanks.

C. Barnett

6:18

Jason, were you aware that there were some fine Aussie guitarists?

Courtney

6:24

Jason, if you like fine guitar work, check out me shredding on Turning Green. You are welcome.

Mike S

6:32

Not sure why they would sign a guy like vince velasquez and put him in the bullpen. Agreed? I would think he is line to be the 4th or 5th starter in the rotation?

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