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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 07.10.25
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Jason Mackey
11:52
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly chat. You know the drill. We'll get started shortly.
12:05
OK, let's do this ...
Anthony
12:05
Hi, Jason. My question resolves around the conversation about when the Pirates will trade Skenes. Do you think this talk just gives the Pirates pass because they’re a small market team and can’t afford him? My thought is why can’t they pay him and put together a competitive team around him. Other small market teams do it with their star players.
Jason Mackey
12:11
Depends on how you want to look at it. Certainly not giving the Pirates a pass because I write and say all the time that you can win in MLB if you make the smart decisions; the Pirates have not. They also don't spend enough. But when it comes to this specific question, they're never going to out-bid the Dodgers or Yankees, nor should they. That's why it makes little sense to think about an extension for Paul. That and the fact that he's gonna want to win. They could lose 97 games this season. Why in the world would Skenes stay in that situation for longer than he has to during the prime of his career? It starts with Ben Cherington making this a place players want to play, and that obviously has not happened.
12:12
Skenes is also a different deal than we've seen with other small-market teams. I get what you're saying. Maybe Jose Ramirez with the Guardians. But Skenes is going to be on an Ohtani level when he gets to free agency, should this continue.
Kevin
12:12
Good morning from Virginia. In regards to the Pirates, seeing  as trading from the pitching depth, those not named Skenes, Chandler or Barco, what is a realistic return for Keller or 2 “prospects” / young arms, assuming you are targeting a bat?  And do you trust Cherington to execute the trade(s) and get good value?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Hey Kevin. If you're in Northern Virginia, I used to call that place home. Vienna > Centreville > Manassas before moving back. Anyway, return is whatever someone will give you. Not being sarcastic. It's true. That return has to include at least one impact bat who's darn close. Beyond that, can be somewhat flexible on scope. Lastly, no I don't. Not even a little bit. It's why I'd like to see them stay conservative.
Andy Carnegie
12:14
Odd question, but are all or most of the sports writers with PPG good friends or colleagues?  Do you ever read someone like Paul Ziese and completely disagree with them and tell them at the office or do most of you stay in your lane and just say hey nice article today?  Just curious how the work dynamic is.
Jason Mackey
12:15
Mostly, yes. I would imagine we read each other. At least I do. We all have different styles, so I enjoy seeing how Joe and Paul attack a topic. Gene Collier is one of the best to ever do it, and I miss him writing sports. And, heck no we don't all agree. That would be terrible. I disagree with Paul and Joe on a lot of stuff, and I'm sure they feel the same way about me.
JR in SC
12:15
I have been a Pirates fan since I was a child. I can clearly remember watching my favorite, Roberto Clemente, at the old Forbes Field and 3 Rivers Stadium. It is a shame to watch this clown of an owner continue to pillage this storied franchise. Pgh is a very good baseball town. The people of Pgh deserve more. If Nutting is all about profits, sell the team and take your huge profit that way.
Jason Mackey
12:16
Certainly can't fault you for feeling that way. Four winning seasons in 19 isn't good enough, obviously. But I do love Pittsburgh as a baseball town. You don't need to tell me, JR.
Andy Carnegie
12:16
What training camp battle are you most looking forward to?  Are you attending them?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Yes, I'll be there. I can't wait. I don't know if they're position battles per se, but I'm certainly interested to see what happens between DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey. If there's some Broderick Jones vs. Derrick Harmon in pass pro, I'll take that. I wanna see Kaleb Johnson when things are live. I think he might really stand out. The same for Jack Sawyer. Shoot. This offseason has been so fun. There's nothing I'm not excited to see.
TVC15
12:18
Hi Jason, Is the Steeler bar now set so low that winning one Wild Card playoff game will be viewed the same way that winning a Super Bowl used to be? Will it get Tomlin get a 10-year extension?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Umm ... I get the point of your question, though I disagree with the delivery. The bar is lower, yes. One playoff win will feel like something of an accomplishment. But I'm not sure the Rooneys are basing their retention of Tomlin based off of that. You can hate it -- and a lot do. But they've cleared showed us they're gonna stick with Mike.
Ben
12:19
Hey - I was all excited for a few minutes about the Pirates and remembered how fun it is to have a competitive baseball team. Now I just wish we could get to the trade deadline and ffwd to the fall. Kornheiser and Wilbon were ruminating about how they should try Cruz at pitcher after the 105 mph throw to home. I said to myself, well if this was the Astros or Cardinals, they’d already have done that successfully. Here, it feels like the team can get 4 out of 10 basic functions right, on a rotating basis, at best. That isn’t batting .400…. That is earning a 40 percent grade. Nothing will change until Nutting sells. The total organizational culture appears to be rotten.
Jason Mackey
12:20
I didn't catch a question in there, but I would not try Oneil Cruz at pitcher. That's really oversimplifying things. I would continue working with him as an outfielder. But I certainly understand the frustration with them. You're not wrong. Not sure what else I can say from that standpoint.
Cullen
12:20
What level of performance would Konnor need to have to pull a Jackson Merrill and make the 2026 team out of spring training? We have a definite need at SS and  when I saw him a couple of weekends ago, his actions were very smooth and he made several fine plays. I'm no expert but he looks close to being every bit of a big league SS. His bat seems to be fairly advanced for his age as well. I hope the Pirates are aggressive with him and really challenge him but I expect the end of the 2026 season is more realistic.
Jason Mackey
12:21
It's an interesting one. I don't see it happening, first off. Midway through, sure. But at the beginning? That would be hard. He COULD (OK, should) get to Double-A this season. So he's gonna bypass that entirely? I don't know. Just seems like very non-Pirates to me. He'd have to keep dominating High-A, do the same for a bit in Double-A, then go bonkers next spring.
Cullen
12:22
As much as I hate to say it, I think we should trade Keller. As you have said we can replace his production very cheaply and have plenty of depth in starting pitching. If we can get 1 really solid major league ready bat with control for him and repurpose his $16m salary next year + whatever is planned to spend next offseason on 2 solid bats and some relief pitching I really think we can make some noise during the Skenes window. I don't like the idea of Cherington making the trade but what would you put the odds of trading Keller at the deadline or next offseason?
Jason Mackey
12:22
I would not trade Keller until you have a new GM in charge. I agree with you, though -- don't want to do it, but I see the need for it. I just don't trust Ben to make the move. I would wait until the offseason.
Cullen
12:22
Bednar seems to be back to his usual self after struggling with injuries and possible pitch tipping. What can we expect to get for him in return with 1.5 years on his contract if we move him? Has Nutting softened his stance on trading him when in hindsight we messed up by holding on to him? I workshopped a deal with the Phillies that would work for both sides: Pirates: Justin Crawford Phillies: Bednar, Santana or Ferguson. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:23
Not a huge fan of the ginned up trades, Cullen. You know that. We're really throwing crap against the wall. I don't think Bob would outright reject it, but what's the goal here? If they're trying to win in 2026 -- and that seems to be Bob's desire -- doesn't Bednar help that? I know they need offense, but I'd rather deal starter depth.
demosthenes98
12:23
Is this the worst time of the year sports-wise, or what?  Hockey is over, football hasn't started yet, and, to paraphrase Mr. John Sherman Smith, the Pirates is the Pirates.
Jason Mackey
12:24
It's pretty quiet, yes.
demosthenes98
12:24
Enjoyed your recent column about Chuck in Uniontown.  How much of a crying shame is it that the Pirates have such a loyal fanbase but a disloyal ownership/management group?
Jason Mackey
12:24
Thank you. Chuck's the best. Honored to tell his story. Yes, it's disappointing that the team isn't better. I miss the days where PNC Park was absolutely nuts every night.
demosthenes98
12:24
Why do you think the Pirates didn't comment on the PG's recent story about the Wild Things? Is it fear, arrogance, forgetfulness, or something else?
Jason Mackey
12:25
I have no clue. But I would recommend asking them or the writing who asked them for comment. I have nothing to do with either side.
demosthenes98
12:25
What is your judgment of MLB's rule that every team must have a player in the All-Star Game? Should this rule continue? Or should teams whose low-competency ownership/management groups forgot to draft, develop, trade for, and/or sign worthy All-Star-caliber players receive the shunning they so richly deserve?*

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*--This is not a knock on Paul Skenes making this year's ASG, as he has earned it and more than earned it
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Jason Mackey
12:26
I kinda like it, honestly. Gives you those random nods. And the way baseball tends to go, it would just end up being all Dodgers, Yankees, etc. I'm glad smaller clubs are represented.
TVC15
12:26
If you were the Bears GM would you rather have Mike Tomlin (who they allegedly wanted to trade for -- although I do not believe it to be true) or Ben Johnson (who they actually got) as your head coach?
Jason Mackey
12:27
I would take Tomlin. But I'd rather the Steelers have Ben Johnson, if that makes sense.

The Bears could really use someone like Tomlin, who I think is a very good coach. The Steelers could use the newsness and offensive mind of Johnson.
Deep Pockets
12:27
If the Lakers are worth $10 billion, what do you estimate would be the going rate for the Steelers and Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:27
I don't know as much about the Steelers. But the Pirates would fetch $1.5 billion or more.
Deep Pockets
12:27
Can a man of relatively modest means (compared to the billionaires buying franchises) really build a long term winning team in a small market even if he wanted to?  Ie, even if Nutting opened up his checkbook, the the Bucs really have a shot against the Phillies, Mets, Dodgers, etc?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Not by spending like them, no. They need to lean into drafting and development the way teams like the Rays and Guardians do. And also have a lot more urgency when those things go awry.
Gene
12:28
Do you think the Pirates will trade Keller, Bednar and Santana at the deadline?
Jason Mackey
12:28
I actually don't.
epiballo
12:28
Hope of a turnaround has given way to resignation of more and more one-run losses. Zeise wrote that the Pirates should blow it up. I don't agree with that (yet). What do you think, and what should be their approach to the trade deadline? Fire sale or trade players with expiring contracts? Thanks for the chats!
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