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MLB trade deadline chat: 07.31.19
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Al Owens
2:55
They should have traded Polanco to the Phillies. I'd much rather have Dickerson with us for a few more seasons than underachieving Polanco.
nubyjas wilborn
2:56
Why would the Phillies do that? We don't know when Polanco would play again this season. Meanwhile, Dickerson is healthy.
nate
2:56
If you guys were in Huntington's shoes would you need Lux to make a deal or would you settle for less?
Bill Brink
2:58
It depends on what "less" turns out to be. Let's say "less" was Keibert Ruiz, Dustin May and a third player; or Alex Verdugo-plus; you have to think about it. Now is a great time to move Vazquez given his performance, price and years of control. But if less is truly less, then no, hold him.
Mike
2:58
SP: Taillon, Williams, Musgrove, Archer, Keller, Brault, Kuhl
RP: Vazquez, Kela, Crick, Santana, Rodriquez, Feliz, Argazio
IF: Hayes, Newman, Tucker, Bell
OF: Marte, Reynolds, Polanco
Bench: Frazier, Osuana, Moran, Craig

How far off is this squad if no insane injuries?  I think it could compete in the NL Central which is very balanced.
Bill Brink
3:00
The problem is the injuries already baked in, with Taillon and Polanco; Archer's performance since joining the Pirates; and the uncertainty regarding how many innings Kuhl can go after missing a year and a half. Even if everything goes according to plan, there's already problem areas, and nothing ever goes according to plan.
Brian
3:00
Whom does the ultimate responsibility of player development fall on ? I would think NH is more rooted on the business side. On a front line basis, is Searage in jeopardy ? What is the club's opinion of Altoona pitching coach Joel Hanrahan ?
nubyjas wilborn
3:03
Huntington is the general manager so the blame or glory lies with him. I haven't heard any inclination that the Pirates aren't happy with Ray. Joel is working his way up the chain.
D.J. Spin
3:03
Do you think Huntington might still stick with something like the original plan of buy & sell, despite the collapse? Obviously not rentals for this year, but maybe he can find some controllable pitching for next year, and shuffle around some prospects who seem like they might be blocked like Craig or Kramer. Or would such a deal be more likely in the winter?
Adam Bittner
3:04
It's been a slow trade market for the teams that have incentive to buy, let alone teams like the Pirates that are looking more toward next year and beyond. For that reason, I'd be surprised to see Neal Huntington make a pure "buy" of a possible big-league piece for next year. I'd look more toward the winter for moves like that. Then again, we've seen him pick up some valuable diamonds in the rough at the last minute in the past. Thinking of JA Happ and Ivan Nova. So it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Jeff from south side
3:05
Ur chat sux worse than the loser pirates
Bill Brink
3:05
Hi Jeff.
nate
3:05
Do you think adding Tucker or Newman to the Vazquez deal would help the Dodgers move on from Lux?  Yes, I know they aren't in his stratosphere as prospects but still...
Bill Brink
3:06
No, neither of them are of the caliber to move the needle and they have Corey Seager for a few more years -- at which point they'll have Lux presumably ready.
Dan
3:10
Does any trade returns need to include prospective starting pitching candidates?
Adam Bittner
3:10
The Pirates absolutely have a need for starting pitching, but I don't think they can get too picky with the trade chips they have. Most of them -- Dickerson, Cabrera, Liriano, etc. -- are on expiring contracts. Not a ton of leverage there. If you're going to deal them, take the best available prospects whether they're starters or not.
GSMP
3:11
This might be a dumb question but is the GM spending all of the money that is allocated to the MLB payroll or is he spending less than his budget to perhaps add to profits?
Bill Brink
3:14
Not a dumb question; the wider pool of money that GMs have to spend got lots of different places. The rough axiom that has existed for a while is that about half of the baseball ops budget goes toward payroll. Teams might spend $10 million on the draft, $6 million on international signings, $20 million to run a farm system, plus staff and scout salaries, capital improvements, new facilities, pitching machines, etc. I would imagine Huntington spends every dollar he can, somewhere. If anyone is trying to save money, it's ownership in the form of allocating less to Huntington.
Here we go on Dickerson:
Pirates save roughly $2.8 million on Dickerson.
Mike
3:15
Do you really think Hurdle's job is 100% safe?  Seems silly.  Is it a contract issue and not wanting to pay any sort of buy-out?  How about Uncle Ray? Do you feel his job is safe?
nubyjas wilborn
3:16
No such thing as 100 percent safe. However, I don't believe the Pirates will fire either as of now. A lot can change, but I don't forsee it.
Adam Bittner
3:18
Chief Powhatan
3:23
Since the Pirates' scouting department can't pick a winner in drafts why not throw in our #1 pick next year with Vazquez for Lux and a AAA pitcher?
Bill Brink
3:24
Unfortunately for all of us who like intrigue, teams can't trade draft picks (except for those granted in the competitive balance rounds). That would be much fun if they could.
Dan
3:25
Out of curiosity last time I looked at GCL Pirates team they had played something like 28 games and get this...NOONE... had hit a home run...not 1!!
Bill Brink
3:26
While we're on the subject of things that don't matter, the Pirates' second entry in the Dominican Summer League is 43-8 with an 11-game winning streak. Teenagers not hitting for power is not an issue.
Rick in Orlando
3:27
Why not keep Dickerson if you get absolutely nothing for him (PTBNL). They save a whopping 2 .8 mil. Are they really that cash strapped?
Tracy
3:27
At some point, don't the Pirates have to look at the optics of making a trade like they just did with the Phils? Money and a player to be named later? Come on.
Adam Bittner
3:27
What are you getting from Corey Dickerson that's worth paying him $2.8 million at this point? This team isn't going anywhere, and you don't have to be "cash strapped" to find motivation to cut your losses. The Pirates also have plenty of options for outfield playing time.

You're right, Tracy, the optics aren't great. Not after a do-nothing offseason that's led to a disappointing season. Practically speaking, though, saving is what bad teams should do in this situation. We also don't know who the PTBNL is yet. Last year, the Pirates gave up Shane Baz. The return could still turn out to be more than it appears right now.
Brian
3:28
Hey guys just read that the Phillies aren't giving the Pirates ANY PLAYERS for Dickerson, a pure salary dump like Nicasio a couple seasons ago. This is disgraceful if true and I hope you guys write about it and call Bob Nutting out. Awful.
nubyjas wilborn
3:29
Adam pretty much answered your question above. Also, don't sleep on the International Pool Money. A lot of great players have come from Latin American and beyond.
Brian
3:30
I think you guys need to start accepting that Josh Bell is not the superstar we all thought. He has had 6 amazing weeks and the rest of his past 2 seasons have been terrible. He hit .207 in June and is hitting under .200 this month. Last year he was bad too. And he can't throw and he is not a good 1st baseman. It might be time to think of him as Pedro 2.0. Thoughts?
Bill Brink
3:31
I would argue there is a difference between "had a bad June and July" and "Pedro 2.0," though I will acknowledge that the throwing has not gotten any better despite a ton of effort on his and the coaching staff's part. He destroyed everything he saw in May and pitchers rightfully adjusted the way they attacked him after that. He is an incredibly hard worker and smart, and he'll be able to adjust to the shifts in how opposing pitchers go after him.
Chief Powhatan
3:34
Wouldn't settle for anything less for Vazquez than a #1 prospect.  Get Lux.
Dan
3:34
IMO, Pirates need to stand firm on their ask from the Dodgers for Vazquez, otherwise keep him.
nubyjas wilborn
3:35
It appears the team agrees with you two. The Pirates shouldn't feel pressured to trade Vazquez. I also feel that people who consider him a luxury aren't around the team and have no idea how much he means in the clubhouse.
Adam Bittner
3:35
Another note on the Dickerson return as we understand it at this point. International bonus pool money is involved, and that it a capped resource. Acquiring more of it allows the Pirates to ultimately spend more in acquiring international free agents than they were previously allotted. It's not sexy but it is valuable and not a simple cash savings that could mysteriously disappear into the profit margin. If the Pirates simply wanted to just save money, they'd do that instead. Acquiring pool cap space implies that they intend to spend it.
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