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Pirates Offseason in Review Chat
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Darragh McDonald
1:21
Who makes the playoffs first?
Pirates (77.9% | 74 votes)
 
Reds (22.1% | 21 votes)
 
Total Votes: 95
AbeFroman
1:21
Does Quinn Priester have a shot at earning a spot in the rotation to start the season?
Darragh McDonald
1:22
I don't think so. He's not on the 40-man and they have other options.
Opportunities will come up throughout the season, though. Injuries are inevitable and Hill/Velasquez could get traded.
Norman "Chuck" Zimmerman
1:23
Kind of surprised to see Andujar DFA'ed. It doesn't seem the organization is overly blessed with right-handed power. Does he have a good shot at breaking camp with the team?
Darragh McDonald
1:24
Seems like it was a situation where, because he already agreed to a salary about double the league minimum, he would clear waivers and accept the assignment.
1:25
Lots of teams have been doing this lately. O's did it with O'Hearn and tried to do it with Jake Cave, though the Phils swooped in and made a claim.
Andy
1:25
last year Jose Quintana was a great buy low/sell high move for the team, are any of the new starting arms brought in realistically on that path? or is the plan for all of these guys to be off the roster by Aug 1?
Darragh McDonald
1:26
Velasquez has had some moments where he'd looked good in the past. I wouldn't be totally stunned if he somehow had a Tyler Anderson-style season where he pitches well enough to get dealt.
Rich Hill is still doing his thing.
Skeptic
1:27
I would prefer Bae at 2nd base over Castro. Most seem to think Castro should be the guy. Which of the two makes them a better team?
Darragh McDonald
1:28
They'll probably both get significant playing time, I would think. Each of them can play other positions. It'll probably sort itself depending on who's healthy and playing well, both between the two of them and elsewhere on the roster.
Elmo Plaskett
1:29
Who loses a 40 man roster spot when the Bucs add a backup at SS and C?
Darragh McDonald
1:29
Well, for the backup catcher, one spot can be opened by moving Max Kranick to the 60-day IL. He had Tommy John in June and will be out for the first half, at least.
1:30
I don't know that they'll add another shortstop from off the 40-man right now. Bae and Castro are probably the backups for now.
Pirates
1:30
Looking at their pitching, I can’t find who the rotation would be. I’d have Brubaker, Contreras, and Hill. Who else? Who’s the Opening day starter?
Darragh McDonald
1:31
Top five right now is probably those three plus Keller and Velasquez. There's also Oviedo and Ortiz in the mix.
Matey
1:33
Why Conner Joe?
Darragh McDonald
1:34
He's walked at about a 12% clip over the past two years. Still pre-arb and has options. Not a bad depth piece.
Bob Prince
1:34
Will we ever see the Pirates make a “splash” free agent signing? Nutting has been profiting from the pirates year after year and never signs any of top tier free agents. There are a lot of bitter Pirate fans out there, including myself that are hoping for a salary cap floor. Do you think the other teams that pay into revenue sharing will demand some sort of floor?
Darragh McDonald
1:35
I'd be skeptical of them suddenly landing top free agents, but I would guess they're planning on some kind of Rays/Guardians/Brewers thing where they can afford mid-market guys once they feel the rebuild is done.
AJ Glick
1:37
Does Tyler Chatwood crack the roster this year?
Darragh McDonald
1:37
I would lean yes if he's healthy.
GBS42
1:38
I've read a few places that the Pirate's offense could be sneaky good. Do you agree, and if so, what would be the sources of this optimism?
Darragh McDonald
1:40
I think it's possible that it's at least decent, sure. Reynolds is great. Cruz could be a monster if he cuts the Ks. Same with Hayes if he elevates the ball more. If Endy comes up and hits the ground running, that's a huge boost. Choi and Santana should be fine.
1:41
There's a lot of question marks in there, so I don't know that I'd bet on it, but there are exciting pieces in there.
AJ
1:41
Can Mitch Keller take a step up?
Darragh McDonald
1:43
I think so. Steve Adams wrote a great piece for MLBTR Front Office subscribers last year about Keller and a sinker he introduced in May.
I'm just double-checking here and it looks like Keller had a 3.20 ERA since ramping up his use of the pitch in late May.
1:45
Even in his 2021 when he had a 6.17 ERA, he was getting BABIP'd like crazy. His FIP was 4.30.
JoeMomma
1:46
Who is your breakout star at the 40 man roster and which call up you see making the biggest and most surprising impact
Darragh McDonald
1:47
Endy's bat seems legit, as far as I can tell. I just drafted him in fantasy recently. He walks, doesn't strike out, hits homers.
JH Bae > J Bay
1:48
How much does Bae’s skill set allow for him to exploit the new shift and base running rules implemented this year?
Nate
1:48
Do you feel as though JiHwan Bae is the type that can be the utility guy (2B/OF) and a terror on the basebaths, given the non-shift and bigger bases?  I feel like he is being underrated.
Darragh McDonald
1:48
Sure. He was already a 30-steal kinda guy in the minors, so that makes sense.
1:49
Then again, some of the new rules might have already been in place at some of those stops.
Not 100% sure off the top of my head.
Garrett
1:50
Do you think Peguero will play this year? I really like his potential but he has struggled a little in the minors.
Who do you think will play second this year? Peguero seems like maybe the best option.
What about Peguero at 2nd?
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