2015-16 Pittsburgh Pirates Off-Season Extravaganza Thread

[Rocco]

this gentleman wants to win the division. if that means keeping melancon, keep melancon

I'm okay with keeping him. I'm also okay with moving him for a good prospect and freeing up money to spend on a starter or a 1st baseman. I think I'd prefer to move him because there were a lot of red flags from his performance last year that make me think the end is coming.

[malkintent]

Gratz marte on the GG

[willeyeam]

Marte deserves it. He should be the CF.

We traded Hanrahan and ended up with Melancon and the money freed up bought Liriano and Martin. If NH comes anything close to that haul, we are closer to winning the division than we are today

[Freddy Rumsen]

The Pirates and Marlins quietly worked out a seemingly uneven trade last month that was arranged because Pittsburgh demanded compensation in exchange for allowing highly regarded special assistant Jim Benedict to take a job with Miami, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

The deal, which was announced Oct. 24, sent one of the Marlins' top pitching prospects, right-hander Trevor Williams, to Pittsburgh in exchange for right-hander Richard Mitchell, whom several scouts described as a non-prospect.

Williams, 23, went into last season ranked as Miami's No. 6 overall prospect and No. 4 pitching prospect, according to ESPN's Keith Law.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14105 ... ation-deal

[King Colby]

I hope they trade melancon because they can definitely get a talented top 50-100 prospect. More than they got for hanrahan for sure.

But if they dont, thats fine too.

Its pretty much a win win situation.

[columbia]

I just flashed the zoltan to some guy in a Buccos hat and got the thumbs up from across the street.

[Freddy Rumsen]

http://rumbunter.com/2015/11/12/pittsbu ... ve-rumors/

Accoding to Jon Heyman of CBS sports, the Pirates have fielded offers on all of their players with one year remaining on their contracts.

Heyman said,

“They have fielded offers on all seven of their players who have a year to go before free agency, so that also includes Neil Walker as well as Melancon and Pedro Alvarez.”

[Freddy Rumsen]

I just flashed the zoltan to some guy in a Buccos hat and got the thumbs up from across the street.

Awesome.

[Freddy Rumsen]

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2015/11/12/97 ... -extension

Bucs have considered Francisco Cervelli extension

[Troy Loney]

Baseball America will release their top 10 prospects for the Pirates today. Here's my guess:

Glasnow
Meadows
Bell
Taillon
Reese McGuire
Harold Ramirez
KeBryan Hayes
Kevin Newman
Cole Tucker
Steve Brault

[Troy Loney]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/p ... prospects/

Pretty close.

Glasnow, Meadows, Bell, Taillon, Ramirez, McGuire, Tucker, Newman, Hayes, Diaz.

[Freddy Rumsen]

Good job

[Troy Loney]

Article is actually pretty worthless. Just gives a bland recap, "Pirates won a lot of games, they're done sucking, lost in wildcard game, need to win the division, that will be hard, Glasnow, Bell and Meadows are players that are good."

I would have highlighted the system depth, I suppose mentioning the success of the farm teams in making the playoffs could imply that...that doesn't mean anything in terms of prospects that have MLB potential. If I were to write that article, I would bring up some potential 2016 story lines from the system.

Which of the SP's at the upper levels will force their way in to the rotation: Glasnow, Taillon, Brault, Kuhl
Will any of the recent NCAA position draft picks make a jump: Luplow, Joe, Newman, Suiter, Suchy
Will Meadows or Ramirez emerge as elite MLB prospects at Altoona this season?
Are there any pitchers at the lower level going to emerge: Tarpley, Garcia, Keller, Supak, Hinsz.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

This gentleman has questions regarding Ramirez's build. He's kind of short and stocky.

Really excited to see if Charlie kebryan hayes continues to rake

[Troy Loney]

He's listed as 5-10. He might have some Tabata-esque dedication to the weight room, but I don't think i'd consider him short.

Hoping to see a boost to the slugging percentage for Ke'Bryan Hayes at WV last year. Just looked again at his stats, only 5 extra base hits. But definitely like his K:BB numbers.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Based on this gentleman's memory, that 5'10" is probably a bit generous.

That being said, Ramirez has a better build than Tabata or Travis Snider (another stocky guy).

H. Ramirez does have some Tabata-ian slugging percentages though. No one should ever have to have comparable slugging stats to jose tabata.

[Troy Loney]

A lot of qualifying offers being issued to players that have no business getting $15M salaries:

Brett Anderson
Daniel Murphy
Marco Estrado
Ian Kennedy

They'll turn them down and end up getting multi-year deals from someone.

I think we're finally starting to reach the point where players aren't automatically turning them down.

Rasmus is going to accept his QO.
Estrada is going to do a 2 year deal with the Blue Jays after being qualified.

I think it's a good leverage tool for teams that want to keep the FA around. With guys like Estrada and Rasmus, they realized the draft pick forfeiture depletes their value enough that they're better off negotiating with the current club.

[Rocco]

A lot of qualifying offers being issued to players that have no business getting $15M salaries:

Brett Anderson
Daniel Murphy
Marco Estrado
Ian Kennedy

They'll turn them down and end up getting multi-year deals from someone.

I think we're finally starting to reach the point where players aren't automatically turning them down.

Rasmus is going to accept his QO.
Estrada is going to do a 2 year deal with the Blue Jays after being qualified.

I think it's a good leverage tool for teams that want to keep the FA around. With guys like Estrada and Rasmus, they realized the draft pick forfeiture depletes their value enough that they're better off negotiating with the current club.

I'm not sure how excited I'd be to pay Rasmus nearly $16M, but it's not my money.

[Troy Loney]

I'm not sure how excited I'd be to pay Rasmus nearly $16M, but it's not my money.

Yeah, tremendous waste of money. I think overall it's that we've finally passed the equilibrium for players being offered QO's and players that would accept QO. I thought we hit it last year with a couple of guys, but was wrong, and then this year teams have gone way over the line with QO's. I think we'll go from 100% rejections to around 75%.

[Rocco]

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/11/15/the ... e-freeman/

He'd solve the 1B problem. Have a feeling he would cost a lot in terms of prospects since he's cost-controlled through 2021.

[Dickie Dunn]

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/11/15/the ... e-freeman/

He'd solve the 1B problem. Have a feeling he would cost a lot in terms of prospects since he's cost-controlled through 2021.

I imagine any trade talks would immediately involve Josh Bell.

[willeyeam]

Bell, Pedro and Taillon. Throw in more I don't care, I love Freddie Freeman

[DigitalGypsy66]

It's disgusting that the Braves are ditching Turner Field already (they seem to be rebuilding the team for the move out to the new stadium in 2017).

[columbia]

It will energize the otherwise horrible Atlanta sports fan base.

[Craig]

It's disgusting that the Braves are ditching Turner Field already (they seem to be rebuilding the team for the move out to the new stadium in 2017).

Seem to be? I think its been clear aince last year at this time.