Pirates looking to add players

[Mudge]

i am willing to risk the next 2-3 years for being in the playoffs this year. I go back to 2004 with the Astros when we were having a great year but really needed more offense. Ironically enough, we traded for none other than Carlos Beltran. We gave up our BEST hitting propsect at the time. His name? You probably know him, he is John Buck (Currently catching for the Marlins). He was the next big thing at catcher for us and we gave him away for what turned out to be a rental. Did the trade work? Yes and no. We went on a HUGE second half tear. Carlos was never caught stealing, played spectacular defense, and went crazy in the playoffs (hitting like 7 HR's). He helped the Astros win their first ever post-season series. But the team lost in the LCS to the Cardinals (i sure hop i am remembering this correctly). We ended up losing Beltran at the end of the year to the Mets AND we lost some of our top prospects. As it turns out, they were never that great to begin with, so it was no harm to us really. My point is, I want my team to get the Beltran's and Randy Johnson's of the world if it helps us win THAT year. They can figure something else out next year in the off-season. The Pirates have been stockpiling prospects for 18 years now to no avail. When it comes time to spend those prospects, i hope they do. AND I hope they go big. The Astros HAD to have a bat as big as Beltran's to make that push. If they would have traded for the Willingham's of the world, they would have missed out on the Wild Card, and who knows if hey would have made it to the WS the next year even. That trade was a momentum builder, and it showed the fan base here in Houston that they meant to win NOW. That's what i want to see out of the Pirates. I want to see their front office make a move that shows their fanbase that they mean to win NOW. To do that, they need to look at a Pence or a Beltran. They need an IMPACT bat.

The Brewers did essentially the same thing, you may recall, in 2008, trading away Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley (and 2 others) for a three-month rental of C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia was outstanding for the Crew during the regular season, throwing 7 complete games, winning 11 with a 1.65 ERA - often on just three days rest. Alas, he bombed out in his one outing in the NLDS, which the Brewers lost 3-1. The rest is Yankee history.

Did it work out? Yes (see above).

And no (see below).

At 26, LaPorta has turned out to be only a role player for Cleveland. Brantley, on the other hand, is still only 24, and I would have to say the jury is still out on him as a full-time major leaguer. That said, it would not have hurt to have Brantley in the Brewers outfield this year, and add to it the Indians are competitive with these guys on the roster, so the deal certainly worked out for them.

[astrosfanatic]

and Brewers fans knew it was a rental, but they knew they needed a pitcher when they made the playoffs. It's just a risk you have to take. And in that situation, there were other SP options out there, but the Brewers went big. They got the best out there because if you are going to trade prospects, you might as well get the best out there.


But again, from what i have read, it seems like the majority of the Pirates top prospects are AA and below. If i had a dollar for every top prospect who flamed out before making it above AA i would be a rich, rich man.

C'mon Pittsburgh!! Give us something to root for!

[Buccos13]

i am willing to risk the next 2-3 years for being in the playoffs this year.

I can see what you're saying, but I just don't agree with ^ that. Picture the Pirates as being a starving animal. They can either have a feast now and no food for the next few years...or they can have a bite this year, a bite next year, and so on. I think the latter option is the best one.

The Pirates could USE a 1-year rental, but they NEED a consistent middle of the order bat.

Say you trade for Beltran. What happens at the end of the year when he leaves? There is absolutely no chance he resigns with Pittsburgh, and you traded away some good prospects for a stab at the playoffs.

Yes, the Pirates have "stockpiled" prospects for the last 18 years, but they've also made no attempt at putting a winning team on the field. That changed (slightly) with Neal Huntington and (greatly) with Clint Hurdle. The Pirates got to where they are right now by their prospects. Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, and Pedro Alvarez were all drafted in the last 6 years by the Pirates and now they're leading the team.

[astrosfanatic]

The Pirates could USE a 1-year rental, but they NEED a consistent middle of the order bat.

Say you trade for Beltran. What happens at the end of the year when he leaves? There is absolutely no chance he resigns with Pittsburgh, and you traded away some good prospects for a stab at the playoffs.

sure, he will probably leave. But if you dont trade for him, chances are you dont make the playoffs. I think the Pirates are very similar to the Padres last year. They are a great story, and will probably have a winning record, but as is will not win the division. If the Padres would have added a high-quality bat to their line-up last year, it probably doesnt come down to the last couple games for them. They probably make the playoffs, and then who knows what. If your goal is consecutive winning seasons, then by all means keep the prospects and play the year out. Personally, i want my team in the playoffs and competing for the World Series, and i want my club to do everything they can to make it happen. Winning seasons isnt the goal of any good team. The Blue Jays are on their way to their 9th winning season in the last 13 years. Impressive, right? Except they have ZERO playoff appearances to show for it. Winning is nice, but post-season winning is even better.

[Vertigo O]

I wonder if the Pirates would have interest in Derrek Lee? His bat is heating up, he had a very good 2nd half last year and is still among the best fielding 1Bman in the game. He's also on a 1-year deal and likely wouldn't cost too much to get.

---------- Post added at 04:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------

Also, I'm not sure Beltran will command that much as far as prospects go. At least he shouldn't.

[Buccos13]

sure, he will probably leave. But if you dont trade for him, chances are you dont make the playoffs. I think the Pirates are very similar to the Padres last year. They are a great story, and will probably have a winning record, but as is will not win the division. If the Padres would have added a high-quality bat to their line-up last year, it probably doesnt come down to the last couple games for them. They probably make the playoffs, and then who knows what. If your goal is consecutive winning seasons, then by all means keep the prospects and play the year out. Personally, i want my team in the playoffs and competing for the World Series, and i want my club to do everything they can to make it happen. Winning seasons isnt the goal of any good team. The Blue Jays are on their way to their 9th winning season in the last 13 years. Impressive, right? Except they have ZERO playoff appearances to show for it. Winning is nice, but post-season winning is even better.

[The National Limited]

I remember reading comments from the Pirates GM at the start of the 2010 season that they were very close to being a contending team. Then when they lost so many games last year, several Bucs fans were ridiculing the GM for that, on their forums. Well, look at them this year!

[yankeebiscuitfan]

I wonder if the Pirates would have interest in Derrek Lee? His bat is heating up, he had a very good 2nd half last year and is still among the best fielding 1Bman in the game. He's also on a 1-year deal and likely wouldn't cost too much to get.

IMO, Lee will only be a short term solution. If the Pirates aren't looking for short term success alone, they should leave him alone and look for players that they can keep for a longer period. I bet that Lee will walk away after the end of the season, since the Pirates probably can't offer him what he is asking.

[Mudge]

IMO, Lee will only be a short term solution. If the Pirates aren't looking for short term success alone, they should leave him alone and look for players that they can keep for a longer period. I bet that Lee will walk away after the end of the season, since the Pirates probably can't offer him what he is asking.

There's some logic to this. The Pirates, as well as they have done, are still not likely to make it to the postseason (and if they do, they will be hard pressed to advance), so they should not be selling the farm quite yet.

[StarlinCastro]

Yes, your lucky Beltran didn't wanna sign there. Rookies can bloom.