2014-2015 Pirates Offseason Thread

[columbia]

Troy: who are your top three picks for 1B?

[pittsports87]

The first base market sucks this year. I'd rather see Pedro get a shot at first and spend the Martin money on pitching.

[Dickie Dunn]

Does Tony Sanchez have any place with this franchise? I know he started getting work at 1B in AAA last year, but don't know if that's an actual option for him.

assuming the depth chart is:
1: Cervelli
2: Phillips
3: Sanchez

He'll have some sort of role. He's not going to be a full time MLB regular right now, but competent in spot duty. But, we said the same things about Harrison for two years, then he turned a corner

That's what I assumed the depth chart at catcher would be, with Sanchez at AAA, but will he even be the starter at AAA? I remember management speaking highly of Elias Diaz, who would seem to be poised to make the jump to AAA and probably get most of the starts. Probably good Sanchez to continue learning 1B and maybe RF as well to add some utility to his game.

[canaan]

Did slappy already pick up his Cervelli jersey?

[Troy Loney]

Phillips? You mean Stewart? Or am I missing something?

right, stewart.

[Troy Loney]

Troy: who are your top three picks for 1B?

It's a variable stance. Depends on what the realistic expectations are for Harrison and Alvarez. If they are committed to Harrison at 3B, then they need to weigh their options for Pedro. On the two sides of the alvarez scale are 1. The confidence in his ability to play 1B and 2. His value on the trade market. If he has substantial trade value, then he needs to be moved and not kept in a limbo that is contingent on Harrison staying at third and his ability to play first.

Sanchez and Davis to be non tendered and people to shut up about another Laroche era.

[Rocco]

Any idea how Cervelli will handle playing meaningful games after spending two years playing for an also-ran?

[Rocco]

Troy: who are your top three picks for 1B?

It's a variable stance. Depends on what the realistic expectations are for Harrison and Alvarez. If they are committed to Harrison at 3B, then they need to weigh their options for Pedro. On the two sides of the alvarez scale are 1. The confidence in his ability to play 1B and 2. His value on the trade market. If he has substantial trade value, then he needs to be moved and not kept in a limbo that is contingent on Harrison staying at third and his ability to play first.

Sanchez and Davis to be non tendered and people to shut up about another Laroche era.

Why would Pedro have any trade value at the moment, let alone substantial?

[Troy Loney]

Really? He's cheap and can hit home runs.

[Rocco]

He's likely going to make over $5M next year, will be a free agent soon, saw his power drop this year and may not have a position.

[Troy Loney]

He still had 18 HR in 400 at bats. But yeah, the defense likely carried over to his at bats. He's still got major mental issues that need to be rectified. If he's not seeing a sports psychiatrist, that's a problem.

[slappybrown]

Anyone who is looking to trade for him is going to look to get a deal on him given his problems. I don't see a "substantial" trade offer coming their way for him right now. No one is buying high on him.

[Troy Loney]

Well...I did put an "if" in front of the "he has substantial trade value". So if he has none, then the Pirates need to give him reps at first base to increase their confidence in his ability to play the position.

[the errey i breathe]

Depending on what they get from Diaz in AAA they may only need Cervelli to make it through June. I think it'll be helpful too for Taillon and Kingham to be throwing to a familiar C for their call ups.

[schreibdog]

With both Cervelli and Stewart signed to Major League deals and the Service Time clock already ticking for Tony Sanchez, I don't see Diaz coming to Pittsburgh in 2015 unless there are a rash of injuries. If they think he's a legitimate MLB catcher, they won't call him up and start his service time until they absolutely have to.

[Dickie Dunn]

McCutchen third in MVP voting.

[Froggy]

Ordinarily, I'd be opposed to a pitcher winning a league mvp award, but what Kershaw did this year was pretty special.

[the errey i breathe]

With both Cervelli and Stewart signed to Major League deals and the Service Time clock already ticking for Tony Sanchez, I don't see Diaz coming to Pittsburgh in 2015 unless there are a rash of injuries. If they think he's a legitimate MLB catcher, they won't call him up and start his service time until they absolutely have to.

I disagree, I think that if they think he can be a legitimate upgrade then they'll bring him up. Service time for Sanchez means nothing as he likely has no MLB future in Pittsburgh and as the season plays out injuries could make Cervelli or Stewart attractive for other teams (or teams that miss out on the winter C market). Again, not saying that they should but I think Diaz could definitely be pushing for a call up in June/July

[canaan]

Diaz reaching the show in the upcoming season is a rash, desperate move.

[columbia]

So far we're at a downgrade C, praying for Pedro to make something of himself at 1B and have lost Liriano.

Hopefully NH has a solid plan to flesh things out.

[ulf]

They lost Liriano?

[the errey i breathe]

Diaz reaching the show in the upcoming season is a rash, desperate move.

I said only if he would be an improvement. He did well in his time in AAA this season, with a strong winter/spring he could be in a position to help this team next year. I don't think they should bring him up just because.

[ulf]

Diaz reaching the show in the upcoming season is a rash, desperate move.

I said only if he would be an improvement. He did well in his time in AAA this season, with a strong winter/spring he could be in a position to help this team next year. I don't think they should bring him up just because.

No he didn't. He played 10 games, and they weren't very good.

[shafnutz05]

McCutchen third in MVP voting.

Feel like the much bigger story is J-Hay finishing ninth

[Rocco]

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2014/11/14/72 ... es-dodgers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's nice to be reminded that other teams do dumb things in the field and do them more often. Marte accounted for 25% of the team's TOOTBLANs, and Liriano accounted for half of the bases-loaded walks.