Pirates Protect Four from Rule 5 Draft

Today was the final day for the Pirates to add players to their 40-man roster and protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.  For those unfamiliar with the draft, every MLB team can draft a player from another team's organization if he is not on that team's 40-man roster and he has been in the organization for so long.  If you carry that player on your 25-man roster for the entire season he becomes your property.  If you don't keep him on your 25-man roster the whole year, he is returned to his original team.  There are some instances of this working, Johan Santana was a Rule 5 pick, but it usually doesn't produce stars because the best prospects are protected.  The Pirates did this today by protecting four players.

Gregory Polanco

This was a no brainer.  Polanco is a top twenty prospect in the MLB and is this team's future star (I believe he'll be better than Cutch).  We signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2009 and he has been ripping up the minors ever since.  His potential is as a high average hitter who can hit between 20-30 home runs.  He also has the best range of any outfielder in the majors right now for the Pirates.  He has the speed to steal a lot of bases.  I've never liked comparing Cutch to Barry Bonds but I have no problem doing that with Polanco.  He'll be up in 2014 some time playing right field.

Alen Hanson

Another no brainer.  Hanson is a top five prospect in the Pirates system and the #38 prospect in America.  He is another Dominican signing from 2009 and is the team's future shortstop.  He can definitely hit for average and will make a great leadoff hitter if everything goes well.  The knock on Hanson is that he may not be able to stick at shortstop because of his defense.  From what I gather, Hanson will make a great play at short and then make an error on a routine play.  With more maturity he should stick at short and start for the Pirates some time in 2015.

Joely Rodriguez

This was a surprise to me at first but I can understand the move now.  Rodriguez is a lefty SP from the Dominican.  Also signed in 2009, he has never pitched above high A.  From reading, I see he can throw 95 and has three quality pitches.  Since the Pirates, and most other organizations, don't have much promising left handed pitching depth this was a good move by the Pirates to keep him because I have no doubt someone would have picked him.  Think a young Wandy Rodriguez who could be here in 2015.

Casey Sadler

I don't think we should have added Sadler.  He has good numbers as a starter but he doesn't throw a lot of hit and miss pitches.  That can be good if our defense stays the best in the history of the game but that's not likely with Hanson coming up and Pedro/Walker likely gone by 2016.  I would have preferred to protect Gift Ngope.  He is a SS who apparently has the best defense in any organization in baseball.  His bat is awful but still.  He can serve as someone's Clint Barmes and I would think someone will draft him as a defensive ace off the bench.  Back to Sadler, he should be here by 2015 and his upside looks to be like a Jeff Karstens.

Pirates Free Agency Preview

Well everyone the season didn't end in a Pirates World Series win but there were many positives to the season. And of course the season never stops. The offseason is the most important part of an MLB season so I will do a preview of the offseason right now. It's also the biggest transaction period of the year, my specialty, so I need to keep up on it. I'm going to keep it brief with six topics. Non-tender candidates, extension candidates, right field, first base, shortstop and starting pitcher.

Non-tender candidates:

Garrett Jones

Jones' playing time got cut completely when Morneau was added and he's over the hill looking to get over $5 million I'm arbitration. No chance he's back next year, sorry ladies.

Travis Snider

He still has tons of potential but it's not a project the Pirates can take on anymore. We already have Tabata and Polanco on the way so there really isn't room for him.

Michael McKenry

The Fort can still contribute but he's out of options and the emergence of Tony Sanchez should push him off of the team.

Melancon, Gaby, Charlie, Pedro, Walker, Locke, and all the other young pitchers will get offers

Extension Candidates:

Pedro Alvarez

If we can sign Pedro and eliminate free agent years that's huge. He's not going to be a lifetime Pirate but he needs to stay as long as we can keep him because there are zero replacements currently in the minors. If he'll sign a four or five year extension worth around $10-11 million a year it will be a great deal.

Neil Walker

Walker has shown nothing to me to warrant an extension. He's an average second baseman and you can get those easily. But because he's from here, the Pirates will try to extend him. Anything more than a four year extension worth about $6 million a year would be dumb.

Starling Marte

He would be the best one to extend. He's still getting used to the MLB but has Cutch potential. A lot of these types of extensions are getting done as well. Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Evan Longoria, and Paul Goldschmidt have all done extensions at this point. So 7 years $55 million would be ideal.

Right Field

Internal options:

Jose Tabata

Tabata played great last year but he's not very good on defense. Plus I'm not sure about the consistency. He's more of a 4th outfielder to me.

Gregory Polanco

He won't be ready until June at the earliest.

Andrew Lambo

Was inconsistent when he came up but may get another chance to win the job.

Marlon Byrd

Byrd was a star last season and an RBI machine. He seems to be a fan favorite and would be a great mentor to Polanco. He wouldn't be my first choice but my second choice because of his age. Still, a two year deal for say $8 million would be a good deal.

External options:

Carlos Beltran

This should be the Pirates #1 priority. Sign Beltran. It will be a bidding war but we can win it. It may cost a draft pick but it's worth it. Carlos can still hit and he is still stellar in the field. Plus you all know what he does in October. He would bring such great leadership and play that the Pirates would instantly be considered a top NL team. Plus the mentoring he would give Polanco. Even if we can't win the bidding, Byrd is a fallback. A two year $18 million deal would be worth it.

Giancarlo Stanton

This trade could go down in the offseason if the Marlins decide to listen. You'd have to give up Polanco, Taillon, and a little more but my opinion is it would be worth it. Really doubt it happens though.

First Base:

Internal options:

Gaby Sanchez

He crushes lefties and that's all he should be asked to do. Bench player or platoon.

Andrew Lambo

Only in a platoon with Gaby. Plus he doesn't play first that often. It'd be a project.

Justin Morneau

Morneau was pitiful as a Pirate on offense. Also only good in a platoon. Old and name value will drive up the price.

External options:

Kendrys Morales:

He may be tricky to get if the Mariners give him a qualifying offer. He's not worth a draft pick but he is valuable to the Pirates. He's a switch hitter who hits both sides well with power. He'll command around $10 million a year.

Mark Trumbo

Trumbo would be a huge get. He has huge power and is under control through 2017. The Pirates have tried for him in the past and it's a big price. If you want him, better be willing to give up Morton and/or Melancon.

Corey Hart

Hart was a star in Milwaukee but missed all of last year. He's a risky signing with big potential, a signing the Pirates love, so don't be shocked if he's brought in.

Shortstop:

Internal options:

Jordy Mercer

He hits lefties well but I'm not sure how he'll hold up in an entire season. Plus his defense is sketchy.

Clint Barmes

His bat is awful but his defense is fantastic. He deserves a bench spot on a one year deal for about $2 million no matter what they do.

External options:

Jhonny Peralta

Great offense and defense but how much of it was PEDs? He'd be a risky signing but I would take a chance.

Raphael Furcal

He's 37 now but is still good at the top of the order and on defense. He did miss all of last season but is a similar risk to Corey Hart.

Starting Pitching:

Internal options:

AJ Burnett

AJ is still a very good pitcher and innings eater. I just don't think he'll be back. He adds great leadership but he's getting older and a little whiny. But with a rotation where only Liriano, Cole, and Morton are guaranteed spots until Wandy gets back, his signing could be necessary.

Jeff Karstens

Hahahahahahaha ya right

External options:

Josh Johnson

He's this years Liriano. Coming off some bad years but a former ace in Miami a good pitching coach could get him back to that level.

Jason Vargas

Coming off a so so year with LA, Vargas is a steady lefty who could be a great #3 starter with a shift to PNC.

These are just a few people and things the Pirates can pursue this offseason. I can't wait to see what happens starting on Monday and as always I'll keep you posted on any and all moves.

82

Well ladies and gentlemen it has happened.  We have reached nirvana.  The Pirates have a winning season for the first time in 20 years.  It is an unbelievable feeling.  I will be 19 years old on Tuesday and this is the first time I have seen a Pirates winning record.  Just think about that for a moment.  Think of everything that has happened in these years.  We have had four different presidents in office.  We have had gone into three wars.  Law & Order almost made it but got canceled.  Pops passed away.  PNC Park opened.  Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, 2Pac, and Biggie went from superstars when the streak started to the grave when it ended along with four of my close family members.  Just take a minute to think about what has happened in that time for you too.  It is a very humbling experience.  Brings tears to your eyes.  And after all of that happened we are still Pirates fans.

This is the ultimate example of happiness.  Pirates fans can finally be happy again.  There is no more drafting shitty players like Bryan Bullington and Chad Hermannson.  There is no more signing Chris Stynes, Pokey Reese, Lyle Overbay, Rob Barajas, etc. and getting excited about it.  There is no more trading current stars for the future.  This is the future.  For those who stuck around through all of that we can now laugh at that.  (I highly suggest this sporcle if you wanna laugh at players.  I can get 157 of them http://www.sporcle.com/games/johnmadden/pirateslineups ).

This is what I think is the best thing about win 82.  It means we don't have to be ashamed to be Pirates fans anymore.  We can raise our children to be Pirates fans.  We can taunt other bad teams.  We don't have to be embarrassed anymore.  So go to PNC Park.  RTJR after a victory.  Flaunt that gear around town.  The ride's not over yet.  We need the World Series to make this the ultimate story ever in sports.  But for now Pittsburgh, celebrate.  We have reached nirvana.

Pirates Steal Justin Morneau

Justin Morneau is a Pirate



The Pittsburgh Pirates just made me very very happy.  Happy days are here again after acquiring Justin Morneau for a slim jim aka Alex Presley.  Words cannot describe how happy I am about this trade.  There were months of speculation about this deal and it finally happened.  I'm just surprised by how little we gave up for him.

Morneau is a former AL MVP and a former AL HR Derby winner.  He is no where near that caliber any longer but he is still good with the bat.  This season he is hitting .259/.315/.426 OPS .741.  He has also clobbered 17 homers and 74 RBIs on the year with no protection.  He also has hit 9 of the homers in the month of August.  So he's hot.  The best part about Morneau is that he hits the righties very well and will actually hold up his end of the platoon, which Garrett Jones has not.  He has protection now too.  All he had was Joe Mauer in Minny.  Now he has Cutch, Pedro, and Byrd hitting in front of him.  He's gonna see better pitches so he's going to hit better you would think.  He also has a shorter porch in right field.  And of course, he's moving to the NL.  Everything points to him having a better time in Pittsburgh.

The best part about this trade is that we gave up basically nothing for him.  Presley was going to be DFA'd next season anyways and we have tons of depth in the outfield.  Giving him up does nothing to our future and will not come back to bite us.

This trade is a trade the Pirates didn't have to make but really bolstered the lineup.  For all you people out there yelling about Nutting being cheap look dumb.  He's going to pay Morneau, an unnecessary upgrade, $2.5 million the rest of the month.  This lineup has now surpassed the Reds in my opinion and is right up there with the Cardinals.  There is no one place where you can say the lineup is weak and there is an easy out.  Teams with those lineups win in the playoffs.  If the pitching holds up, this Morneau trade could be the difference between an early playoff exit and a world series appearance.  Bravo Neal Huntington.

Pirates trade for Marlon Byrd and John Buck

Byrd is having a breakout year

Well, remember when we all wanted the Pirates to make a trade and I wrote my treatise on why it was not dumb to overpay? That was apparently a waste of time as today the Pirates paid a steep price for Marlon Byrd and John Buck.  It was reported earlier today that Byrd was claimed on waivers and it was speculated that it was either the Pirates or Reds that claimed him.  The Reds were stupid enough not to block him from us and we in turn claimed him.  John Buck is just a throw in to give the Mets salary relief but he will serve as a nice backup and bench bat for Russell Martin.  This is a trade that should've happened before July 31 but I'm happy it got done now.

 

 

Byrd is having a career year and hasn't skipped a step (that was my concern in July).  He's dominating baseball with a slash of .285/.330/.518 OPS .848 with 21 bombs.  How you like that for a #5 hitter?  He was a guy that I was really hoping the Pirates would get and now they have a huge upgrade in RF and on the bench.  Buck started off like a monster for the Mets but is now just hitting .215/.285/.367 OPS .652 with 15 HRs.  Most of those homers were in April though so it's misleading.  They are both upgrades for us so it's a good trade.  Buck and Tony Sanchez are probably even but Tony will be back in four days.  Felix Pie will be DFA'd.  Pie and Kelly Shoppach are the only ones hurt by this trade.

 

The one thing that makes me take pause is the price it took to get them.  Dilson Herrera is going to the Mets and he is a strong prospect.  He was only in West Virginia but played in the Futures Game.  He has a lot going for him but he's extremely raw.  He's a big "if" type of player but if everything does click for Dilson, NH is going to be haunted by this trade.

 

Overall I think both sides are happy.  The Mets got a good prospect for Byrd and Buck and the Pirates got a much needed offensive boost in right field.  That was the one hole they needed to fill.  Now with Jones starting to hit again and with Walker and Cutch coming on, this could be the missing link in a division winning Pittsburgh Pirates team with playoff success.  I and most of Pittsburgh are happy.

Will the Dark Knight Rise beyond 2013?

 

Recently, I've seen a lot of talk about AJ Burnett and if he could be back next season and beyond and I thought I'd throw my own thoughts into the mix

 

AJ Burnett is arguably the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He is the seasoned veteran and he takes no shit from anyone.  He's single handedly changed the persona of the Pirates and it is a change I have loved witnessing.  Unfortunately, I think this could be his final season wearing the P on his chest.

 

Now it's not like I want Burnett to leave.  His production is unbelievable.  Combining this season with last year, he has thrown 331 innings going 21-17 with a 3.21 ERA.  The strikeout and walk totals are fantastic too.  His K/9 is 8.7 and his BB/9 is 3.0.  That's the stuff of an ace.  So with all of that production and the unquestioned top dog status that he has, why don't I think he's coming back?  Well I have two reasons for you.

 

First reason I don't think AJ Burnett will be back is because we already have too many pitchers for next year.  Look at the rotation already under contract.  I am assuming that Wandy Rodriguez (remember him?) will accept his player option because no one is going to give him a big deal after his injury and missed time.  Liriano's option will also vest and he'll be back.  So here it is:

 

Francisco Liriano

Wandy Rodriguez

Jeff Locke

Gerrit Cole

Justin Wilson (natural starter)

 

That is the rotation I have penciled in right now and that doesn't include Charlie Morton, Jeanmar Gomez, Kyle McPherson, Jeff Karstens, and James McDonald (remember them??) who could all be tendered offers to compete with Kyle McPherson for that last spot.  Plus looking ahead to 2014, Jameson Taillon will be coming up in June with Nick Kingham not far behind.  Zoinks Scooby!  We have depth again without AJ.  What happens if AJ is placed in the rotation and Wilson stays in the pen?  Who do you take out for Taillon let alone Kingham?  You can always have injuries but you'll have guys like Gomez and Morton ready to go if they lose guys.  So the Pirates' pitching surplus is really working against Burnett.

 

Second thing that I think hurts AJ's chances of coming back next season is money.  Yes the cheap Pirates won't be able to pay him.  I'm just joking but it would take a lot to bring in Burnett.  Don't forget, the Yankees are paying most of Burnett's salary.  Would you pay him say $10 million a year for two more years of service?  I can hear a bunch of you saying he's 37 and not worth that much but consider Ryan Dempster is making $13 million a year the next two years for Boston and he'll be 37 next season.  So really, I think that would be AJ's discount.  It'd be hard to replace that leadership but I think the Pirates could sign a cheaper option if they wished for two months to warm Taillon's spot.

 

Now I have neglected a lot of things here.  Wandy could decline his player option (in which case I'm all for paying AJ to return), Morton and the rest of the gang could be non tendered to save money and room, and AJ could take a bigger discount because he loves Pittsburgh and made a ton of money in his career.  I just know how the Pirates like to operate.  I don't think they would pay that much money to an aging Burnett when they could go after cheaper options with big guns on the way.  That leadership would be really damn hard to replace though.  Here's my solution in a perfect world.  AJ honors his promise that he made before the year that he either retires or signs with Pittsburgh, retires, and becomes an assistant pitching coach next to Ray Searage.  It would be perfect.  He could continue helping the young guys like Locke, Cole, and eventually Taillon and maintain the locker room presence without taking up a roster spot from a young guy.  Would that happen?  I don't think the likelihood is very high, but it is possible.  I'm not advocating to dump Burnett by any means.  I'd love to see him back in a Pirates uniform.  I also hope they win it all this year for him and he could go out on top if he decides to go down that path.  But unfortunately, just like Bruce Wayne, I don't think there's anything left in Gotham, I mean Pittsburgh, for AJ Burnett. 

The Pirates Send a Bad Message

Well, the trade deadline came and passed today and the Pirates did......nothing.  All of the hours of speculation by me and others completely wasted (just like every year).  This has me much more upset than almost every Pirates fan I know.  Maybe I'm naïve or whatever but I think the Pirates missed a golden opportunity a few minutes ago.  They needed to add some offense and they failed.  I've heard so many excuses of why this was a good decision by the Pirates to do nothing including the price is too high, no one else did anything, they're the best team in baseball, there were no impact players, and the famous "you can't mortgage the future for one year".  I'll explain why all of these excuses are dumb right now.

The price was too high.  Yes it was an extreme seller's market this year but there were still names to be had.  Just because it is a seller's market it doesn't mean that the Cubs were asking Jameson Taillon for David Dejesus.  No they were probably asking for someone like Alex Dickerson and the Pirates thought that was too much.  Those possible deals are the ones that frustrate me because you're bargaining over prospects who are in all likelihood not going to make a big impact in the majors or any impact for that matter.  Just pull the trigger and bite the bullet to help a really good team this year.  So price is a little blown out of proportion for me.

No one else did anything.  As far as I'm concerned, that means even more that the Pirates should have done something.  When no one else improves their team and you do, guess who just got better and increased their chances of winning?  That's right, you did!  The people saying this is why the Pirates were smart to stand pat have it twisted so I'm not going to give this reason any more time.

They're the best team in baseball.  Do you know why the Pirates are the best team in baseball?  Pitching.  You can only out pitch teams for so long before you need to score runs.  If you can't score, you can't win.  It's great that you can hold someone to one run for seven innings.  It's not great if you can't score one yourself.  So how long will you be the best team in baseball if you can't score?  How much longer can you win games if you can't score?  Even worse, what happens when your starters regress and they start giving up four or five a game like Locke and Morton should?  Just because you're the best team in baseball now, it doesn't mean you will be in a month from now.

There were no impact players available.  No there weren't.  Good thing the Pirates didn't need an impact player.  They only needed an upgrade.  A platoon guy maybe.  Anyone would be an upgrade.  The Pirates are LAST in the league in average from RF.  LAST in the league in OBP from RF.  LAST in the league in SLG from RF.  LAST in the league in OPS from RF.  So you're telling me that there is no one out there who could've came in and helped that?  Please.  Justin Maxwell was traded to the Royals for a non prospect RHP.  Even he from the lowly Astros could've helped the team and made an impact.  And you're telling me we couldn't give up a RHP, the strength of the system, for a platoon guy.  I don't know what asking prices were but that is hard to imagine.

You can't mortgage the future for one year.  I hate this saying so much.  The Pirates have a top three farm system in the league.  Trading away a top ten prospect is not going to cripple you.  Hell, I would've traded a top ten guy for Schierholtz and/or Dejesus.  Now I know that people I think have no idea what they're talking about have said this for the past two years, but I think it is true now.  The Pirates may never be in this position again.  I understand that we have gobs of talent coming up.  Gregory Polanco will be here next year and so will Jameson Taillon.  But people expect them to come up and be the next Clemente and Drabek right when they arrive.  That won't happen.  Look how Starling Marte and Gerrit Cole are still trying to figure it out in the majors.  It takes about two years in my opinion for you to begin to reach your potential in the majors.  So, in two years, start of 2016, when these guys are going to dominate and lead the Pirates to the promise lands guess who isn't under contract and likely not coming back.  AJ Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, Russell Martin, Francisco Liriano, Garrett Jones, Gaby Sanchez, Jason Grilli, and Neil Walker.  Pedro Alvarez will also be in the final year of team control.  So basically when those young studs are ready to really help the major league club, the parts that were there for them to reinforce will be gone and you'll be stuck in the same situation as this year with holes.  This has always been a sticking point with me for Neal Huntington and I think it is something that he needs to change.  Give up a prospect to improve the team and possibly get a championship ring.

Look, I know I don't know what went on in the last month and I know Neal Huntington is better at his job than I am.  It doesn't mean that there wasn't a move he could have made without parting with our top five prospects and balked at the chance.  The team needed an upgrade to become a true championship contender and he just did not make the move.  Huntington himself and all of you who are going to disagree with me cannot convince me that there wasn't a trade available where Huntington could have parted with Nick Kingham or someone like that for an upgrade in right field.  It was time to do something.  It was the year.  And we didn't do anything.  Some players will be happy with that and it sends them a message that management believes in them as they sit.  The message he sent to me, the fans, and some of the players I'm sure, is that we are going to coast, end the losing streak, make the playoffs, get eliminated early, and be satisfied.  That is what disgusts me.  Fans will be happy with that.  Why?  This is a good team that can no doubt win the World Series.  I know the Pirates have been losing so long that any winning will make us happy.  But when you have a team as good as this, why should expectations be any lower than a World Series.  Will I be happy if the Pirates make the playoffs?  Yes.  Will I be happy if they break .500?  Yes.  Will I still be disappointed?  Yes.  When you have a winning team, you expect nothing less than championships.  What are your expectations with the Steelers and Penguins?  Championships.  Why should it be any different with the Pirates?  It shouldn't.  Those should be Huntington's expectations too.  And by not overpaying a little bit for an upgrade, it tells me that those are not his expectations.  He can stick to his plan all he wants but if it provides winning teams like this with no titles, well he'll be looking for a new job.  Now would any one of those trades help the Pirates' World Series odds?  Of course not but it can't hurt.  Now there is always the waiver trade deadline to do something and I expect the Pirates to be active there but I'm not holding my breath.  What happened today just really disappoints me and makes me question what the Pirates want to accomplish on the field this year.  Once again, I don't know what prices were, who was available, and who any prospect might become, but I'm sure the Pirates could have done something, anything, minor to appease us.  I just don't like the message that Huntington and the Pirates sent.

A Farewell to Brandon Inge

Well folks the day has finally arrived. Brandon Inge is no longer a Pirate. I think it's safe to say that the Pirates haven't had a player more hated in the modern history of the team, at least for me. Yessir, Inge ranks right up there with the Andy LaRoche, Brian Bixler, and Rod Barajas' of the world.
That's elite company. By the way, the only reason I hate Inge more than Barajas is because we had no better option than Barajas, we have for Inge since day one. Anyways, even though we all hate Inge, especially myself, I felt it was appropriate to give him a nice farewell now that the Inge Era is over in Pittsburgh because there are some things I am going to miss about him.

The first thing I'll miss about good ole Brandon Inge is his clubhouse leadership. I mean who else could put on rollerblades and do this in the clubhouse? He really lightened the mood.

 

And who else could entertain such a tough group of ball players like Inge? Just look at these hi-jinks! He's hilarious!
 

The second thing I will miss about Brandon Inge is his ability to make teammates look so good. Who would go through such awful plate appearances to make his teammates look like superstars at the plate? Brandon Inge, that's who.



The third thing I'm really going to miss about Inge is his mastering of the famous Zoltan Z. Look at that form, he is the master. This should be the way all new players are taught!


The fourth thing I'll miss about Brandon is his emotion. No one loved being a Pirate than Brandon. Look at the enthusiasm on his face! You can't disagree!





The fifth and final thing I'll miss about Brandon Inge is his image. Now, I've been joking for most of this article but I'm serious on this one. Inge's image with the Pirates was that of an awful player just wasting space on the roster. This is one thing I actually thank Brandon for enduring because he did take a lot of attention away from the seriousness of having a winning baseball team in this town. For that reason alone, he should be given a ring next year during the Pirates World Series ring ceremony.

 


Brandon Inge was really a god awful player in Pittsburgh but he will still be missed. Who else on the team are we going to heckle now that the man with the .181 average and .442 OPS is gone? I guess The Fort isn't close behind. He's the only one mad about Inge being gone because now his awful year will be under the spotlight. Back to the point, Inge made us angry and was possibly the worst player to ever appear in a Pirates uniform but he will be missed and you can't deny that. He made you laugh at least once and wasn't a complete waste of space in the clubhouse. He even told management to release him if they needed to. That takes balls and I respect him for realizing that but still he was awful. And even though he looks like he has downs syndrome, he still deserves this farewell. I will end this article with a poem I wrote just for this occasion.

Goodbye Brandon Inge,

Your at-bats made me cringe,

Your defense is crap,

I can't wait to say "See ya ole chap!"

You couldn't produce on a tee-ball team,

Just hearing your name makes me want to scream,

Still, even though you are terrible in a baseball game,

You didn't put the locker room to shame,

Thank you for giving us a reason to complain,

I hope you find a cheap ticket to your plane,

Brandon, I hope you're not too pissed,

Because you will still be missed.

Thank You

 

Farewell Brandon Inge

Trade Target: Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence? Again? I'm sure a lot of you are saying this right now and frankly, so was I when I saw Jon Heyman tweet that the Pirates are interested in him....for the third straight trade deadline. I really contemplated even writing a trade target piece for him because I don't know why the Giants would even consider trading him. Well that and my Wi-Fi was pretty messed up. Anyways, the Giants are only 5.5 games back in the NL West right now even though they are well below .500 record wise. So, I guess they could trade Pence because he's in the last year of his deal and I decided to do a quick little target page for Pence.

Pence is putting up lower numbers than usual this year but he's batting for more power.  He has 14 HRs, 49 RBIs, and a slash of .263/.308/.451 OPS .759. That's not stellar but it isn't bad either. I would expect some regression back to his career averages of 25 HRs, 92 RBIs, and slash of .283/.336/.472 OPS .808. That would be a nice kick for the offense. Pence can also defend in right field although he usually looks like the most awkward human being alive. I know most bloggers don't like to look at this stat but I still do because it has merit for the Pirates, but he are Pence's numbers with RISP, .224/.286/.411 OPS .697 this year and on his career it is .283/.342/.475 OPS .817. So I would also expect him to jump back to the mean on this too. Are there any issues with bringing in Pence?

The first thing I thought of when I saw Pence's numbers is Alex Rios. He is just like Rios but just has slightly more power. But Rios also has more control. Pence would be a rental but that could be better because Gregory Polanco should be ready by next June. Rios though would seem to come much cheaper. That leads me to my second issue. The price it's going to take to bring him in. Heyman noted in his article that the Giants would have to be "overwhelmed" to trade Pence. I hate that term. I don't know why they would need to be overwhelmed since Pence is in the final year of his deal and the Dodgers are red hot and will most likely run away with the division. Nonetheless, it's hard to explain trading away a big piece of your team when you just won the World Series last season. So, I would not give up a ton for Pence when I could get a similar guy like Rios for much less.

Just like the past two seasons, I don't think Pence is in the cards for the Pirates. He's a gifted player for sure, that is unquestioned, but it's just going to take too much to get him. The Giants have no real good reason to sell and they are still contending. Although Pence is in the last year of his deal, I think the Giants want to re=sign him or at least make that attempt. I think it would be much safer to just go after someone like Rios, who I'm still not fond of, and not overpay like the Rangers did today for Matt Garza. It would be nice to have Pence's pop in the middle of the order, but I just don't see him being traded for the third year in a row.

UPDATE: Matt Garza was traded to the Cubs today for Mike Olt, CJ Edwards, and Justin Grimm. To put that into perspective, that's like the Pirates trading Gregory Polanco, Tyler Glasnow, and Kyle McPherson for Garza. If that was the asking price, I'm glad the Pirates didn't bite and I'm glad the Rangers did. Good thing is that it limits the Rangers from making other deals, like for Rios, but the bad thing is it sets a bad precedent for big prices for other starters that are available. Also, if you have been out of it Jason Grilli left tonight's save opportunity with "right forearm discomfort". That's the same description that was used to describe Wandy's injury and Jeanmar Gomez's injury earlier this year. So, depending on the severity the Pirates could be back in the relief pitching market looking for a set up man.

Trade Target: Alexei Ramirez

Well that was a long hiatus! I'm back one night after I said Paul Konerko would be my final post. Well, unfortunately Jon Heyman decided to report a few minutes ago that the Pirates are in talks with the White Sox about Alex Rios and people close to the Pirates think those talks will expand to Alexei Ramirez. So I'm here to do an article on Alexei.

Alexei is a shortstop. I know, I know Jordy Mercer. But honestly, I'd love Jordy off of the bench as a utility man. So could Alexei be an upgrade? Well, this season, Alexei has 1 HRs, 21 RBIs, and a slash of .286/.311/.358 OPS .669. That's not stellar, but on his career he averages 15 HRs, 72 RBIs, and a slash of .277/.315/.403 OPS .718. That's not bad for a top of the order guy. His numbers with RISP are .254/.306/.333 OPS .639 currently but on his career it's .297/.339/.440 OPS .779. And I wasn't expecting that much from a lead off guy because he's the table setter, not the producer. Just like with Alex Rios though, I have tons of issues with Ramirez.

First thing is that his defense is not good. It's not awful but it's not good either. It's worse than Jordy Mercer but he could still play everyday. That's not a huge issue. Second problem is that his power is disappearing. He averages 15 dingers a year but only hit 9 last year and has the measly one this year. He's now 31 so his production could be declining. The final issue with him is again a huge contract. He's owed around $22 million through 2015 and has a hefty buyout for 2016. That's a ginormous price tag for a guy who's production looks to be dropping. Pair that with Rios' contract and that is a ton of dough the Pirates don't fork out.

After reading Jon Heyman's report, I don't get why the Pirates would do this. I think Jordy can cut it at short for now so Alexei wouldn't be necessarily needed. I also don't know why they'd take that much salary on. They'd have to get Chicago to pay Rios and Ramirez's deals. And at least half of the money owed. That means you're talking big prospects. I'd imagine Alen Hanson would be expendable since Alexei is here through 2015 at least. That leaves a lot of room. I'd think you'd have to give them Kingham too. Maybe even more. And that's just to start. Either that or you trade Gregory Polanco and I think he should be an untouchable along with Taillon. I mean, it's a nice idea and all but I just don't see a fit happening for a deal like this. If NH can prove me wrong, well power to him. We'll have to wait and see. 

Trade Target: Paul Konerko

Alas, this is my final trade target article of the year. I feel like I should've trolled people by doing Mike Trout or something but I'll have to settle for Konerko. I don't mind that though because Konerko is one of the ultimate good guys in the game on and off the field. But could he take that rep to the Pirates?

Paul Konerko is has been the face of the White Sox for the past decade. He's been a cornerstone for a long time but now that the Sox are selling and he's in the final year of his deal, he might be had. Konerko is having a rough year. He has only 7 HRs, 30 RBIs, and a slash of .249/.314/.368 OPS .682. That's bad. Especially compared to his career averages of 31 HRs, 100 RBIs, and a slash of .282/.358/.495 OPS .852. So I'd expect his putrid first half stats to rise. He does have great split stats though. He hits for an OPS over .900 against lefties in his career and is doing that this year. Not ideal, but he could replace Gaby in a platoon if Gaby were to be traded. With RISP Konerko hits .285/.379/.470 OPS .849 in his career and is hitting an even better .333/.467/.509 OPS .975 this season. So he passes that test. He's never been good with the glove so don't count on that.

Issues Konerko brings. Well, first off he's old. Like I showed with Justin Morneau yesterday, stats get worse with age (unless you're Raul Ibañez and the complete opposite happens). Konerko being 36 and hitting that bad is worrisome. He should pick it up a bit but you never know. Second thing that comes with age is injury. Konerko gets hurt a lot and is hurt right now. I'm not even sure if he can be traded after his latest injury. That's the last thing I want in a trade target. Giving something up for a guy who's constantly injured and won't play. My last problem is that he is such a sentimental piece in Chicago. Sentimental value drives up everything. Just watch Pawn Stars. That means I'm going to be paying a lot more for Konerko because he's the face of the franchise. I'm not sure I'd do that with better options available.

Overall, I'm not going after Konerko. He is the Chicago White Sox and Jim Bowden reported that the Sox will trade anyone but Chris Sale and Konerko. Now, I'm very wary of Bowden (he watched 10 minutes of the futures game and determined that Gregory Polanco has a loopy swing and is bad in center field LOL and he said Konerko should be our top target LOL) but the sentiment is there. I'm not going to overpay for a guy who really doesn't fit on the team and really isn't that big of an upgrade. I'll take my chances with the rest if the first base/right field market. But, don't be surprised if NH asks about him.

UPDATE: Jim Bowden connected the Pirates to Justin Morneau today. But as I explained above, be wary of his "rumors" and "sources".

At this point I'd like to thank you all for reading my trade target series. It was fun to write and it'll be fun to see who the Pirates trade for in the next two weeks. I'll do more articles on targets if new names appear as Pirates targets and as always write more opinion articles on the team. You can also count on me to evaluate any and all trades the Pirates make (or don't make). But until then, au revoir.

 

Trade Target: Kendrys Morales

The Seattle Mariners must be rich in trade worthy players. This is the third Mariner I've profiled. Only the Cubs, four players, have more articles. But they have been targeted for good reason. They're sellers and they have a lot of what the Pirates need. Bats. The latest Mariner bat to be targeted is Kendrys Morales. He's been linked to the Pirates already by Jayson Stark, but so was Justin Upton last year. So could Morales really be a trade target?

I'm being a little unfair to Jayson there. Morales is no Justin Upton and he is a realistic option since his contract is up at the end of the year and he's only been a Mariner for half a season. But in that half a season, Kendrys has been doing what he does. Hitting. He has a slash of .280/.337/.463 OPS .800, with 14 HRs and 54 RBIs. That's in pitcher friendly Safeco Park. He's right on track to end the year with his career averages of .281/.332/.486 OPS .819, with 27 HRs and 93 RBIs, which are all in Anaheim. That would be a huge boost in the middle of the Pirates order that is missing one piece after McCutchen and Alvarez. His RISP stats are mind blowing too. Just like Raul Ibañez, Morales has a knack for driving in runs. He's hitting .358/.409/.605 for an OPS of 1.014. He'll definitely regress but he's a great hitter in these spots anyway. On his career, he hits .296/.350/.536 with an OPS of .896. So, he's gonna drive in runs too. He's too good of a fit. Even better, he really ramps it up after the All-Star break via a large OPS jump thanks to a huge SLG increase. His SLG goes from .470 to .517 after the ASB, raising his OPS to .851 from .802. He's no gold glover but he can handle himself as well.

Kendrys is the first guy that I can honestly say there are zero drawbacks. He's hitting well, he's playing to his numbers, and he's not injury prone or anything like that. He's not making a lot either. I guess if you wanna find something to gripe on, it's that he's a first baseman and right field needs the upgrade, a point I would argue since I think 1B is a bigger issue. But like I said, I can't find any concerns.

Basically, Morales is the best player the Pirates could target. He would play everyday at first base and produce against all pitchers since he's a switch hitter (not Neil Walker like switch hitter). That would push Gaby to the bench to hit against lefties as a pinch hitter and Garrett Jones into a new platoon in RF with Jose Tabata. I've never been a huge fan of Jones, but he has to turn it around in the second half. If not, try Snider again or just go all in with Jose. Or trade for two bats and move Jones to the bench. That would be ideal. But anyways, it seems to be the perfect solution and I really can't see why it couldn't happen. He wouldn't be that high of a price prospect wise either. If other teams want him, the price could go up but I'm thinking three C level prospects or one B prospect and a PTBNL/Cash. That's a great price for a guy like Kendrys who would look great in black and gold and be a huge upgrade to this team. I hope it happens. Like I've said before, NH will be making some calls to Seattle but who knows what player he will be calling about.

Tomorrow's trade target is 1B Justin Morneau

Trade Target: Justin Morneau

How did the Twins go from such a good team a few years back to sellers every year? I don't know what happened to them. They still have the core or most of it, same manager too. Guess they just can't recapture the magic. That or the division got tougher. Regardless, they are sellers and they have one guy the Pirates might be interested in. No, not former Pirate all-star Kevin Correia, but former league MVP Justin Morneau.

Like I said yesterday, I think first base is the Pirates biggest need, again, and an upgrade there helps the team a lot more. Morneau was once one of the best first basemen in baseball. Although he doesn't hold that title anymore, he's still a respectable player. After a slow start, especially with his power, Morneau now has 7 HRs, 52 RBIs, and a slash of .272/.331/.406 OPS .737. That's not great. He averages 28 HRs, 110 RBIs, and a slash of .279/.349/.485 OPS .834. That's misleading though and I'll explain why later. You know how I roll by now so I'll get into his RISP stats. This year it's a slash of .311/.380/.411 OPS .791 and on his career it's .287/.388/.472 OPS .860. So he's under his career average and could improve but it's not likely that it will be by that much. He's solid with the glove too so that's no liability.

Morneau has some big time problems though. First, is his numbers. His power seems to be way down this year and so are his overall stats. Like I said above, reading into his career stats is misleading. He's been really bad for the past few years. Since his best year in 2010, where he had a 1.015 OPS, his OPS has gone down to .618 in 2011, .773 last year, and stands at .737 right now. Don't look now, but it looks like Morneau is over the hill or he hasn't fully recovered from his concussion problems. Maybe new scenery can rejuvenate him, but I don't see the same player that win an AL MVP. Second issue is that he's injury prone. He's had concussions that have wrecked his career and others that have had him on the DL a ton. That's bad news when trading for a player. Finally, Morneau has a large contract. He's owed about $5 million through the end of this year and I believe he's owed over $10 million next year. That's not a price I want to pay for a declining hitter.

I'm not a fan of bringing in Morneau. If we were talking the late 2000s, I'd be salivating over that thought but it's not. It's 2013 and the numbers aren't there. We need an upgrade at first base or right field but a better option can be found. Add that to the fact that the Twins are reluctant to sell him and will have a large price and everything adds up to a no go for the Pirates. I wouldn't be shocked if NH calls Minnesota but it'll only be out of curiosity.

Tomorrow's trade target will be 1B Paul Konerko

UPDATE: Comcast Sports News in Chicago reported that the Pirates are one of six teams "strongly pursuing" Matt Garza. I wrote my trade target article and was a big fan of him. He is supposed to be traded before Saturday so it'll be interesting to see what happens, especially with the reported interest in fellow Cub Nate Schierholtz.

Trade Target: Cliff Lee

I have a real problem with the way the Phillies are running their team. They have continued to build around an old core that is constantly digressing in talent. They aren't contending any longer but they are too stubborn to admit that it is time to rebuild. So last year, this year, and probably next year, the Phillies will continue to be that stubborn and buy players by selling prospects. This will be their downfall because instead of selling the veterans they have for rebuilding purposes, they'll hang on to them until they retire and lose valuable prospects in dumb trades. The old guys keep them afloat but once they retire, you're going to see a collapse comparable to the Astros and our beloved Pirates. But enough about why I'm a better GM than Ruben Amaro Jr., if the Phillies choose to sell, Cliff Lee has to be the first to go. Could he come to Pittsburgh?

Lee would be quite the catch for someone. He's still one of the most devastating lefties in the game. That holds true this year. He has a 10-3 record, 2.86 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, and crazy 5.95 K/BB. He's been fantastic on another floundering Phillies team and is in line with his career numbers. He averages a 15-9 record, 3.54 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, and 3.75 K/BB. Like I said, he's fantastic. No doubt. The one thing I look at with possible rotation upgrades, is playoff/pennant race experience. Lee has plenty of it and with it, plenty of success. In his playoff career, he is 7-3 with a 2.52 ERA. That's a huge boost for a team with little playoff experience. I mean Lee is bringing it all to the table. But like always, there is a catch.

First issue is his contract. He's owed a healthy amount of money, over $15 million, through 2015. That's almost one fifth of the Pirates' payroll. They couldn't pay that without some big time help and if you ask for them to pay half of his salary, you're giving up more in prospect value. That brings me to my next problem. The prospect cost. The Phillies are reluctant to trade him as it is and if they're going to eat salary, it'll have to be a big time load. It wouldn't be Giancarlo Stanton big but I'd say Jameson Taillon, another top 6 prospect, and another top 20 prospect to start. At least. I don't know if I'm willing to give that up.

In reality, I'm probably arguing a moot point. The Phillies are reluctant sellers because god knows why they think they can still win another World Series with this core. Even if they were selling, it would be a bidding war for Lee. That's something the Pirates are not into and they won't pay that hefty of a price for one man as a small market team. Sure, Lee would help this team immensely now and through 2015, but he'd also immensely help other teams and the impact that will come from the guys they trade would be bigger than Lee's. So I can't see NH bringing in Cliff Lee even though he'd be a perfect fit. The stars would have to align for this to happen and that doesn't happen every 100 years. Don't hold your breath for this pipe dream.

Tomorrow's trade target will be 1B Kendrys Morales

UPDATE: Today Jayson Stark reported that Kendrys Morales is a possibility for Pittsburgh. Ironically, he's my next target. Add him to the list that includes Nate Schierholtz and Alex Rios as confirmed targets.

Trade Targets: Phil Hughes/Joba Chamberlain

You know, the Yankees are really hard to understand sometimes. They pay tons of money to guys who have never performed on that big of a stage and they predictably flop. But yet they continue to do it, leaving the AJ Burnett's of the world for the taking. Apparently, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain are the next two to claim that AJ role. Would the Pirates try to get lightning to strike twice by grabbing one or both of these guys from the Bronx Bombers? 

I'll start with Hughes. He's been a rather steady pitcher for the Yankees but has never seemed to like the big lights. This season he's got stats like this, 4-8, 4.55 ERA, 2.4 BB/9, 7.4 K/9, 3.12 K/BB. Not overwhelming by any means. His career is pretty similar with stats that include, 4.41 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 7.6 K/9, 2.69 K/BB. So what you see is what you get, or is it? Like I said, he could be another AJ Burnett. So I looked at his stats away from the little league field that is Yankee Stadium. His ERA is 4.04 away compared to 4.77 at home. His WHIP and BAA (batting average against) also drop from 1.36 and .268, to 1.23 and .242. So he's actually better away from home as expected. And a move to the NL and away from the giant New York market could also lower those even farther like we saw with one AJ Burnett. Like I did with Matt Garza, I like to look at pitcher's playoff stats too because the Pirates need more of that experience in my mind. Hughes is a career 2-4 with a 4.54 ERA in playoff appearances. Not great but last year was his best year pitching 6.2 innings and giving up one run and then pitching 3.0 innings later to only surrender one more run. So he passes that test for me.

The one thing that inhibits this trade for me, is that Hughes is a rental. I'd like to have him here longer for next season if Burnett retires and/or Wandy does not exercise his player option (highly unlikely because he's hurt). Maybe the change of scenery will really help him and he'll want to stay long term? I doubt that but look what it has done for AJ who absolutely adores this team. Other than that, I think it'd be a low risk, high reward move.

Now I'll move on to Joba. He's a failed starter with the Yankees converted to reliever and is yet again another guy who doesn't like New York spotlight. This season out of the pen he's got a line that looks like this, 5.48 ERA, 4.2 BB/9, 9.2 K/9, 2.20 K/BB. In his career, including some starts, he has a line of, 3.82 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 9.1 K/9, 2.59 K/BB. Not great. But not bad. And again, like Hughes, I looked at how much better he does away from Yankee Stadium and he does better as well. His ERA, WHIP, and BAA drop from 4.35, 1.43, .258 at home to 3.22, 1.29, .250. That's an even greater change. So just like Hughes and Burnett, Joba could become a great bullpen arm upon rellocation.

My issue with Joba is his mind. It seems that the Yankees have really screwed up his head in New York and I don't know if it's beyond repair or not. The Pirates have had success fixing guys up but he reminds me a lot of JMac, the one guy we can't seem to fix. If Ray Searage is up to it though, I could see Chamberlain being a great help down the stretch.

These two are friends that could both use a change. The New York spotlight can hurt a lot of promising people and it seems it's claimed Hughes and Chamberlain. A shift to an NL team could definitely help. The question most of you are wondering has to be why the Yankees would sell these two in the midst of a playoff race? Well, I think they've given up on Joba and they have Michael Pineda coming back to bump Hughes out of the rotation. Not only are they selling these guys, but they are "aggrssively selling" them to NL teams, including the Pirates according to a report. All they want is a hitter with Texeira out for the year and Lyle Overbay returning to Lyle Overbay form. So I say, why not give them a guy like Garrett Jones who could really thrive in Yankee Stadium and a prospect for Hughes and Chamberlain? Then add a guy like Mike Morse to replace him in a platoon with Gaby and platoon in RF? That might sound like a bargain but when a team is aggressively selling, you hold all of the cards. So to wrap this up, if the Pirates could get Hughes and/or Chamberlain from New York, it could end up being similar to the AJ Burnett deal and pay off big time for the Pirates.

Tomorrow starts my own speculation of names the Pirates should go after but haven't been talked about a lot, if at all, beginning with trade target OF Alejandro De Aza.

Trade Target: Jurickson Profar

Did you ever expect to see this name on a trade target list? I know I didn't. Profar, 20, is one if the best prospects in baseball and plays the toughest position on the field. So why is he for sale? Well, because the Rangers have no room at all for him that's why. He's a true shortstop but the Rangers have a long term deal with Elvis Andrus there. Third or second base? Sorry, long term deals for Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler. So that has resulted in Profar being taught to play left field. That's really not fair to a guy who is also learning to hit in the MLB. So could the Rangers sell him?

I could definitely see Profar getting dealt this July. Like I said, there is no place for him. The Pirates need him though. Jordy Mercer is not the future at SS and I'm not convinced that Alen Hanson will stick at the position. So that leaves us with no solid SS prospects. That's been the story for the past 20 years. Profar would change that in a heartbeat. So far in the majors, he's hitting an uninspiring .240/.317/.349 OPS .666 with 3 HRs and 11 RBIs but in the minors, he averaged .276/.367/.449 OPS .816 with 8 HRs and 42 RBIs in a single year. He's a lead off hitter with speed and a pure lead off man, something the Pirates also lack. If he can translate those numbers to the ML, he'll be a top hitting shortstop in the game. And his defense is marvelous and that's why he was able to stick at SS throughout his entire career. This kid could be a HUGE grab for the Pirates now and in the future. Shortstop is the hardest position to find prospects and this guy is elite. Issues with Profar?

The only thing you can say is bad about Jurickson is that he is a prospect. Prospects are never sure things and he's struggling to start his career. I personally think that is because the Rangers are throwing way too much onto his plate. If he was an everyday SS, he could focus on hitting and develop faster. Other than that, there really is no downfall to him.

My opinion is to grab Profar while the Rangers are in a weak spot. They really need an outfielder and guess what the Pirates' strength is? Outfield depth. There was a rumor in April that the Rangers offered Profar straight up for Oscar Tavares of the Cardinals but St. Louis declined. Tavares is the #2 prospect in baseball and is an outfielder. The Pirates could offer Gregory Polanco and I would do it in a heartbeat. I'd even throw in Alen Hanson if they wanted him to replenish their depth and get more value. The problem with that is the Rangers probably want someone who can step in right away in RF. I am of the thinking that Polanco could make the Manny Machado jump from AA to the Majors right now but the Pirates take it slow. The Rangers don't though, they called up Profar from AA, and if they hold my same opinion, he could be a fit there. SS prospects this caliber are just so rare that if one is on the market, you have to jump at the opportunity. Especially, when you'd have him through 2017 at least! It's such an important position that if you have a superstar you're set. Profar could fix so many long term issues, along with short term if he can hit, you have to take a shot at landing him no matter the cost. Although this trade would be more likely in the offseason, if the Rangers like the deal enough, it could get done this July. And if the Pirates were to add him, you would never see a bigger smile on my and NH's faces.

Tomorrow's trade target is SP Cliff Lee 

UPDATE: The Pirates scouted the Cubs again tonight, coincidentally on Matt Garza's start again. Also, Rob Biertempfel at the Trib reports that the Pirates are keeping their eye on Cubs OF Nate Schierholtz and White Sox OF Alex Rios. I have profiled both if you'd like to read the articles.

Trade Target: Alejandro De Aza

Now the fun begins! This is the portion of my articles where I talk about guys who might not be traded but would be good options on the market. I'm starting with Alejandro De Aza. MLB Trade Rumors took my scoop on him when they named him a corner outfield trade target yesterday. De Aza is a late bloomer who didn't get regular playing time until last season in Chicago. He's 29 and doing good work playing centerfield there. Since the ChiSox are in full sell mode, could De Aza be up for grabs for Pittsburgh.

I'm gonna start with a game here. Player A and Player B. These players will be compared a lot throughout the article so pay attention.

Player A: .268/.325/.429 for an OPS of .754 and he has 11 HRs, and 37 RBIs

Player B: .265/.322/.418 for an OPS of .739 and he has 11 HRs and 41 RBIs

Really similar right? Do you know which one is De Aza? He's Player B. Player A is his teammate Alex Rios at last check. Rios is the one everyone covets but De Aza is having a similar season. Those are De Aza's stats this season and in his career he averages .276/.338/.418 OPS .750 with 11 HRs and 58 RBIs in a full season. These numbers are extremely similar to Rios, who has a career line of  .278/.324/.444, an OPS of .768, and HR/RBI totals of 18 and 79. They are similar in two aspects. One, is Rios is way more coveted and pricey. Two, is De Aza mashes with RISP. If you want to see Rios' stats, check out my trade profile on him. De Aza is hitting .340/.356/.600 for a big OPS of .956 with a runner at second or third, and on his career he hits .326/.373/.523 for another big OPS of .896. That's the Pirates' weakness and he can fix it. He's a lefty who hits both types of pitchers well and could really benefit from hitting towards the Clemente Wall. He's also a great athletic fielder who fits better at a corner than in center. Downside to De Aza?

Well, two things worry me with De Aza. First, he's a lead off hitter in Chicago. He doesn't seem like one but he is. I'm just wondering if he has the power to hit in the middle of a lineup. He has 11 HRs so I guess he could hit 5th since we have Martin their currently. That would also put him in a position to flash those RISP numbers. Second thing is that he is a relatively unknown commodity. This is only his second full year starting so you really don't know what you're going to get. His power numbers are going up and he's driving in runs so he seems like he could hit in the middle of an order. He could hit second and drive in Marte after doubles and triples but that's not really what I want. That's just something the Pirates would have to decide.

My thoughts on De Aza are to bring him in. I out him on the list because he reminds me of several things. First, he's like a Shin Soo Choo in production and the Pirates wanted him last year. Second, he's a lot like Travis Snider was last year. Not expected to be traded, relatively unknown in the bigs, and control on the contract. He's arbitration eligible two more times and could bridge the gap for Gregory Polanco when he's ready to shine. NH likes guys who can help now and later so De Aza fits the bill. De Aza should come cheaper than most but not too cheap. He'd likely cost a few average to good prospects. That's a lot cheaper than teammate Alex Rios who has similar production. The more I look at De Aza the more upside I see. He's entering his prime, he has power potential, he gets on base, he drives in runs, he'd move to the NL, and he'd hit to a short porch in right. His production is going up exponentially. I like this and I know this is what the Pirates like. So I say go for it. It would be a Pirates move that would reap big rewards. So don't be shocked if you see De Aza traded to Pittsburgh this month.

Tomorrow's trade target is SS Jurickson Profar