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

Trade Target: David DeJesus

The Cubs are trying to unload the team as usual. Everyone is for sale at basically every position. And the Pirates are in need of an outfielder. So, of course the Cubs and Pirates will be linked. Could David DeJesus be the man?

DeJesus is an outfield utility man, playing every position and producing at each spot. Although he's on the DL right now, he's putting up solid numbers. This year he's hitting .260/.318/.445 OPS .763 with 6 HRs and 21 RBI. On his career he's hitting .260/.354/.420 OPS .773 with 11 HRs and 68 RBIs in a given season. Not bad, but not good either. When it comes to RISP, DeJesus is pretty good, hitting at a .333/.474/.400 OPS .874 clip right now and in his career he hits .296/.384/.415 OPS .799. So you'd expect those numbers to go down a little but it's still very good production.

One problem I can't get over with DeJesus is his fragile body. He seems to be hurt every time we play the Cubs and he's currently on the DL. That's the one thing I would not trade for as a GM because he can't be an upgrade if he doesn't play. Other thing I'm not sure about is if he's a big bat. He has production in our weak spot of hitting with RISP but he isn't a "big bat" so I'm not sure if he's a match.

I think DeJesus would be a nice bench piece but we need a starter in RF. Since he's a left handed batter he could be in a platoon with Tabata, which could be effective with DeJesus hitting with an OPS over .800 against righties in his career, but I feel they would need more. Nonetheless, if he's a cheap option and the Pirates can't get anyone else he could be a nice little pickup to bat 6th or 7th against righties and be a bat off the bench.

Tomorrow's trade targets will be SP Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain in a special double target article

Trade Target: Norichicka Aoki

Ah, Mr. Aoki. A lot of Pirates fans hate him because he's part of the cause of why the Brewers kill the Pirates. He's only been in the league for two years after skipping over from Japan but has made quite the impact as a lead off man. Now that the Brewers are selling, could Aoki skip over to another NL Central team like the Pirates?

We're all familiar with Aoki and I'm sure a lot of you are saying that he doesn't fit the previous trade targets that I mentioned and isn't what we need. But before you say that, I think Starling Marte could help the woes with RISP if he were moved down a little bit in the order or even to number two. He could drive in Aoki. Well, lets look at Aoki's numbers. He has a slash of .298/.366/.378 for an OPS of .744 with 4 HRs, 19 RBIs, and 10 steals. Good numbers for a lead off man. The only thing to compare that with is his stats last year where he hit .288/.355/.433, OPS .788, 10 HRs, 50 RBI, and 30 SB. That's a guy I'd like at the top of the order with Marte as table setters giving guys even more opportunity to bring guys home and in turn an increase in production. But, if you're thinking Aoki batting say 6th or 7th, he is hitting .306/.397/.367 for an OPS of .764 this year with RISP and last year hit .280/.374/.360 OPS .734. So he's not bad in those spots but he's not good either. He's a strong defender too and would not be a liability playing daily.

The one issue I have with Aoki is if he fits exactly what the Pirates need. I have to think even without the addition of a run producing bat that our guys would do it more. But if they don't and we add Aoki as a table setter, the problem just becomes worse. On the other hand, if the offense comes around, you'll see guys driving in Aoki and Marte and producing runs that way by bringing in more in a single helping. It would be awful nice to see Pedro at the plate blasting dingers with Marte AND Aoki on base.

In my opinion, Aoki is a legit trade target even though he's not a "big bat". If he can get on base with Marte, guys will have to drive them in. They can't choke like this forever. It'd be damn nice to automatically count on a guy getting to first and possibly two guys when Marte is hot. Despite all of this defending I'm doing, I'd still rather see a big bat at a similar price that you'd get for trading for a guy in division. So I wouldn't put him high on the want list. Either way, if NH traded for Aoki I would be satisfied but not thrilled. I have no doubt though that he is a serious option.

Tomorrow's trade target will be OF David DeJesus

UPDATE: Matt Garza, who I formerly featured, was scouted last night by the Pirates and four other teams. That doesn't mean we're making a deal for him but it does show we have some interest. 

Trade Target: Michael Morse

Michael Morse is that guy who's always available in a trade. It doesn't matter where he plays. Chicago, Seattle, Washington, and Seattle again. Dude just can't find a home. And it looks like the professional hitter could be on the move yet again once he's off of the DL. Could it be to the Pirates?

Morse was traded earlier this year to the Mariners from Washington mostly because Washington didn't need him any longer and had nowhere to put him. He was rumored to the Pirates then and will surely be a target again, mainly because of that bat. This year Morse has clubbed 11 HRs for 23 RBIs with a slash of .252/.313/.454 OPS .767. He's been on the DL since mid June so those are solid stats, especially in a pitcher's park. You'd like to see more RBIs but those are hard to get when no one is on base for you. That seems to be the opposite in Pittsburgh with men on base and no one bringing them in. So could that change really make Morse a big weapon? Maybe. For Morse's career he averages 24 HRs and 80 RBIs a season with a slash of .290/.343/.487 OPS .830. He just hits and hits and hits. My big question is always hitting with RISP and Morse has not been good at that this year when the Mariners have gotten guys on base. He's hitting .170/.263/.358 with a .621 OPS. Yikes. But that's not characteristic for him. In his career he is very good with RISP hitting a .290/.365/.489 for a big OPS of .854. So I have a feeling if he got more chances with runners on, those numbers would skyrocket.

I only have a few issues with Morse. The big one that you didn't see me mention above that I usually do is defense. Morse is not good at it. He's a lot like Garrett Jones. Ok at first base and you only wanna see him in right if it's necessary. For Morse's bat, I think necessary is the word. Also, he always seems to be hurt. I don't want to trade for another Derrek Lee who rakes for us but only does it for 26 games so I'd have to be confident in his health before any trade. Lastly, those numbers with RISP are a little scary. I know they should go back to his career average but how long could that take?

I think Morse could be a great pickup. His price is low because he's hurt but when healthy, the Pirates could be perfect for him. I would place him right under his teammate Raul Ibañez as a top target. So NH should be calling Seattle a lot in the coming weeks. I like what Morse brings with a big bat and what he could do for the middle of the order and I like his leadership as a veteran who has playoff experience and can replace what we lose with Inge. I would ideally like to see him at first base instead of right field but it'd be hard to do. I thought of the possibility of trading for Morse AND Ibañez and then subsequently trading Garrett Jones. Then you could play Morse at 1B and Raul in RF against righties then Gaby at 1B and Morse in RF against lefties. That would really help the bench and make this team better. But I can't see that as realistic or happening because management loves Jones. But you never know. Well back to the purpose of the article, Morse would be a great fit in Pittsburgh and NH will need to start his late night calls to Seattle

Tomorrow's trade target will be OF Norichika Aoki

Trade Target: Marlon Byrd

Marlon Byrd is quite the story. After several serviceable years in the big leagues, he completely flopped last year. He was suspended for PEDs and then just really went down the shitter. Now he's back with the Mets after winning a roster spot in Spring Training and seems to be back to his normal self. And since the Mets are still their normal selves and sucking, he's on the trade block and a possibility for the Pirates.

After that miserable season in Chicago/Boston last year, Byrd has really turned it around. I won't burn your eyes with his awful stats from last year but instead show you that he's hitting .261/.307/.486 for an OPS of .783 with 13 HRs and 43 RBIs. For his career he's batting .277/.334/.417 for an OPS of .751. So he's right about at those career averages. Byrd plays good defense so that's not a problem either. Now the big question for me, like always, is how he does with RISP. Well, Byrd will give you a slash of .262/.280/.462 for an OPS of .742. That's basically the same as he hits normally. But for his career....... he doesn't hit any different with a slash of ..269/.333/.409 and an OPS of .741. He'll give and go a bit in OBP and SLG but the OPS will remain the same. He hits what an average player would. But for the Pirates, that's an upgrade.

Concerns I have with Byrd include his awful year last year. He was juicing and still sucked tremendously. It would not shock me if he regressed back to that state though it's probably unlikely. I also have come to the conclusion that the Pirates will need a left handed bat now to platoon with Jose Tabata because he is really outplaying Travis Snider. Tabata could be an excellent fourth outfielder and sure up the bench when he doesn't play as would his new platoon mate. Byrd being a righty may not be a fit.

Overall, I've come to the conclusion that Byrd is an average player. His average is average, his power is average (HRs in the 20s), his OBP is average, his SLG is average, and his OPS is average. He's a guy who will contribute on a team but not really stand out. Sometimes that is a good thing when you're that bad at a position like the Pirates are, but they really need a guy who can stand out by driving in runs. It doesn't seem that Byrd is that guy but he wouldn't be a bad pickup in my opinion. Slot him third behind Ibañez and Schierholtz but ahead of Alex Rios on my target list. He'll help but not be a huge force with the bat but if the price is really cheap as it should be and everyone else's price is high, I bet NH would be a buyer.

Tomorrow's trade target will be OF Michael Morse

Trade Target: Alfonso Soriano

Alfonso Soriano. One of baseball's big mistakes. The Cubs gave him that big deal and he hasn't lived up to it. Now I think we're heading into the fourth consecutive year of the Cubs trying to dump Soriano on someone else. And hey, the Angels were able to do it with Vernon Wells so is this finally the year it gets done with Alfonso? And could it be to the Pirates?

Well, we all know the book on Soriano. Big power, ok average, awful defense, big strikeouts. His power is undeniable and is evidenced by the two homers he crushed today off of Charlie Morton. On the year, Soriano now has a slash of .256/.280/.425 for an OPS of .705 with a now 12 HRs and 43 RBIs after today. The power is there but the whole package isn't. His career average slash is .272/.321/.502 for an OPS of .823. He's still a hitter. Now the big thing I like to look at is production with runners in scoring position, which is the Pirates biggest weakness. Soriano stacks up with a slash of .253/.289/.470 for an OPS of .759 this year and a slash of .259/.329/.476 and OPS of .805 for his career. So he could pick up the OBP a bit but he's not getting that much better in that department. It's not bad but it's not good either. It could be good for a woeful Pirates team with RISP though. The one thing Soriano has going for him though is he is a second half player. He's a lot like Derrek Lee was when we brought him in. Slow start but huge finish. Last year after the All-Star break he dropped his average about .010 but boosted his OPS from .792 to .853 thanks to a huge boost in his slugging percentage. And after the All-Star breaks the past two years, he has combined to hit 27 HRs in that span. So if the Bucs could tap into that second half surge and get runners on base during that time, they could be in business.

When you're dealing with this type of player there are bound to be some issues and I see a few. First is that you're basically buying him for the power and hoping he keeps his second half surges going because he's not going to get on base a lot and he'll strike out a ton. The Pirates did this with Derrek Lee and struck gold so I guess lightning could strike twice. Second thing I don't like is that monster contract. Sure, the Cubs will basically pay all of it but it's only the seventh year if his eight year deal. If he flops, I don't want him hanging around here for another year. Lastly, I have doubts about what he brings to a locker room. I honestly feel that the guy could be a cancer. He has had multiple opportunities to go to a contender (Giants and Pirates both had deals for him last year) and he declined with his veto power (though he said he waived it for San Fran before the Pence trade). His reasoning? He likes Chicago. He doesn't seem to care about winning. Only getting a paycheck and being selfish. I could be totally off base but if I'm right, do you want that around for a year and a half?

The Pirates will have to answer a lot of questions if they're going to go after Soriano. I wouldn't mind if they brought him in because of his cheap price and power bat and I would trust NH, who has done an unbelievable job this season, that all of those question marks are ok. I've wanted the Pirates to consider Soriano for the past two seasons but the market is stronger this year with guys like Schierholtz and Ibañez looking like better fits. But if the Pirates can't get them, Soriano would be a nice consolation prize.

Tomorrow's trade target will be OF Marlon Byrd

Trade Target: Raul Ibañez

Wow. Isn't it amazing that Raul Ibañez is still playing baseball? He's 41 and still putting up production worthy of being a trade target to an NL team because he is still fielding too. That is impressive. What's more impressive is what he's doing with those stats. By now we all know that right field is a weakness for the Pirates so I'll just jump to those stats.

Like I said, Ibañez has found the fountain of youth. He's been dominating the game at 41 years of age. He was the Yankees playoff hero last year and is now just tearing it up for Seattle. The veteran has himself a slash of .257/.306/.564 for an unbelievable OPS of .870. He also adds 21, yes 21 HRs and 49 RBIs to that impressive list. This is the point if usually compare this year's stats to his career averages but nothing he's doing this season is average. In fact, most of his best years came when he was in his late 30s. He's like a fine wine that only gets better with age. You know what else gets even better? His stats with RISP, the Pirates big problem. You should take a seat before you read this. The 41 year old Ibañez is batting a ridiculous  .339/.393/.661 for an OPS of 1.054 (1. freaking 054!) with RISP. I'll use his career stats now to show that even if he doesn't keep that rate up, he usually hits well with RISP with an average slash of .296/.375/.496 for an OPS of .871. This is just unbelievable. These should be the stats I see for Alex Rios the way he's hyped. But this is Ibañez. You know another good thing about him? Because he's been around, he's a veteran clubhouse guy. I've heard so much about not wanting to disrupt the chemistry of the clubhouse and this guy won't do that god forbid he knocks Brandon Inge off of the roster. He even improves the bench as a successful pinch hitter and knocks a starter back there when he plays. So is there anything wrong with Ibañez whatsoever?

I would say he being a lefty hurts him but he's hitting lefties well this year and I think at this point the Pirates need a platoon partner for Jose Tabata, not Travis Snider. So the only issue for me is his age. Can a 41 year old continue these numbers? I have to think yes considering he's doing all of this at Safeco Park. That's a pitcher's ballpark. So coming to PNC would only help him hitting towards the Clemente Wall! The other things old guys come with is durability and injuries. He hasn't worn down yet so I have to like him still.

I can't say enough good things about Ibañez. His combination of hitting, power, hitting with RISP, defense, clubhouse leadership, and playoff leadership have to make him the absolutely perfect for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Can you think of anyone better? Plus, his salary isn't crazy high and the cost to get a 41 year old won't be that high on the market. So if the Mariners will concede that they're not contenders this year and they give Raul a chance at one more winner, you have to think the Pirates will get involved. I hope that while everyone else is chasing Alex Rios and trying to get Giancarlo Stanton from Miami, the Pirates will just swoop in and grab Raul and Neal Huntington can come out looking fresher than a daisy.

Tomorrow's trade target will be OF Alfonso Soriano

Trade Target: Alex Rios

As you can imagine, a lot of people featured on this list will be outfielders because the only real upgrade area is right field. And that is the case today with Alex Rios being the focus. It's been brought up several times that the Pirates are last in the NL in OPS from right field so it is in need of an upgrade. Jose Tabata has looked good coming off rehab and basically replacing Travis Snider but can really improve the bench if someone else is playing everyday. That someone could be Rios.

Rios is off to another great season for the ChiSox and is pumping out production. His slash is .268/.325/.429 for an OPS of .754 and he has 11 HRs, and 37 RBIs. He's on pace to hit his career numbers of .278/.324/.444, an OPS of .768, and HR/RBI totals of 18 and 79. So, by the looks of things the guy can flat out hit, which is what the Pirates need. He is a stellar fielder as well so there are no worries on that end. And since I'm done with all the good things, there must be a lot of bad things to talk about. And you are right.

I didn't imagine Rios having so many red flags the way he is coveted on the trade market but he really does. First thing is his stats are really average. He hits but it doesn't blow me away by any means. Nate Schierholtz has a much better OPS at .867 and isn't considered the prize of the market in the outfield. Second issue I have is his contract. He makes over $12 million this year and over $13 million next season. That is not a price the Pirates will pay without help from the other club. And if the White Sox are gonna send money, better prospects will go their way when his price is already high. Last and most important problem is his stats with runners in scoring position. They are AWFUL. When RISP, he hits a woeful .167/.291/.212 for a whopping OPS of .503. The Pirates need someone who can drive in runs and Rios doesn't look like he'd help the cause. Granted that he hits .276/.327/.416 for an OPS of .743 in his career, which still isn't dazzling, but he hasn't shown any reason to believe that his woes will change anytime soon. These are some pretty big issues I did not expect to see from the "best outfielder on the market".

Overall, I am not a fan of bringing in Rios at all after reviewing this. His numbers aren't as superstar like as they should be, he has that huge contract and prospect price, and he can't hit with RISP, which is the Pirates biggest issue. I don't see any reason to bring him in at all at this point. You could say a move to the NL could help him but not that dramatically. He'd have to have a huge month of July to win me over but at this point I would be much more comfortable going for a cheaper and most likely better option in right field and let other teams bid for Rios. It's a smart plan and something the Pirates should stick to. So like yesterday, add Alex Rios to my "don't buy list" to go along with Bud Norris.

Tomorrow's trade deadline target will be OF Raul Ibanez.

Note: Jesse Crain who I profiled earlier this week has elbow discomfort and should land on the DL and miss the deadline due to injury so scratch him off of the wish list.

Trade Target: Matt Garza

This may be one of my favorite profiles to write because at this point Matt Garza should be the Pirates #1 target. After the injury to Wandy Rodriguez the Pirates are left with only two battle tested, pennant race experienced pitchers in AJ Burnett and Francisco Liriano. I'm in the camp that is reluctant that Wandy will pitch again this year, even though he very well could beginning in mid August, and I don't want to count on Jeff Locke or Charlie Morton even though they have been stellar so far. I leave out Gerrit Cole because his innings limit will in all likelyhood remove him from September and/or October baseball. So when you look at it this way, starting pitcher just became a need and Garza is a perfect fit.

Garza is not part of the Cubs future and can be had. He has playoff and pennant race experience with the Rays and can be a game changer in a rotation. He started off late this year because of an injury but Garza is still looking stellar with 3-1 with a 3.83 ERA, a K/9 of 8.6, and BB/9 of 2.7. Even better is the fact that these align right with his career numbers. He has a career ERA of 3.84, K/9 of 7.6, and BB/9 of 3.1. He's also never had a season with an ERA above 4.00 or lower than 3.00 (minus his rookie year in 2006). He's madly consistent, so he's not going to stray far from that mean. The best part about Garza is his playoff stats. He's 2-1 in four games started with an ERA of 3.48, a K/9 of 8.4, and BB/9 of 4.1. Still in line with his consistent, strong regular season starts. This is a guy that can help an inexperienced Pirate rotation in the clutch situations. So, drawbacks?

I see two issues for possibly acquiring Garza. First is the fact that he's a rental. Neal Huntington does not like rentals that much but has added them. He added two in 2011 via Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick. But in 2012, he added three players (Wandy, Gaby, Travis Snider) all with more control but also tried for Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence, both rentals. So it's a mixed bag with NH and the thing that really is the issue is the price. If the price is right I don't think NH cares about rental or not. Garza's price could be pretty steep after Ricky Nolasco (the big fish on the market) gets dealt and the losers on him come calling for Garza. I think because Garza is a rental, and if NH acts now, he could get Garza at a cheaper price than after Nolasco gets moved. It'll cost probably one top ten prospect and a top twenty guy but I think we can afford that with our strong farm system. It's a tricky spot but I think NH can navigate it.

My conclusion on Garza is to go get him. Now. He's the only pitcher on the market right now (unless Cliff Lee is really available) that has playoff experience. That's what the Pirates need. A pitcher with that competive feeling that has done it before. And if they wait too long the price will go too far up. With Wandy's injury this has to be a need and Garza is the perfect man to fill it. Heck, I profiled Nate Schierholtz earlier this week and maybe the Pirates could swing both of those guys for two top ten prospects and a top twenty guy? That would be best case scenario. So to reiterate my opinion. Garza needs to be a top target of the Bucs and they need to make a strong effort to get him. I'll leave you with this old saying that has always been true, you can never have enough pitching.

Tomorrow's trade target will be OF Alex Rios

Trade Target: Bud Norris

Next up on the possible Pirates Trade Target list is Houston starting pitcher Bud Norris. When I started thinking of names to feature in this series, I didn't think I'd have a lot of starting pitchers but Wandy Rodriguez's injury sure changed that. Wandy is out until at least mid August after taking a PRP injection. He can't even throw until early August. A realistic target date for him to return is early September but I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't pitch again this season. Now, with this information, I'd be shocked if the Pirates didn't add another starter. The Pirates seem to need another battle tested pitcher to pair with AJ Burnett and Francisco Liriano and Norris could be a quality #3.

So to start this off, lets play a game. Try to guess who Player A and Player B are

Player A has a career ERA of 4.31, K/9 of 5.2, and BB/9 of 3.2

Player B has a career ERA of 4.26, K/9 of 8.4, and BB/9 of 3.7

I'm sure you'd take Player B because of the strikeouts but they are basically the same pitcher other than that right? Well, Player A is Jeff Karstens and Player B is Bud Norris. Keep this in mind as you read the rest of the article.

Norris has had the misfortune of playing for the Astros his entire career. He is probably one of the most underrated starters in the game because of where he plays. People are starting to take notice though since the Astros are selling and he is one of the few bright spots on the team. Bud is the only player I have heard the Pirates are actually scouting (via a report by Nick Cafardo) so he deserves to be featured early. The starting pitching market is taking shape now that Scott Feldman has been traded and Ricky Nolasco and Matt Garza should go any day now so Norris could be moved soon. Norris has a record of 5-7, which isn't surprising since he's an Astro. Now as for his relevant stats, he has a 6.3 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and a solid ERA of 3.35. These solid stats are not normal for Norris. His average ERA in the majors is 4.26 and his BB/9 rate is down from his average of 3.7 per year. But with the better control, he's striking out much less than his average 8.4 K/9 per year. Norris is also under control for next year at a cheap price so you know Neal Huntington will be interested. I have my doubts with Norris however.

My first problem is if he can sustain his stats. I think better control has helped him with his ERA and walk totals but you'd like to see the strikeouts up again. The case reminds me of Wandy last year when we got him from the Astros. Lower ERA and BB/9 rate than usual and lower K/9. That trade worked out so I'll trust that's not a huge issue. Second problem is his shift from an awful team to the best team in baseball. He goes from no pressure to a lot of pressure and that can be hard to handle. But from what I've read, he's uber competitive and he should continue with his numbers. Last issue with Norris is his lack of playoff experience or pennant race experience. If I'm the Pirates, I want a pitcher who has been tested in these situations in order to avoid another collapse. Burnett and Liriano have done it, as well as Wandy, but they need one more and that is something Norris can't provide.

In the grand scheme of things, adding Norris couldn't hurt the team that much since he'd come relatively cheap as opposed to Cliff Lee, Ricky Nolasco, and Matt Garza but he is a risk to flop in the second half. I'm not a fan of bringing in a pitcher who is comparable to Jeff Karstens at this point in their careers for the stretch run as an upgrade. Is he even an upgrade? Would you count on Jeff Karstens to be your #3 starter in the midst of a playoff race or in the playoffs? If you would, you're insane. Would Jeff Karstens even upgrade the rotation? If I'm bringing in a starter, I want one with experience that can carry me in and through the playoffs. Is Norris that guy? Would Karstens be that guy? Only the Pirates can decide that. Time will tell what they think.

Tomorrow's Trade Target will be SP Matt Garza.

Another note, Josh Willingham has been removed from the list of targets due to his latest injury, which will keep him shelved through the deadline.