MVN - Most Valuable Network

Pittsburgh Pirates Roundtable - 5/12/2008

Question #1:
Which Pirates will be traded by the end of 2008? What kind of return will the team receive in these deals?

Mike from Hyzdu Headquarters

I think there is a rather sizable group of players that the team would be open to moving via trade. Among the first to be traded would be Damaso Marte. The rest that will likely be moved are Bay, LaRoche, and Grabow. I really think that they may hang on to Nady and instead try to move LaRoche instead. What can we expect to get for this collection of talent? Well a lot of that depends on how we may package these guys together or even when we would trade them. I think that we would be targeting perhaps one player who is a AAA guy, who could step in right away. We would need some more depth to go with the movement of McCutchen and others from AAA. As for the rest, I would want guys from AA and below. I would love to swing a deal like the Indians did when they got Grady Sizemore. It will be tough to get a bunch of top prospects like that. Even the Yankees and Red Sox did not want to part with guys like that for Johan Santana. If we have any thoughts of being, competitive we need to develop another wave after McCutchen and Co. and presumably before this year’s draft class.

Jesse from Raise the Jolly Roger!

Sadly, Xavier Nady. I will be crying too, but we will most likely get a starting pitcher or a shortstop/third basemen. I would like it to be Jason Bay, and maybe it will, but I think it will be X-man.

Andy Smith from Bugs and Cranks

I’m not sure that much has changed on this front in the first five weeks of the season. With Andrew McCutchen and Steve Pearce waiting at AAA, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady both seem like strong candidates to be moved by the end of the season. I might also toss Adam LaRoche in the mix too, as any rebuilding process will extend beyond the prime years of his career as well.

Right now, Neal Huntington’s decision to hold on to Bay and Nady into the season and hope their performance drives up the price has looked sound. With Nady challenging for the NL lead in RBIs and Bay returning to form as an on-base machine with some pop, I would hope for a nice collection of close to ready prospect for these two. Sadly, despite years of trying to build up pitching depth (thanks Dave Littlefield), the team is woefully short in that area, so any trade will likely address that weakness.

Dave from Bucs Trade Winds

I am going to go against the grain here. It seems that everyone is calling for Nady and Bay to be traded, but the one player I see being traded before the end of the season is Adam LaRoche. The surprise rise through the system last season of Steve Pearce makes LaRoche most expendable. Add to that the Pirates and LaRoche reportedly being far apart in their contract discussions, LaRoche may be the first trade on the blocks. It would be foolish for the Pirates to hold onto him beyond the end of this season, especially if he starts another tear once his swing gets in groove, a contender could see him as huge addition. If a deal can be made before the trade deadline, the Pirates would likely get more in return for LaRoche’s left handed bat, especially in prospect status, since LaRoche should be raking by then.

What will the Pirates look for in return in any trade? Young talent to build the farm, starting pitching and any position player would be the likely targeted haul.

Matt Bandi from Pittsburgh Lumber Co

Xavier Nady and Jason Bay are virtual locks to go before the end of the season. Outfield is one of the few positions in which the Pirates are somewhat deep, and both Bay and Nady have gotten off to strong starts. There is a very good chance that Nate McLouth, Andrew McCutchen and Steve Pearce will be the starting outfield come September. The Pirates have many needs to fill in return. They are very thin at starting pitcher, middle infield and first base. Look for management to acquire as many young arms as possible, as the team’s pitching depth is dreadful.

Question #2:
Will any current players sign multi-year contracts before spring 2009? If so, which ones?

Mike from Hyzdu Headquarters

It seems that management has already targeted a great deal of players, and signed a good many of them, that they want for the long term. As far as any future players that may sign new deals there are very few that I see them approaching. I would think that they would look at Nate McLouth, if he has success the rest of the way, and perhaps try to buy out his arbitration. Ryan Doumit may be discussed as well as he has shown that when healthy he is an excellent player. They may look to extend the Matt Capps contract, as the one he recently signed seemed to be a contract that was laying the groundwork for another. The only other player that they may look at would be Paul Maholm, as he is one of the few pitchers who do not have any type of baggage (possible injuries, loss of velocity, or a shaky track record). To put them in order of likeliness: 1. McLouth, 2. Maholm, 3. Doumit, 4. Capps

Jesse from Raise the Jolly Roger!

Hopefully Paul Maholm, Ryan Doumit, Gorzo, and Zack Duke. I would love to lock up all of the young starters (Maholm, Gorzo, Duke, and Snell). I think we will get Doumit and Maholm locked up for a while for sure.

Andy Smith from Bugs and Cranks

With Ian Snell, Matt Capps and Freddy Sanchez all signed, the new regime has shown a willingness to lock up players they like through their arbitration years. If Nate McLouth keeps up his current success, I would have to think the team would explore gaining a level of cost certainty with him as well. If Tom Gorzelanny bounces back from his slow start, it’s possible he could be signed, as might LaRoche or Nady, assuming they both aren’t traded.

Dave from Bucs Trade Winds

I think the Pirates may try to sign Nady to a deal that will go beyond 2009, his ability to play outfield or first will make him more enticing of the position players arbitration eligible. I can see Grabow being approached and signing before camp opens. The other signing will be a finalized long term deal for Capps. You may think I am forgetting Gorzy, I am not sure they would offer him a deal until after 2009 waiting to see if he is another in a long line of Pirates phenom pitchers that flare out after one season.

Matt Bandi from Pittsburgh Lumber Co

I would expect management to focus any multi-year offers on players early in their service time clocks. I don’t see long-term deals being made with anyone eligible for free agency in the next two years, as the team will concentrate on getting younger. That leaves players like Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit as obvious possibilities. I wouldn’t expect a deal with Doumit, as the Pirates must still be wary of his past injury issues. If McLouth keeps hitting the way he has to this point, management will aggressively pursue a contract extension with him. It is also possible that the team will engage in talks with Paul Maholm, assuming he develops some consistency as the season progresses. Don’t expect a deal with Tom Gorzelanny, as he is as risky as a pitcher could be at this point.

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