The Pirates are an organization that is all about value. This off-season has been so Pirates.
Pedro Alvarez projected to earn $8 million, they sign John Jaso who may hit 20 less homers but will get on base more for half of what they would have paid Alvarez.
They get out of Charlie Morton’s contract (owed $17.5 million next two seasons) by trading him to Philadelphia and sign Ryan Vogelsong for $2 million per season.
As Major League Baseball teams continue to roll in more money than they ever imagined with increased revenue throughout and monster TV deals, what this off-season proved is the Pirates haven’t adapted to how the market is changing.
A serviceable No. 3 starter now costs 5 years, $70-$80 million. The Royals signing Ian Kennedy to a 5 year, $70 million contract and the Cardinals signing of Mike Leake to a 5 year, $80 million contract continue to show how the market has evolved. It’s not just the big market teams that are dishing out these contracts.
For the most part the Kennedy, Leake contracts have been looked at as favorable from industry insiders.
It might look like crazy money but it’s not when it comes to the type of money almost every team is rolling in on a year-to-year basis.
The Pirates are not bringing in the type of massive money they should be after badly miscalculating the television movement in accepting a below market TV contract with Root Sports in 2010 that was worth $178 million over 10 years. It was a major miscalculation by the organization. Pirate insiders put the blame on Frank Coonelly for this one.
Many teams in markets similar to the Pirates cashed in a few years after the Pirates inked their below market deal. The Rangers reached a $3 billion, 20-year deal in 2012 that began in 2015, the Padres have a $50 million a year contract over 20 years.
For the Pirates, it’s a stretch to even imagine them having the stomach to offer Andrew McCutchen, who will be a $200+ million dollar player, a five year, $90 million type contract that is going to marginal pitchers these days.
Even with the Pirates missing out on the golden age of tv money, the Pirates can afford to give McCutchen $200 million in three years if they wanted, especially considering they are bound to finally get a lucrative TV deal by 2020+ that could easily pay for McCutchen’s contract.
However, that’s not how the Pirates operate.
Everything is about value.
The better value will be locking up Gregory Polanco, moving Starling Marte to center, and trading McCutchen in two years as he hits his 30’s.
Neal Huntington is the ‘best value’ General Manager out there. It would be fun to see him operate with a Rangers type payroll but he’s perfect for what ownership wants (financially) as he’s always thinking years ahead.
When the Pirates are ready to move on from McCutchen for financial reasons, they’ll have top prospect Austin Meadows ready to replace him.
As we’re talking about value, Huntington has set the Pirates up well when they likely lose Francisco Cervelli next season.
Citing a source, Travis Sawchik reported this week the type of deal it would take to sign Cervelli is three years, $39 million.
The agent is surely floating those numbers out there and that type of deal isn’t going to happen from Pittsburgh’s end.
Again it comes down to value for them.
The Pirates can easily afford Cervelli and it’s likely not what fans want to hear but the better value is going with Elias Diaz and Chris Stewart in 2017 with 1st round pick Reese McGuire likely ready for the full-time gig by 2018.
This quote from Huntington to Sawchik say’s it all.
“We are also fortunate to have two quality catching prospects [Diaz, McGuire] that are near major league ready in case we are not able to reach common financial ground.”
Three straight winning seasons shouldn’t have fans accepting the Pirates way. They’re bound to hit a point where the ‘Pirates way’ leads to them staying competitive but unable to keep up with the Cubs or Cardinals.
It could happen as early as 2016.
Photo: David Hague
I’m still trying to figure out how making smart moves based on getting good value is considered bad but making unwise moves that have very little chance of producing good value is considered awesome?
It’s not about being able to afford someone. It’s about who you CAN’T pay if you give out a dumb contract that you have to eat. Catchers do not age well in their 30s, and Cervelli has a long injury history. Putting $40 mil towards him just isn’t smart asset management.
For the record, the Pirates would be dumb to match what Cutch would get on the open market. His game, based on speed, will most likely decline less than halfway into his deal and not be worth anything near it. Call it cheap, or “all about value,” but it’d be the smart thing to do letting him walk if he wants market value. Actually trading him a year prior would be smarter.
Trading him is exactly what they should do. I’m not even sure I want him at sub market value. The higher value is the Kings ransom you get back to continue to build with.
Sad day when it happens, but it’s absolutely the right move.
O did I forget to include goebbeet or whoever the hell it was you were freaking out about stanch? Lol. Just my thought 2 months before opening day
Freaking out? I don’t freak out about baseball. It’s a joke. Their star acquisition!
I agree you can’t defend the offseason. However Alvarez can’t even get a deal on clearance. But cheap pirates should have handed him 8 mill. Definitely question marks in rotation at 1b and 2b. It will b interesting spring training to see if they give Hansen a shot. Jaso/Morris will be lack of power, but less strike outs high obp not ideal, but not gonna write off the possibility it works. Rotation glaring weakness waiting for glasnow/taillon/Holmes/kingham. Just need 1 to be great.
I actually like what they did at first base. Jaso is a very good hitter against right handles. My issue is the 4-5 spots in the rotation. You could do worse than Vogelsong and Locke, but not much worse. Considering his age and secondary numbers, I’m not enthused about Vogelsong as a “reclamation project.” Locke has been with Searage long enough, no miracle happening here. Also understand Glasnow will be up mid season but he’s no guarantee and that still leaves Locke or Vogelsong as the #5, and that’s assuming the rotation stays healthy! Also not banking on Taillon being… Read more »
100% with you on Latos.
Same argument that you made two years ago. Don’t need an outfielder! Polanco is there! Two years later and he still hasn’t turned into what you claimed him to be then. You’re in a mode where you’re supposed to be a perennial contender. You make your own luck. And if one of them ends up being great, oh no! How do we deal with such a problem!
I cant defend this offseason until they fill some major holes, but poorly written articles that, not only spew the same incoherent yinzer blog message, but repeats the same statement countless times as if trying to fill a word count minimum (see: “all about value for Pirates”) is not going to sway me either way.
People still read the articles here?! Come on.
I read them for the same reason I read Sams comments: makes me grateful for what I have.
They can’t keep up with the dodgers or Giants spending either, but someone put up better records. The team that spends the least NEVER wins a WS and the team that spend the most have won once this decade, making the money aspect a non factor…. half the time the players eating up the cap are garbage players getting paid for past performance… the 2 guys that knocked the pirates out the last 2 seasons made what? a combine 11 mill per? bumbgarner was maybe at 7 mill and arrietta maybe 4 mill
I think you need a mix of both. Going to be nearly impossible to draft and develop a team of studs at every position. But having a good system of developing players then adding 5-7 high costs veterans on top of a team can really put them over the top.
I remember a month ago when Benny said “it’s only December 22!!” Well…
I have a feeling the Pirates missed peak cable.
Who watches baseball on TV? I’ve seen like 3 games in a decade. I can see the ballparks doing well, but those just feel like outside summer bars.
But theres a lot of pressure of cable fees nowadays and I just don’t see current deals going any higher.
Go Nuttings wallet