Pirates Q&A: How Many Bats Will Get Added? Will Nutting Fight for Salary Cap?
Welcome back to another edition of our Pittsburgh Pirates Q&A. Let’s get to your questions.
What would it be Skenes value realistically if we decide to trade him, who could afford him (prospects wise) in the next 3-4 years and if we keep him, how much his arbitration would it be before he gets either a contract or traded. – Jeroboam De Dios Vargas
Not that the Pirates would even consider trading Skenes right now, but it would take more than just prospects to get him. If I’m Ben Cherington, I would ask for an established MLB hitter, and established MLB starting pitcher and multiple prospects. It would have to be an unprecedented package.
Let’s just use the Dodgers as an example. I’d ask for Andy Pages, Emmet Sheehan, Jose De Paula (No. 13 on MLB Pipeline Top 100), either Zyhir Hope (No. 20) or Eduardo Quintero (No. 34) and another prospect on their top 30 list.
Not many teams would have what it would take to land Skenes right now. But given that he will eventually break an arbitration record for a starting pitcher, the Pirates will sooner or later entertain the idea of trading him for a substantial package.
Will Nutting fight for a salary cap, or will he be silent? – George Getlak
He has to fight for something. I’m still skeptical a salary cap gets added, and it certainly won’t without a salary floor. But the structure of the league is broken. In no other sport can only the big markets afford the star players so easily. Imagine a world where Ben Roethlisberger left after his rookie contract or Sidney Crosby jumped ship to join the New York Rangers.
Whether it’s a salary cap, increased revenue sharing or something else, Nutting has to let his voice be heard and try to level the playing field to some degree.
Why won’t Fans organize and boycott Pirates games? Stop going to games without a headsack, Stop buying merch., Eat before/after Game (stop buying food/beverage at game), boycott sponsors, Picket outside PNC gameday? Anything else is giving Bob the Billionaire a pat on the back to keep milking the city, fans, and team. Pirate Fans need to become THE Story of Baseball in Pittsburgh. Or remain Losers. – Jim McGowan
There are still fans who support the Pirates out of their love for the team. People will always enjoy going to PNC Park to watch a game and it’s impossible for some to shed their allegiance to the team they’ve always rooted for.
I for one will never tell a fan what to do. If they want to continue to support the team, they have that right. If they want to boycott out of understandable frustration, that’s fine too. Everybody should get to do what he or she chooses.
How realistic is it that the Bucs will get two current MLB players that will contribute to the offense? – Tim Parrish
Very realistic, Tim. I’m not saying the bats are going to be Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Tucker. Even with ESPN’s report that the Pirates are in on Schwarber, I don’t see them paying him what it will take or him choosing to sign with Pittsburgh over a team with a better situation.
But the early indications of aggressiveness are at the very least encouraging. I think the Pirates will walk away with at minimum two bats this offseason wither via free agency or trade. At least one of those, I feel, will be a legitimate impact addition.
With Paul Skenes, a solid rotation and Konnor Griffin on the doorstep, the Pirates have a real chance to be contenders soon. But it will take at least a couple solid bats — whether they come in the outfield, at third base or wherever they can add the most production.
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