Pirates Q&A: Who Gets Traded? What’s the Big Deal About Cruz?
Welcome back to our weekly Pittsburgh Pirates Q&A. Let’s get into your questions.
What are the chances that Bednar, Heaney, Hayes, Frazier and Falter go in trades at deadline? – Fred Kruse
Do you see Heaney, Bednar, Santana, Hayes or Frazier as trade potential? – Derf Usurk
I’ll combine these questions into one since they are similar in nature.
Let me start off by saying I wouldn’t be surprised if anyone not named Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz or Andrew McCutchen is traded. Those are the only three “untouchables” on the Pirates’ roster.
Looking at the specific names mentioned, I think Heaney is among the likeliest players to get dealt. Every contender is looking for starting pitching depth and left-handers come at a premium. The Pirates have traded all the left-handed starters they’ve signed to one year deals – Tyler Anderson, Jose Quintana, Rich Hill, Martín Pérez. Heaney will likely be added to the list.
Frazier’s versatility will be appealing to teams looking for a bench upgrade, and he’s having a decent enough season to where teams will be interested.
The Pirates wouldn’t mind unloading Hayes’ contract, but will a team take on that much salary for a glove-only player? I’m not so sure.
Falter is an interesting one. If I was Ben Cherington, I’d be open to listening despite the years of control remaining.
Bednar’s situation is among the most interesting. He’s making nearly $6 million this year. He’ll make even more next year. I don’t see the Pirates keeping him around at that price, and trading him this summer when his value is at its highest makes sense. He’ll surely want to keep pitching in his hometown, would the Pirates consider an extension given his performance the last few weeks? I think a trade is likelier. Santana will be coveted and is a logical trade candidate, one who could fetch a decent return.
The team has responded to Kelly at the helm. Is there any hope that there will be a sense of urgency about trading assets for MLB ready hitters to take advantage of the pitching the Pirates have. Is there any pressure from Nutting to improve or is it just to jettison salary for a mirage of returns? – Tim Dixon
There should be urgency, for a number of reasons. The first is that the Pirates need to get better offensively. It’s been clear for the last several seasons and it’s even clearer this year. Adding an outfield bat should be a priority. Additionally, Cherington is in an interesting spot. The Pirates are in the position to sell given their record and where they are in the standings, but Cherington knows his seat is as hot as the sun. Only selling would put up the white flag, and it would be tough for him to fight for his job if that’s the case.
The Pirates should be in position to deal from their starting pitching depth to add a MLB piece to the lineup.
Will Bob Nutting put pressure on Cherington to do so? It’s doubtful based on precedent, but Cherington shouldn’t need his owner to tell him to improve the lineup this year and beyond.
Why have the Pirates continually batted Kiner-Falefa 9th in the lineup when he is their best hitter? Wouldn’t he be the perfect leadoff man for Cruz, Reynolds, and McCutchen to bring him in? Also, by batting him 9th he continually gets 1 less at bat. Although I saw today vs the Cubs they moved him up to 6th. – Robert Milar
There are a couple reasons. I also would like to see Kiner-Falefa at the top of the lineup – especially given Oneil Cruz’s struggles of late – but here’s an explanation.
Kiner-Falefa told me how much he enjoys batting ninth. It plays to his strengths (small ball) and he likes being a table-setter for the top of the lineup, even if it means one less at-bat per game.
Though he’s struggled some of late, he’s been playing well this season. There’s the old saying – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
What is the big deal with Cruz? The media makes him out to be a superstar when he only hits .228 and has the worst batting average of all leadoff men in MLB, leads all center fielders in errors, is second in MLB with 87 strikeouts in 215 at bats which is 40% – & only 2 K’s behind the strike out leader. – Robert Milar
Cruz has slumped of late and the strikeouts are a big concern. He simply can’t be striking out in 40% of his plate appearances as he has for the last several weeks.
But Cruz is the only player in the Pirates’ lineup who can change the game with one swing. He’s the only player that instills fear in another team. He hits the ball as hard as anyone and as far as anyone, but he needs to make more consistent contact.
His speed presents another way of wreaking havoc on the opposing team. Cruz’s 29.1 feet per second spring speed is in the 92nd-percentile of all MLB players. His defense is much improved too.
It can be ugly at times, but Cruz’s is the most important the Pirates have on offense. When he’s going right, very few are capable of doing what he can do. Now he needs to do it consistently.
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