More On Baldelli

C. Trent at The LOTD interviewed Reds GM Walt Jocketty.  One of the topics was Rocco Baldelli.

Of interest to Pirates fans hoping for a Baldelli signing, the Reds are still interested in signing him.  We should not be premature in thinking the Reds are out of the Baldelli chase because they signed Hairston.

What was originally speculated as Hairston starting the season as the Reds shortstop may also be premature.  According to Jocketty, Gonzalez may be ready in time for the season.  They will know more when he reports to camp.

Jocketty also said he has the feeling Baldelli would like to stay in the AL for "obvious reasons", but he was unsure what Baldelli would do.  Jocketty had spoke with Baldelli's agent earlier today.

BTW Take:

It looks like Baldelli is still on the Reds radar.  The count of teams still interested in Baldelli is back to at least four.  Two of the four are allegedly in the AL, where it is believed Baldelli would like to stay.  

Unless the field narrows more, I doubt Baldelli becomes a Pirate.  All teams interested are offering short term, incentive latent deals.  This will likely work against the Pirates unless the bonus for All-Star appearance is taken into account.  Being a named player, if Baldelli stays healthy, he would be the most logical pick for the Pirates required spot on the All-Star team.  You could call that bonus almost guaranteed money. 

 

Update 9:16 PM

Peter Gammons is reporting Baldelli is close to signing with the Red Sox.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3817433

 

I started a discussion at The Buccos Forum, please join in the discussion.

Hairston Signs With Reds, Letter Fallout, Keeping Up With The Jones

Getting Hairy

Jerry Hairston Jr. has agreed to a one year $2M contract with the Reds.

BTW Take:

The Reds signing Hairston may take them off the market for Baldelli.  Right now it is speculated the Reds will use Hairston as their starting short stop until Gonzalez is ready to return.  If the Pirates are truly interested in Baldelli, his suitors are starting to dwindle.  As long as the Red Sox are still interested, the Pirates chances are slim unless they offer significantly more than Boston.

UPDATE 1:45:

Dejan has a story up at the PBC blog covering the Pirates pursuit of Baldelli tying the Hairston signing in.  Apparently the Baldelli suitors are down to 3.

 

A Fans Letter

The other day Dejan Kovacevic printed a letter he was copied on from a Pirates season ticket holder who canceled his season tickets.   The letter was published in the PBC Blog on the PG site.

Today there was a follow up with links to a few blogs that sounded off on the letter.  There were also many comments from PBC Blog readers on the topic.

BTW Take:

When I read the letter, I totally understood the fans reasoning.  I didn't find anything that would cause so much debate on the post. 

One other Pirates Blog, I will not name the blog because I can't find the post now, lambasted the PG and Dejan for running the letter on the website but not in the daily paper.  I think this was a misguided comment from the blogger since the blogs run on the PG site are not printed in the daily paper, to the best of my knowledge.  Living in Iowa I do not get to see the PG too often.

Inferring that the PG is running a cover up for the Nuttings is plain and simply asinine.  The last time I checked, the Nuttings did not run the Post Gazette.  While I don't always agree with Dejan, I do appreciate his candor and would love to have a chance to sit down and talk baseball with him some day.  Maybe hit him up for a five questions interview.

A comment in the follow up did strike a nerve to me.  The quote goes as follows:

I'm not surprised the blogosphere takes a stance contrary to what that disgruntled season ticket holder said.  They're blind loyalists who need to find some reason, any reason, to follow a team which insults a reasonable person's intelligence on a daily basis.

I am not going to defend other blogger's on this.  I will say I write this blog because I am a fan.  I enjoy Pittsburgh Pirates baseball.  Living in Iowa, I do not get to talk baseball, especially Pirates, with too many other knowledgeable people in the area.  I spend my spare time reading about the Pirates, visiting The Buccos Forum and listening to games on XM radio.

I have been a Pirates fan, a Pittsburgh fan in general since birth.  I was raised in Turtle Creek.  I bleed black and gold.  I do not do this with aspirations of being a journalist, I already have a full time profession.  I do this because I am a fan.

Over the years I have gathered some local contacts that have insight to the team.  I use this as a forum to pass on information I hear or what I am thinking.  I appreciate my contacts, as they are friends who occasionally get me a scoop before the real media lands a story.

I love the Pirates.  Bottom line. 

UPDATE 2:00

I found the link to the other Pirates blog.   Apologies to J  for forgetting who wrote it.

 

Keeping up with Jones

The Dodgers have agreed with Andruw Jones on a restructuring of his contract that will allow Jones to be traded or released and the Dodgers some financial wiggle room for the coming season.

BTW Take:

If Jones is released, he will only cost the team that signs him $400K.  I only mention this because so many Pirates fans seem to think trading for Jones would be a good idea.  I don't think so, I have felt he was overrated even when he was with Atlanta.  Somehow he was considered an all world center fielder.  I never saw that through my eyes.

 

Coonelly Chat:

At 2:00 PM today, Pirates.com is running a chat with rank Coonelly.  You can login/register here.

Salary Cap And More.

Many of the following links are courtesy of http://www.ballbug.com/:

 

Nady Out:

The Yankees are shopping Xavier Nady.  The Yankees have targeted two pitcher, Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.  The Reds however are hesitant to trade either for a player set to be a free agent after 2009.

BTW Take:

The Pirates looked for prospects for Nady, and got a slew of mid-tier prospects and Jose Tabata.  The Yankees are looking for established starting pitching in return.  Don't look for the Pirates to be in the discussion, unless Duke can land Nady or Nady is released from pinstripes.  It is kind of funny how the economics of baseball works.  The Yankees buy, buy, buy while other teams try to build from within.  The only need the Yankees have for a farm system is so they have players to trade that do not make $20M a season.

It is hard for me not to expect MLB to confront the union in 2011 for a salary cap.

 

Segway...

 

Salary Cap:

In the PG's Hot Stove Report Dejan states what seems the obvious.  The Pirates are in favor of a salary cap.  Coonelly is quoted in the article.

BTW Take:

See, told ya so...

 

Losing Chic?:

Squawking Baseball has a nice piece up entitled "Has Losing Become Chic?"

BTW Take:

Interestingly enough, the Pirates are a key portion of the article, as well as the Devil Rays.  They make a good point of having to be bad to be good in smaller markets.  I don't necessarily agree.  After 16 seasons of losing the Pirates should already have started a decade of dominance rather than another rebuilding project.

 

The Buccos Forum:

We have a few good discussion topics started at The Buccos Forum. 

First is a discussion on what Pirate players could be sleepers.  My three players I see as being potential break through players are Walker, Bixler and Salazar.  Drop in and give your opinions.

The second topic is on who the odd man out will be between Moss and Morgan.  There is a poll involved in the discussion, so make sure you vote and defend your decision.  I wish there was a choice for both being the odd man out, but my selection is Morgan.  The only reason I can see him getting a significant amount of playing time would be to showcase him in an eventual trade.  Hopefully he can hit enough to outshine his poor angles he takes on defense.  His speed is enticing, until he runs and slides past the bag.  Also, I see the Pirates making a major play at Baldelli with McCutchen getting an early season call up.  Likely that sends Moss to the bench and Morgan back to Indianapolis. 

BTW Anniversary

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of Bucs Trade Winds.  Happy Anniversary to me I guess.

I really admire Pat, Jake, Charlie and the other Pirates bloggers who can keep up the daily posts.  I know life gets in the way of blogging at times, the fact they post daily without fail is phenomenal.  I really enjoy doing this and I hope you enjoy my oddball opinions and strange humor at times.  Hopefully this year, I can make more time and keep closer to a daily post routine.

 

Onto the lone link of the day.  Apparently Nyger Morgan is delusional.  The Hot Stove report on the PG reports Morgan is a super volunteer attending every voluntary conditioning camp.  He thinks he has a chance to own a job with McCutchen due at any point this year and the persistent rumor of Rocco Baldelli being pursued heavily by the Pirates, as well as many other teams.

BTW Take:

Well, I guess I started my take early calling him delusional.  Morgan will be at best a fifth outfielder on this team.  His speed makes him an excellent pinch runner, but his bat makes him...Nyger. 

The interesting thing is how often Baldelli is getting mentioned with the Pirates.  This is one rumor that I actually think has some substance.  The rumor makes sense for all parties involved.  Baldelli would likely be a  short term contract so he could prove his health and get back to free agency quickly.  The Pirates will offer a short term deal and the opportunity to be traded to a contender come deadline time.  The Pirates need a right handed bat with power.

In the rest of the article: Bootcheck has the inside track to the bullpen.  Freddy is feeling great.  Solomon Torres is opening more baseball academies.  Tabata had a nice winter, with little power.  Check out the article.