1 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Harby. 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 2: Noah Hiles is going to talk about the Pittsburgh Pirates 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 2: right now in their offseason to do lists. You can 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 2: check out those work in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette where 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 2: he's their sports enterprise reporter, and also the brand Spank 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 2: and New Bucko Territory which is out there and he's 7 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 2: one of the three Superstar hosts, so make sure you 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 2: check out that show. QR code side of your screen. Note, 9 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: great to have you on, man. You want to lay 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 2: out the list for us of what you think the 11 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: Pirates should accomplish this offseason. 12 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I'd be happy to and thanks for always having 13 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 3: me on. I think the list can really be boiled 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 3: down to one item. Back up your talk. The last 15 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 3: couple of weeks, we've heard more about how the Pirates 16 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 3: intend to try hard than we've heard them say things 17 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 3: of that matter in the last three years. So now 18 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 3: it's time to do it. That's probably bullepoint number one 19 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 3: is just yeah, back up the talk. You talked about 20 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 3: how you want to spend You talked about how you 21 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 3: want to ban in a bring in a big name. 22 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 3: We'll go do it. You're attached to all of these 23 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 3: sexy free agents, right, Kyle Schwarber, jt Real, Muto, Ryan O'Hearn, 24 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 3: Hore Polonco, a couple of guys coming over from Japan. 25 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 3: Land one of them, and land one of them early 26 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 3: enough where you can continue to build. I think that's 27 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 3: the first step. Point Number two in the checklist is 28 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 3: nail the Mitch Keller trade. We've been hearing for a 29 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 3: year now about how they intend to trade this guy. 30 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 3: The rumors started last year at the Winter Meetings. They 31 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 3: flirted with the idea of moving him at the deadline. 32 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 3: It didn't make sense. I intend or I expect him 33 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 3: to be moved sometime this offseason. I think the Winter 34 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 3: Meetings make a lot of sense. And when they make 35 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 3: that move, they have to get it right. It cannot 36 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 3: be something underwhelming. It can't be a project. It has 37 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 3: to be a return better than their big return last year, 38 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 3: which was Spencer Horowitz, who for all intentsive purposes, was 39 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 3: the best hitter on their team. But they need a 40 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 3: little bit more for Mitch Keller. If you're gonna give 41 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 3: away a Mitch Keller, you've got to get Keller value 42 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 3: in return. This guy is a valuable piece to this team. 43 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 3: I think a valuable piece of the rotation, which is 44 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 3: the team's greatest strength. If you're going to part ways 45 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 3: with them, you need to make it a worthwhile move. 46 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 3: Third thing is just keep going just because you might 47 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: sign one free agent. Let's say they do. Let's say 48 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 3: they sign an O'Hearn or a Polanco, and let's say 49 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 3: they get the Keller trade, right, they get a pre 50 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 3: r player of equal value, someone with years of control, 51 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 3: someone who's also a little proven. That is not enough. 52 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 3: That plus Connor Griffin is still not enough. You need 53 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 3: to keep going. You need to keep spending. You need 54 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 3: to keep building around this pitching staff if you have 55 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 3: any chance of being competitive, because that is what teams 56 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 3: who are seriously trying to compete do, and that's what 57 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 3: the pirates claim they're trying to do. They're trying to 58 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 3: do things different, is what they say. They're trying to 59 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: be competitive. Back up all that talk. Let's see it happen, 60 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 3: all right, No, let's just start with the first one. 61 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: Are they really going to do this? Because we've seen it, right, 62 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: And listen, we make fun of them all the time 63 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: because they don't spend, and we get it. But they oh, 64 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: we were in on Josh Naylor. We were just fifteen 65 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: million dollars below what Josh Naylor got. So we tried, fans, 66 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: is this going to be like? We also made fun 67 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: of the Red Sox because the Red Sox are always 68 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: We were in it, guys, We were in it. So 69 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: where the Pirate's going to give the old We were 70 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: in it? But oh no, he got twenty million dollars more. 71 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: Because if I'm the Pirates, I know I have to overpay. 72 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: So if I'm Bob Nutting and I'm Ben Cherrington, I 73 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: got to overpay. They know this going in. Will they 74 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: actually do it? Or are they just going to do 75 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: the old college try. We tried, guys, but oh come 76 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: watch us play because we have Paul Skans and Paul Skiens. 77 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 3: They better hope they found a way to get it done. 78 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: I think of last year's Pirate Fest, which is a 79 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 3: free festival for all the fans to come down to 80 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 3: the Convention Center in downtown right before spring training starts. 81 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 3: Last year was a total debacle for the organization. In 82 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 3: addition to selling expired soda and spelling Andrew Mcutchen's wrong 83 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 3: on a name sheet right in front of where he 84 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 3: was signing autographs. They do this annual Q and A 85 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 3: with friend or with fans of the team, and they 86 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 3: bring up the manager, they bring up the team president 87 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 3: and the GM to answer questions, and that session was 88 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 3: not a good time for anyone on stage. Fans were 89 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: really upset. And if they do all of this talking 90 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 3: this offseason and show up to Pirate Fest twenty twenty 91 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 3: six without the likes of a Jorge Polanco, a Ryan O'Hearn, 92 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 3: a Kyle Schwarber or someone of that caliber in a 93 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 3: Pirates jersey ready to sign autographs or fans, it's going 94 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 3: to be an absolute disaster. This. This front office or 95 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 3: whoever has been expressing their desires to do things differently 96 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 3: and make a big splash. They've written a lot of 97 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 3: big checks. Well not technically yet, but hopefully these checks 98 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 3: can be cashed because if this is just all talk, 99 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 3: which history shows it's it is all talk until they 100 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 3: actually do something. If this this ends up just being 101 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: a whole bunch of words and nothing else, it is 102 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 3: going to be a nightmare of not only just Pirate Fests, 103 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 3: but just a nightmare of a season because the SPAN 104 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 3: base is fed up. They had three sellouts last year, 105 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 3: all three games resulted in sell the team chance. You 106 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 3: can expect a lot more of those chants if they 107 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 3: sit on their hands and don't get any big deals 108 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:21,799 Speaker 3: done this offseason. 109 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 4: No, not to pile on, but I'm going to you 110 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 4: forgot about the bricks and covering up the one of 111 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 4: the greatest pirates of all times wall in Roberto Clemente 112 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 4: because they wanted to sell some vodka sodas don't know 113 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 4: something that agent drinks. 114 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm in therapy because I want to forget those 115 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 3: things craps. So thanks for bringing that up. I'm gonna 116 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 3: have to add a couple hundred dollars onto my therapist 117 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: bill now. But yeah, I mean that's it. And when 118 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 3: all of those things happen, when the on field product 119 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 3: takes a step back after a seventy six weeks win season, 120 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 3: it still takes a step back. When you have off 121 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 3: field issues like they did with the ricks with surfside, 122 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 3: with a whole bunch of other things that went along 123 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: with it, and everyone's frustrated, including the players. You have 124 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 3: to do something different. It's not gonna be different personnel 125 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 3: wise as far as the people running the show. The 126 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: manager who got promoted after Shelton was fired in early May. 127 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 3: He got extended and I think he's the right guy 128 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 3: for the job. The general manager's back, the team president's back, 129 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 3: and the owner is still the same guy. So if 130 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 3: you're not going to change the people running the show, 131 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 3: you have to change the way things are being ran. 132 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 3: And yeah, the pressure is on. I can't imagine how 133 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 3: bad things are going to get if things remain the 134 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 3: same heading into opening day next year. 135 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 4: All right, well, the second point on your list was 136 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 4: trade Mitch Keller, and you also said don't screw it up. 137 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 4: So as Pirates fans, people are going to roast me 138 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 4: because they're like, well that was a different regime. But 139 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 4: I bring up Garret Cole, Tyler Glass, now, Shane Mosse, 140 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 4: Jamison Tyne. What did they ever get from that that 141 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 4: made them a winning team? And yes, it's different regime, 142 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 4: I get that, but it's the same ownership. And when 143 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 4: you sell a piece like Mitch Keller, fans need to 144 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 4: understand the ownership has to approve that. They're not just like, oh, 145 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 4: we traded Mitch Keller, Okay, great, I hope we got 146 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 4: something that has to be approved by the Bob Nutting. 147 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 4: So how do they not screw this up, because, in 148 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 4: my opinion, with this pitching staff, I don't think the 149 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 4: Pirates are as far as the history of the Pirates 150 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 4: will tell you they are. 151 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 3: I don't think so either. I don't think that they're 152 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 3: incredibly far away. I think there are a couple of 153 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 3: bats away from being I don't know, maybe something similar 154 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 3: to what the Reds were this past season, which for 155 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 3: a lot of fan bases you would laugh at that 156 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,559 Speaker 3: and say, well, that's not good enough. Well, in Pittsburgh, 157 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 3: five hundred is good enough for some fans because it's 158 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 3: only happened four times in the last thirty plus years. 159 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 3: So and I know the bar is much higher when 160 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 3: you have Paul Schemes on your roster. But you've got 161 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 3: to take some steps forward, and yes, nailing the Keller 162 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: trade is a huge piece to this. You have to 163 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 3: bring in I think either a veteran hit or equivalent 164 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 3: to Mitch Keller, someone who's gonna be a two to 165 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 3: three win player, someone who's gonna play every day, someone 166 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 3: who might not be the centerpiece of your lineup, but 167 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 3: someone who can certainly lengthen that lineup and just be 168 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: an abovely gaverage hitter. Because they only had one of 169 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 3: them all of last year. Or you go the other 170 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 3: route and you try to get two young, controllable pieces. 171 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 3: Obviously that's a bigger gamble. I don't know what kind 172 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 3: of value Mitch Keller has for that type of trade return. 173 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 3: And you just look at their history of returns under Charrington, 174 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 3: they have not won a lot of trades, especially in 175 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 3: trades that bring back young prospect hitters. So if you're 176 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 3: gonna go and try to acquire a guy who's major 177 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 3: League ready but isn't proven, you better be darn sure 178 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 3: these guys are not only ready to play, but play 179 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 3: a lot. Be an everyday starter, because this lineup needs 180 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,719 Speaker 3: to have at least three to four new faces. As 181 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 3: far as everyday contributors are concerned, I would. 182 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 4: Say, but you watch the Pirates more than I do. 183 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 4: Like you make it to eighty three wins. That's what 184 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 4: the Reds got to to get into the playoffs this year. 185 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 4: If you make it to eighty three wins and you 186 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 4: have Jerry Jones and you have Paul Skeins pitching two 187 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 4: of your games in a five game series, you saw 188 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 4: what Trek Scoobel's done. So if they trade Mitch Keller 189 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 4: for two possible future prospects. Isn't that a fail to 190 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 4: the fact that you're gonna lose Paul Skeens in two 191 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 4: years anyway? 192 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 3: Potentially, I mean, it depends on what type of prospects 193 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 3: you're getting. If you're getting someone like not to say 194 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 3: that this is gonna be the exact thing, but you 195 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 3: look at a team like Baltimore per se and you 196 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 3: get a guy like Kobe Mayo who didn't have a 197 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 3: great rookie year but could come in and has that 198 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 3: upside potential. If you could get two players like that 199 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 3: for Mitch Keller, then yes, that's I think that that's 200 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 3: worth the gamble because you could potentially get guys who 201 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 3: can a impact your team now and be help you 202 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 3: further down the line. Now, again, I think the safer 203 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 3: route to travel is by just getting a one for one, 204 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 3: get your Mitch Keller hitter equivalent, and take that win. 205 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: Because you're already getting an upgrade at shortstop with Connor Griffin, 206 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 3: and apparently you're going to spend some money on some 207 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: free agents. So if you can just sign two free agents, 208 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 3: get a position player for Keller, and then you up 209 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 3: you promote Connor Griffin. That's almost half a new lineup 210 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 3: right there, and there's still more work to be done, 211 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 3: but I think that's the route to go. And you 212 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 3: talk about the pitching, I mean, yes, Keller is going 213 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 3: to be their number three, but you got to remember 214 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 3: you got Bubba Chandler here, who I think is poised 215 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 3: to contend for a Rookie of the Year award this 216 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 3: upcoming season, and you've got some other young arms who 217 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 3: can cover a lot of innings as well. Keller is 218 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 3: a luxury on this team. He's going to be their 219 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 3: highest paid player, and if he sticks around, there's a 220 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,199 Speaker 3: chance that he might be their number four in the rotation. 221 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 3: So it makes sense to move them. But if you're 222 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 3: gonna move them, you've got to get it right. 223 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 5: Okay when you say keep going, Noah, what are you 224 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 5: talking about, Because you know McNeil has been possibly linked 225 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 5: in Brandon Lau and j Trio Muto and Kyle Kyle 226 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 5: Schwarper's not going to the Pirates unless you grossly over Pam. 227 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 1: Okay, I mean, yeah, cool, sounds like a cool story. 228 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: JT probably not going there either. Most veteran guys aren't 229 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: going to go to the pirates because they don't see it. 230 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:26,599 Speaker 1: So you're gonna have to do it in trades. And 231 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: I get Connor Griffin could be a special player, but 232 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: and Mitch Keller can get you. You know, if you're 233 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: saying Kobe Mayo, I mean, okay, but he hasn't proven 234 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: anything right, So what can they What else do they 235 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: have to trade to keep going? Because once you trade 236 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: Mitch Keller, then you're gonna have to trade. If you 237 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: want veteran guys and you're Ben Charrington, you're Bob Nutting 238 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: and you're the Pirates organization, you're gonna have to trade 239 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: from your surplus, not just Mitch Keller. 240 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 5: Do you have the. 241 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: Prospects to go out and trade, because more than likely 242 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: Bob Nutting is not gonna want to pay the price 243 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: it's gonna take to get a JT. 244 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 5: Realmuto or someone. 245 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: Like that, because they want to go somewhere with their 246 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: guaranteed they're gonna have a shot in the are not 247 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 1: a guarantee. 248 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 3: I totally agree. And when I say keep going, I 249 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 3: mean they've got to keep going in a direction that 250 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 3: they haven't gone before. I mean it's going to require 251 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 3: more than just one multi year deal. Which hasn't happened 252 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 3: in Pittsburgh. Said, you know, since I was a senior 253 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 3: in college like seven years ago, so it's been quite 254 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 3: some time. You need to just sign deals that to 255 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 3: the rest of the baseball world might not seem remarkable, 256 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 3: but finding guys who could just be a serviceable player 257 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 3: on half the league's rosters. The Pirates have been lacking 258 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 3: those guys. You need some veteran presences. You need just 259 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 3: some steady, consistent it that's one through nine in the order. 260 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 3: You need guys who know how to win baseball games. So, yeah, 261 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 3: you might only be signing one marquee free agent if that. 262 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 3: But when I say keep going, it's adding the pieces 263 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 3: around them, the guys who've been missing, Guys who are 264 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 3: well within their price range. Even with this this low 265 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 3: budget that they have. I mean, if they move Keller, 266 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 3: they're gonna have hardly any money committed to their payroll. 267 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 3: Next year, They're gonna have to spend money just to 268 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 3: get back to that ninety million dollar mark that they 269 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: were last year on opening Day. So signing a few 270 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 3: two year, twenty million dollar deals shouldn't be out of 271 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 3: the realm of possibility. Maybe trading a couple of other prospects. 272 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 3: They have some really high ranked guys who are years 273 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 3: and years away from reaching the major league level. If 274 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 3: you're Ben Charrington, you have to ask yourself why am 275 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 3: I hanging onto these guys if I won't even be 276 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 3: able to likely enjoy their talents, Because if they have 277 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 3: another losing season, he's probably gone. So maybe you explore 278 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 3: the idea of trading a Seth Fernandez and Edward Florentino, 279 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 3: or even some lower rank guys and Esmerlin Valdez and 280 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 3: Antoine Kelly. They have a ton of great young pitchers 281 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 3: that I anticipate being top one hundred prospects one day. 282 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 3: Trade them early, get something in return for him. Again, 283 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 3: just find a way to get seven league average hitters 284 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 3: in this lineup, and this team can probably contend for 285 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 3: a wildcard spot. 286 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 4: Wait no, the reason he can't get rid of those 287 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 4: guys is because somebody told Bob a long time ago, 288 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 4: prospects are capital and we do not trade those. So 289 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 4: Ben Jerrington season writing on the wall, He's like, they're 290 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 4: never getting rid of the owner. They're gonna get rid 291 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 4: of me, and other gms get the blessing to get 292 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 4: rid of their prospects, but their biggest prospect has he 293 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 4: been turned into a salesman. Also, Paul Skeens trying to 294 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 4: recruit guys to come to Pittsburgh. Is that a team ploy? 295 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 4: Is that a Paul Skeens is so focused and utterly 296 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 4: just focused on being a pirate and winning as a 297 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 4: pirate that he wants to do that or is this 298 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 4: just is it hogwash? 299 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 3: I think it's the latter, not hogwash. I think Paul 300 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 3: Skeens is just a guy who wants to win. I 301 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 3: think he is very cognizant of how hard it will 302 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 3: be to win here in Pittsburgh. I think he knows 303 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 3: he only has a few more years left to try 304 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 3: to win in Pittsburgh, and he rather than sitting here 305 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 3: and pouting and being upset about the situation he's in, 306 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 3: he says, you know what, screw it, I'm going to 307 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 3: try to recruit some people to come here and we 308 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 3: can be legends, we can be heroes. I mean, the 309 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 3: twenty thirteen Wildcard team, a team that ultimately ended up 310 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 3: winning just three playoff games, gets talked about in the 311 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 3: same light that like Steelers Super Bowl teams and Penguin 312 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 3: Stanley Cup teams get talked about in this town. That's 313 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 3: how starved for baseball success Pittsburgh is. So if they 314 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 3: could just bring people here, who knows what will happen. 315 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 3: It's just been an issue of not being able to 316 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 3: bring anyone here for reasons that we're aware of. So 317 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 3: Paul Skins, yeah, he's going to do his part for 318 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 3: as long as he's here, because Paul Skeins is going 319 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 3: to try to win on any team in any environment 320 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 3: that he's placed him, because that's just who he is. 321 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: Okay, I just have one question before can they do it? 322 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: And will they do it? I keep going back to 323 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: this no because I just don't. You got to go 324 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: off history of people, right, Yeah, will they so give 325 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: me yes or no? Will they actually go all in 326 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: and do what they need to do to make this 327 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: team competitive? And will they make the fans happy? Because 328 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: last year I remember Opening Day people were like Bob 329 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: Nutting walk through the crowd and they were like sell 330 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: the team in his face and he like ran away. 331 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: So he knows what's at stake. Sherrington knows what's at stake. 332 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: Everyone knows what's his stake. The Pirates fans are pissed. 333 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: Off and good for them, but will they actually do 334 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: what they need to do? 335 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 3: Probably not. I mean again, like, so. 336 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: Well, no, We're having this whole conversation and I'm just like, 337 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: all this sounds great, all this sounds wonderful, but at 338 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: the end of the day, he has to actually do 339 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: what he wants he says, right. 340 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 3: And I'm sure you know, people from the pirates are 341 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 3: going to hear this conversation like they've heard all the 342 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 3: other conversation. It's it's going to piss him off. And 343 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 3: I'll just say what I've always said, if it pisses 344 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 3: you off, through something to change it. Prove everyone wrong, 345 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 3: prove everyone wrong. No one believes that anything's going to 346 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 3: be any different, and they've earned that stigma. They've earned 347 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 3: the situation that they're in where no one will ever 348 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 3: believe them until something actually gets done. The way to 349 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 3: fix that is by actually doing something. If they were 350 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 3: to go out and sign a Schwarber, which I know 351 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 3: is not going to happen, or someone may be a 352 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 3: tear beneath him. People are so desperate to buy in 353 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 3: on this team. They would sell more tickets, they would 354 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 3: have a more bought in fan base, and I think 355 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 3: it would also give a huge spark to the players 356 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 3: in that clubhouse who have gone on record saying that 357 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,959 Speaker 3: they need help, that what they did last offseason was 358 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 3: not enough. Everyone is desperate for this team to do 359 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 3: something different, but you can't believe it's gonna happen until 360 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 3: it actually does. 361 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 4: Andrew McCutcheon, one of my favorite teammates of all time, 362 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 4: my son's first ever favorite player when we played together 363 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 4: in Indie. Andrew McCutcheon fake news, fake rumor, real rumor. 364 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 4: Do you see him coming back? Just like it was? 365 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 4: North Shore nine? Said it. In a redditt Ama, Alex 366 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 4: Stump was asked if thinks Cutch is coming back due 367 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 4: to frustrations on both sides, he's leaning towards no return. 368 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 4: Do you want to see Cutch back in the black 369 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 4: and gold? And Cutch responded, which we didn't even need 370 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 4: Josh Harrison to respond. Wow, that's news to me. 371 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 3: Man. You guys are gonna get cutching my Twitter mentions 372 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 3: now too by asking me this. So I don't appreciate that. 373 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 3: But if I had to answer honestly, I as things 374 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 3: currently stand, yeah, I think it's probably less likely. I 375 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 3: wouldn't completely write it off, but toward the end of 376 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 3: the season, I sensed a lot of tension on both sides. 377 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,679 Speaker 3: It seemed like Andrew McCutchen was very frustrated with the 378 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 3: state of the organization and how they've continued to operate 379 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 3: in the last couple of years, and it seemed like 380 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 3: there was some frustration on the organization side as well 381 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 3: with you know, mccutchen's comments. So if those two sides 382 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 3: can get over it, then yeah, I think a deal 383 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 3: could be done. I think McCutchen wants to play here, 384 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 3: but he doesn't want to play in a place that 385 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 3: was like the one that he played the last three seasons. 386 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 3: He wants to play on a team that's actually trying 387 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 3: to win. I think he needs to be sold on that. 388 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 3: I think the Pirates owe it to him to try 389 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 3: to sell him on that, and after they make a 390 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 3: couple moves, if there's still space for Andrew McCutcheon, I 391 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 3: have no doubt that if he wants to be here, 392 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 3: he'll be there. But they've got to make him want 393 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 3: to be there. It has to make sense for both parties, 394 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 3: and just going off the vibes at the end of 395 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 3: the season, I think there was a lot of work 396 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 3: to be done and getting that relationship to a point 397 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 3: where he would want to sign up for another year 398 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 3: in Pittsburgh. 399 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: Oh, you know, Cutch, he's gonna watch this. 400 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, And. 401 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 5: We all love him. 402 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 2: He's a lovable guy, right, And the things that like 403 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 2: he's even being quote faulted for is what wanting to 404 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 2: be competitive to win? 405 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, he wants to win. 406 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, he wants to see additional players come in and 407 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 3: not force him to be the only leader for three 408 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 3: straight years, the only guy who has any sort of 409 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 3: voice in a clubhouse. There needs to be a little 410 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 3: bit more than him. I think that's a fair gripe 411 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 3: on his end. 412 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 2: I'm going to quote something that he definitely said, but 413 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 2: I can't prove it, Like I didn't get this from anyone. 414 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 2: I'm just guessing here. There were probably times last year 415 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 2: where he was like, why am I the best hitter 416 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 2: on this team right now? 417 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,360 Speaker 3: I wouldn't I wouldn't go against that, bet. I mean, 418 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 3: it's more just why is this the same thing that 419 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 3: we've just gone through? And I wrote that it's just 420 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 3: you look from it, you look you go back to 421 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 3: July twenty twenty four, the Pirates went on a little 422 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 3: win streak. They added a little bit at the deadline. 423 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 3: They were a couple games out of the wildcard. But 424 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 3: from the moment August twenty twenty four arrived, nothing has 425 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 3: gone right for this franchise. And a few bad months 426 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 3: to end the season that's tough enough, But when that 427 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 3: same vibe continues for an entire twenty twenty five campaign, 428 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 3: that's exhausting. And few people want to bring winning baseball 429 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 3: back to Pittsburgh than Andrew McCutcheon. He's done it once before. 430 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 3: And to see him be a part of a team 431 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 3: that's kind of just seemingly going through the motions, or 432 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 3: at least that's how he probably felt the circumstances where 433 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 3: that has to be very frustrating. 434 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 2: All Right, so this gets talked about on Bucko Territory. 435 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 2: Encourage everyone to check that out. Noah, great stuff, man, 436 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 2: We love talking to you, we love having you part 437 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:29,719 Speaker 2: of the FT network. 438 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: Man. 439 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,959 Speaker 3: Good to see it, absolutely, guys, I have a happy holidays. 440 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 2: Thank you you too, And again, Bucco Territory is the 441 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 2: show that you should be listening to if you're a 442 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 2: Pirates fan or if you just want to learn more 443 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 2: about an organization that frankly has been a disaster for 444 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 2: the last while. Okay, but maybe things turn around coming 445 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 2: this year. If they do put their money where their 446 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,479 Speaker 2: mouth is, you can hear much more from Noah, Josh Harrison, 447 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 2: and Platinum Key on that show. You get two a 448 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 2: week in the off season, and you'll get more during 449 00:21:58,560 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 2: the season