Baseball’s trading season has begun. In the past two weeks, the Mariners sent slugger Jay Bruce to the Phillies for an infield prospect, and American League home run leader Edwin Encarnacion to the Yankees for a young pitcher. The Mariners’ plan is clear: They are writing off this season in an attempt to build a better team next season and beyond.
Is it wrong to wish the Pirates would follow the same strategy?
The Pirates don’t even remotely resemble a playoff contender despite Neal Huntington’s assertion Sunday. They beat the Marlins 5-4 later that day to finish a nightmarish 2-8 trip. Their record is 32-39, worse than every team in the National League but the Giants and the Marlins. They were tied with the Reds for last place in the National League Central Division going into Monday night’s games.
“We’re a really good seven-day to 10-day stretch away from being right back into it,” Huntington insisted on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan.
Huntington based his optimism on the Pirates finally starting to get a few injured players back. Corey Dickerson had a pinch-hit, run-scoring double Sunday. Trevor Williams is scheduled to start Wednesday night against the Tigers. Jordan Lyles and Chris Stratton should be back soon.
“We’re in a tough stretch right now, but the encouraging part is so many of these recent losses in the last month have been one pitch, one play, one hit that if we make the play or we make the pitch or we get the big hit or we move the runner at the right time, we could turn these losses into wins,” Huntington said.
“An eight-game losing streak, a seven-game losing streak, those are tough to take and those are tough to come back from, but there are still some encouraging signs. This club battles. This club never quits. As we start to get some guys healthy, we’re looking forward to getting on a more positive roll sooner rather than later.”
Are you buying it?
I’m not.
If Huntington truly believed these Pirates were a contender, he would have done something — anything — to help the team out by acquiring a pitcher beyond Stratton and Yefry Ramirez. Joe Musgrove lobbied for the team to go after free agent starter Dallas Keuchel before he signed with the Braves earlier this month. I’m not sure Huntington even tried before the Braves got Keuchel for the prorated cost of about $13 million. As it was, Huntington left his players badly short-handed after injuries to pitchers Williams, Jameson Taillon, Keone Kela and Nick Burdi and, in the minor leagues, JT Brubaker, the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season.
Huntington has said to blame him for the Pirates’ lack of pitching depth.
OK, I will.
Huntington’s work in drafting and developing players looks worse every day.
I’ll never pat big leaguers on the back for battling and never quitting because that’s what pros are paid to do. But I’m going to blame Huntington for the Pirates’ dismal record more than the players. They haven’t had a fair chance to compete, especially after the injuries to Williams, Taillon and Kela. It doesn’t help that Chris Archer — their significant trade acquisition last season — has been mostly awful and Richard Rodriguez — a big part of their bullpen in 2018 — started the season by giving up home run after home run.
The Pirates have a few nice pieces for next season. Kyle Crick, Bryan Reynolds, Kevin Newman, Colin Moran and especially baseball’s RBI leader Josh Bell are productive and cheap at this point of their careers, the latter an attribute more important than any other to management. Felipe Vazquez might be the best closer in the game and is signed for the next four seasons at the ridiculously team-friendly prices of $5.75 million, $7.75 million, $10 million and $10 million.
But will the Pirates be contenders next season with those guys and a healthy Taillon, Williams and Kela?
I’m saying no.
Which is why the Mariners’ strategy makes sense for the Pirates.
I have to think Huntington would love to trade Dickerson and Francisco Cervelli, who are making significant money and will be free agents after the season. Cervelli’s history of concussions makes him almost impossible to move. His career — at least as a catcher — could be over.
It would be nice if the Pirates could trade Archer, but his gradually declining performance, not just this season but since 2015, would make that difficult. Melky Cabrera would be welcomed as a bench player by any contending team, but he wouldn’t bring much in return. I’m not sure inconsistent Gregory Polanco, who has lost playing time to Reynolds and Dickerson, would bring back much, either.
There’s no doubt Starling Marte is the most marketable Pirates player who should be available in a trade. His contract isn’t outrageous — $11.5 million next season, $12.5 million in 2021 — and he might just be able to push a contender over the top with his bat, defense and speed.
I know Pirates fans are tired of hearing about next year. It’s hardly ever about this year, although Huntington did make the bold trade for Archer last July by giving up Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows in what looks as if it has a chance of going down as one of the worst trades in franchise history.
But people aren’t going to PNC Park, anyway. What do you think the crowd will be Tuesday night for the home game against the Tigers? What will it be for games in July and August and September if the Pirates don’t suddenly start winning?
I don’t know if I trust Huntington to get a good return for Marte. But I won’t criticize him if he tries.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter @RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Joe” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: June 18, 2019, 11:00 a.m.