Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Deadline: The Moves Ben Cherington Must Make

Yo, welcome to the NS9 podcast presented by FanDuel.

This is NS9 Live.

I'm your host, Anthony DiNardo.

With me, Tyler, Jim, folks, what's going on?

Good evening.

It hasn't been all three of us in a while.

I know.

Yeah, it has been.

It's been three weeks.

I think longer.

Because technically, Cleveland, I wasn't there.

That was two weeks ago.

Last week, I wasn't there.

Or were you out, too?

No, I think I was there.

Okay.

You know who was always there?

I did, too.

Ty's always there.

That's okay.

I'm sorry, people.

The one you don't want to be here is here.

Yeah.

We apologize.

Speaking of, how about Marcell Ozuna?

He's still here.

Apologizing?

Speaking of people that we don't want to be here that are always here.

Oh.

Yeah.

So, that's why I'm excited about today, right?

This is our MLB trade deadline preview.

The deadline is Monday.

So, we are coming up to it.

And it's an opportunity for the Pirates to improve this team.

And he's certainly an area, I think, that they could improve on.

I don't know if they're going to do it or not.

But, yeah.

Marcell Ozuna, not too hot right now.

I don't think he's homered.

And I think it's been like a month, I think, since he's homered.

It's been a while.

And they just keep losing with him in the lineup.

And a lot of it has to do with, he plays against lefties all the time.

And they can't hit lefties.

But one of the reasons why they can't hit lefties is because Marcell Ozuna sucks against pretty much everybody.

Regardless of who he's in the lineup against.

So, I didn't really want to get into a Marcell Ozuna tangent here.

But I guess you got me, Tyler.

You're welcome.

Like you said, the one that you don't want to hear.

But it is a big show.

Because, like you said, this is the preview of the trade deadline, which we can do within a week's time of the trade deadline.

Because they're not going to make any moves before then.

Why would they do that?

So, we can go ahead and preview the trade deadline right now.

But, of course, we will be live, as we typically always do, on Monday.

6 p.m. is when the trade deadline ceases.

That's when it sits up.

All moves have to be done.

And as we've done, we'll go live at that point of time.

And I'm sure something will come in at the deadline that we'll have a live reaction for.

Hopefully, a lot better reactions than we had last year, guys.

Yeah.

I'm just, honestly, I'm just excited about, like, being a real buyer.

And I think they are going to be a real buyer.

As much as people want to just say, oh, well, if things go wrong here in Cincinnati, there's a comment in there.

If things go wrong in Cincinnati, like, we could be sellers.

Like, no, they're not going to be sellers.

This team can't really afford to be sellers right now.

They've got to go out there and bolster this team.

And if you look at the standings, they're right in this thing.

They've got a good offense.

They've got a good rotation.

There are just certain things that they need to improve upon.

And I really do think they're going to go out there and be aggressive.

I don't know how aggressive.

I will say this.

This deadline will be more aggressive than the 2024 deadline, right?

Which we all hated because we were hoping they'd be a little aggressive.

And they went out there and got a bunch of bums, right?

So far, we've seen them bring in some bums.

But I don't think we've gotten to the real thing yet.

Right.

I feel like I remember Jim really liking that deadline.

I don't think anybody really liked that deadline.

I'm pretty sure he was a big Brian De La Cruz guy.

I was definitely not a big Brian De La Cruz guy.

I did like IKF.

I liked that acquisition.

I was hoping they'd do more.

But yeah, Brian De La Cruz.

Hell no.

They're not like that.

You can go back and look at the tapes.

Oh, I was going to say.

So speaking of which, and as we've also teased a little bit on the app and the website now, there's the trade deadline hub more or less.

We can see all the past years of the trades that happened.

Also, what you'll find is every year that we've had a trade deadline show, that's also on that particular page, like our draft hub as well.

I found it quite interesting because the way the show started, Tyler, guess who's on the live draft show?

Not last year, but the year before.

It was you and I.

No, Jim.

Guess who was on the year before that?

It was you and I.

No, Jim.

Yeah.

I was like, wow, this is weird.

It was just Titan.

That's not accurate.

I was accurate years ago.

I don't think you were draft.

I was 100% on that.

I think I got to side with Jim here.

Yeah.

Oh, no.

I remember reacting to the to the to the pick.

We were I made a highlight clip about how much I wanted to draft.

No, not the draft.

The trade deadline.

Oh, yeah.

You said draft.

So if I said draft, I apologize.

I'm talking about the trade deadlines.

So like, yeah, last year, we're all on it.

But two years ago, it was just Titan.

Now we're talking about the Brian Dela Cruz.

Trade that happened in the year before was just Titan.

I.

So yeah, Titan is always here.

Titan is always here.

Sorry.

I agree with OG here.

Let's get on with it.

All right.

Jesus.

OG always wants to be.

He just really wants to get to his PowerPoint.

So hold on.

I do want to say this before we get into the trade deadline today.

The Pirates lost the series to Arizona.

There was pretty big implications there on that.

Playoff odds for the Pirates and Diamondbacks just in the last two days was about a 20 percentage point swing between the two of them.

The Pirates were about 10 points up on the Diamondbacks before yesterday's game.

After yesterday's game, the Pirates are now 10 percentage points behind the Diamondbacks.

So it was a big series and it didn't go the Pirates way.

Fortunately, and when we go into this, right, I'm going to lay out the criteria that I used.

I didn't include any teams being quote unquote sellers who have a playoff odds of 25% or how.

So I don't have the Pirates.

I don't have the Diamondbacks.

I don't have the Twins.

I don't have the Tigers.

I don't have the Astros listed as sellers here because they're like still in it.

But who I do have are the Orioles, the Blue Jays, the Royals, the A's, the Angels, the Nationals, the Marlins, the Mets, the Reds, the Cardinals, the Giants, Rockies and Padres.

What's crazy, though, is you look at the standings right now and the Pirates are behind the Pirates, the Padres, Cardinals and Marlins.

So this sellers pool is going to be really thin this year, I think, because even though the Pirates are technically ahead of those guys in playoff odds, you look at the standings and like if you're if you're a Marlins guy or you're the Cardinals

or you're the Padres right now, like how much are you actually selling this deadline?

So, yeah, I don't know.

I don't think there's going to be a huge team, a huge pool of teams to trade with this year.

And I think you're going to have a lot of teams maybe standing pat, making little moves here and there.

But yeah, we're going to we're going to roll with this and see what we can put together with what the little that's out there in terms of people who I feel really comfortable with that are selling right now.

the implications of the extra wildcard spot, I think, too.

Like half the league makes the playoffs.

So three quarters of it think that they are in striking distance and not many baseball trades get made anymore.

Right now, no, you saw one with Baltimore and Boston the other Washington and Boston the other day.

That was pretty much a straight up baseball move.

But yeah, the deadline is typically going to be just buyers and sellers.

So.

Yeah, let's do we want to dive into this?

Yeah.

Before we do.

Unbelievable.

Eric Sebrowski.

So I've got a PowerPoint.

I spent like I spent a good three hours on this PowerPoint, too.

And I made this.

I was asking for your input and I'm just sitting there.

I'm like already done with it.

And you all basically threw in a couple of things.

So, I appreciate that.

You're welcome.

Appreciate it.

Yeah.

We ready, Tyler?

Just the Anna part was funny.

All right.

So.

So like I said before, there's some criteria here.

Playoff odds, things like that.

And I wanted to start off with essentially putting out where the pirates need improvement.

So areas of improvement.

Here's what I got.

First and foremost is the bullpen, right?

We all know the problems that they're having there.

They're 24th in baseball and earned run average.

They have 19 blown saves.

So we've actually got one more than what's on here.

There's some missing information there.

But when probability added their 16th in Major League Baseball and their best reliever only pitches when he wants to, which is a problem in this bullpen.

Second, the starting rotation.

Braxton Ashcraft's at a career high in innings pitch.

Bubba Chandler's approaching a career high.

Mitch Keller has just been inconsistent as hell this year.

Jared Jones, strict innings limit, strict pitch count limit.

So I don't really know how much this starting pitching rotation can hold up just as is.

So do they need to inject an arm into that?

And then lastly, left-handed pitching.

They suck at it.

They're 93 weighted runs created plus against left-handed pitching.

The right-handed hitting DH only is mega turbo ass.

KG is out until mid-September.

And then that 93 weighted runs created plus, it's even worse now because they went five for 30 today against a left-handed pitcher and had zero extra base hits and had another loss.

So I don't know if that was like something that we were hoping to have to go out and get this deadline, but I'm pretty sure I would feel a whole lot more comfortable if they went out there and they got somebody who can hit left-handed pitching.

So what are you guys' thoughts on that?

Did I miss anything?

Do you want to expand on anything?

I think you left out an extra mega turbo ass.

That sounds like an amazing, like if I was a child, I want that toy.

Like, mom, I want the mega turbo ass.

Actually, that sounds a lot worse coming out of my mouth.

I was going to say.

It sounds like an action doll until you say it.

No, we're clipping that.

We are clipping that.

Maybe as a child, I shouldn't be saying and asking for that.

Yeah.

Probably not as an adult either.

Yeah, we're clipping that.

We're clipping that 100%.

All right.

Maybe that's why I never got anything for Christmas.

Anything to add?

I'll just keep my mouth shut.

No, I think you pretty much covered it there, Jim.

All right.

So let's start with the bullpen.

This is obviously the area where I think there's the most people available.

So I've got this separated into like an A tier, a B tier, and a C tier.

I'm also putting Mason Miller in his own tier by himself above the A tier.

I guess you would call this the S tier is I think what the children are calling it nowadays.

So you've got Mason Miller, who is obviously the best relief pitcher in baseball right now.

And then to go along with Mason Miller in this A tier, I've got Luke Weaver from the Mets, Adrian Morihone from the Padres, and St. Louis' closer, Riley O'Brien.

I've included him in here as well.

So I think if you're the Pirates, Mason Miller obviously would be an outstanding coup, but I don't think it's realistic.

Yeah.

Not really realistic.

Just not really feasible for what the Pirates have, I don't think.

And I don't see a planet where acquiring Mason Miller for what it seems like is going to be asked is worth it.

He'd be great.

Love to have him.

But it just doesn't seem like a really good fit.

I think it's an excellent fit.

It's just you want to show up what it takes to get him for this team, and I think that's just where it comes down to.

guys, I would love to have Mason Miller on this baseball team.

And honestly, I think the Pirates would love to have him because it's the hometown kid.

Like, that's the guy you go after, and the marketing team is going to say, bless you.

Thank you so much for this.

We can go ahead and now do more on socials and have people hate us more because of ours marketing and promotions, and the team's not that good.

But anyways, I digress.

Like, yeah, he's the perfect fit for this team in that sense.

Like, I think they would want to get him, but what it's going to cost to acquire him, that's the part I don't think that makes sense for the Pirates right now.

Like, this team needs bullpen help, but I honestly think that if they just get three guys that all three of them combined will probably cost less than what it takes to get Mason Miller, that can help this team win.

Again, they are still where they're at today with a horrible bullpen.

You add three just strong, good enough guys like the next three you're talking about here, like those three combined are going to cost way less than Mason Miller.

You add those three, this is a much better bullpen.

Yeah, if it was the wrong word, just, they're not in the position, I'm not ready to burn the farm down for a closer.

Now, can I say something?

I'm just saying this because I'm not sure if you're wanting to say this, Jim, but I'm setting you up.

I want you to say this because you did have an idea that you at least talked to Tyler and I about this beforehand.

Please say your idea because this is also where I can agree and enjoy maybe a Mason Miller acquisition.

Yeah, and again, I don't think this is even possible, but if I'm acquiring Mason Miller, I am looking into, and this is a wild idea because of how good he is as a reliever, but I would have him close out for you the rest of the year, and then you've got him for a couple more years.

See if you can turn him into a starting pitcher.

That may be the route that I go there, and if that doesn't work, then you've got the best reliever in baseball.

So I think that's the route I would go if you were to give up a huge haul for Mason Miller because that's what you would need to do.

But yeah, I don't foresee that happening at all.

And so when you look at this list, the issues that I'm running into on this list is San Diego is now ahead of you in the standings, right?

So that takes half of this list off.

The other list is St. Louis, and is St. Louis going to deal somebody within their division?

That's a game up on them right now.

I don't probably not either.

So like it leaves Luke Weaver is like the one single sole option on this list that makes sense.

Someone asked about Louis Varland.

And the reason why I didn't put Louis Varland on any of these lists is because same thing.

I think he would cost an insane amount because he only has like he's five years of control still to go.

Like he has not gotten the two years of service time yet.

He is after, current status, but like you've got two more months and four more years of control for Louis Varland.

And so I just I just don't foresee that happening because, again, the haul that you would have to send to Toronto would be ridiculous.

So I did not include Varland.

If Varland were someone who I thought who could be moved, he would be on this list.

Tyler looks like he has something to say.

If not, just chime in here.

Okay.

Yeah, that's another thing, too, is I don't think it's going to be that wise, like at the deadline, especially to be going after guys with like a lot of years of control.

Again, like Mason Miller is different.

But at the deadline, I just think you're looking for like cheap rentals for relievers.

Because first off, relievers are so volatile and such.

And it's like you said, Jim, like the cost of getting that guy is going to be enormous just because he has the control.

Do you really are you really looking to go after Varland because he has so much control or do you just want to impact guy today?

Maybe next year.

Right.

Like Luke Weaver, like he has one more year.

Like those guys make more sense.

I'm not looking for long term reliever moves at the deadline.

Yeah, I'm with you.

So.

Okay.

Want to move on to the B tier?

Sure.

Is there one person on this A tier that stands out to you guys?

Luke Weaver.

Yeah.

I think Luke Weaver is the fit.

Yeah, I agree.

I agree.

And if I'm Ben Cherington, I'm going to do everything I can to land him.

I don't know if it'll be.

I don't know if they'll be able to.

But that's.

If you can get Weaver, he immediately becomes your closer.

And it's somebody that you can trust down the stretch in a postseason.

Like, I feel like that's why I really want to land one of these guys is because you want somebody that you can rely on in a huge moment.

And well, the B tier, we will move to the B tier here.

And there's some good relievers here.

But it's like, do you want, do you want some of these next guys closing out game 162, to clinch a playoff berth, right?

Like, that's where I'm, where I'm looking at right now.

I just want to say, because I do believe he is on this list, not in the B tier, but a trade just happened.

The Texas Rangers are acquiring from the Angels.

The Angels looking to deal some pitching.

So Chase Silseth and catcher Logan Ohapi is going to the Rangers.

Chase Silseth is on this PowerPoint, by the way.

Is he probably like a C tier, I think?

He's in my C tier list, yeah.

Yeah.

So, all right.

So, one's off the list.

And that was one I wouldn't mind.

Yeah, I'm curious to see what the return would be on that one.

So, all right.

Let's move on to the B tier.

I think the Pirates, if you can't land anybody in the A tier, you must.

Like, you have to land at least one of these guys.

One of these guys.

And so, I've got on here a couple Mets, a few Mets, actually.

AJ Minter, Brooks Raley, and Waskar Brazaban.

Yannir Cano from the Orioles is on this list.

Daniel Lynch, the fourth from the Royals is on this list.

Kenley Jansen from Detroit is on this list.

Ryan Zephyrjan from the Angels.

And then Andrew Kittredge from Baltimore on here as well.

Most of these guys are rentals.

Not all of them are.

Daniel Lynch still has multiple years of control.

Brazaban still has multiple years of control.

I want to say Zephyrjan does as well.

Yeah.

Zephyrjan's got four more years of control after this too.

So, like, you're looking at a few of these guys and you'd be paying for more than one year.

But there's quite a few names on this list that are, they would be rentals.

They shouldn't really cost a ton.

And I think they're all good.

Like, Kenley Jansen's having a down year.

But, I don't know.

I trust Kenley Jansen, right?

Like, just someone who I trust.

So, I'm putting him in this list.

But, yeah.

I think if you're the Pirates, you've got to look at this list.

And you need to get at least one of these guys.

I think if they want to be in the postseason, they have to get one of these guys.

Or else, there's no postseason.

You have to get one of these and probably some more out of the C tier here.

I'll be real with you guys.

Like, if they don't get anyone in the A tier, I think you need two of these guys.

Like, honestly, like, I think you probably need two of these guys then.

If you miss out on Luke Weaver.

But also, like, I think it would be a perfect is, like, if you're going to get Luke Weaver, let's throw in Minter O'Reilly as well into that.

Like, let's get.

Like, the Mets make a ton of sense because they have multiple guys.

The Pirates need multiple guys.

So, maybe let's give them, one package.

But it's a little bit better of a package.

Get two of the guys, rub the Mets, bring them on over.

And, like, yeah, like, if you got a Weaver and Minter or Rayleigh, like, that's.

We're good.

We're fine.

You know what?

Like, we're definitely on the right path.

Like, you miss out on Weaver, you need to find something.

Maybe it's Rayleigh and Minter, you know.

Or maybe it's Jansen.

Like, I think you absolutely have to have, like, two of these guys.

Because there's still some solid guys on C tier.

But, like, is one of these guys, your closer and two guys in the C tier, really going to do what you need to do?

Like, if you're truly, air quotes, aggressive.

If you're Ben Cherington.

And, again, this season, which I want to go back to the comment you made earlier, Jim.

When you said people are, talking about, like, things could change because the Red Series.

Guys, listen.

If they are selling, Ben doesn't have a job.

The first move that's happening is Ben gets fired.

Then it's announced that they're selling.

That's it.

If they're selling, Ben doesn't have a job.

Yeah.

So, with that said, they are buying because Ben needs a job.

And they're going out there and they're doing that, right?

So, but, again, like, this deadline is important to not just the Pirates in general.

And they're 2026 aspirations.

But Ben Cherington and his livelihood going forward.

So, they have to get aggressive.

And, like, Ben, this is the year where you go out and you do something like this.

If you miss out on tier A, you've got to go out and then just try to capitalize on as much as these players that we're looking at right now to add to this bullpen.

You can't get cute.

To an extent.

and what by that is, like, there's still some guys on this list that don't boldly excite me.

Like, Daniel Lynch doesn't really move the needle for me.

There's not enough swing and miss there.

Kenley's too much smoke and mirror this year.

Wouldn't really complain about any of these guys because they obviously help the bullpen, but it's not that...

Like, Cano, to me, is probably at the top of this list.

I really don't care for Minter.

Kenley, yeah, sure.

Take him.

I'm like, any guys with a plus four FIP out of the bullpen, not really banging down the door to go get him.

Again, it would improve the bullpen, but it's not as much of a needle mover to me.

I just want to add this to that.

Like, with Minter, it's a small sample with him, too.

Like, the track record's still there.

Like, I get what you're saying, Ty.

I would still be fine with Minter.

I'd be fine with me.

True.

That's how bad this group is.

But to throw it back at you, because what you said, this is B tier.

The next one is C.

So, if you're feeling that way on these guys, like, so do you feel as comfortable getting two C tier guys?

Which, we haven't really brought them up yet.

But the idea of this, if you're only getting one in the B tier and this is B tier, do you feel comfortable with just one of these guys and two lower tier guys?

Or is it like, do you need to get two or, if not, three of these guys?

I think getting two of these guys would obviously be better.

But there are some guys, I think, on the C tier that I'd be okay with getting two of those qualities.

Just want to ask you.

Yeah.

Hear you talk there.

All right.

The good thing about this B tier, as opposed to the A tier, also, is, like, that A tier is iffy on if those people are even going to be available.

Right?

Like, this B tier, I don't know if all of these guys are going to get traded.

Like I said, especially the people with, a few years of control that, like Cano and Lynch and Zephyr John and Brazabon.

I don't know if those guys are going to get moved.

But these are all teams who are selling.

Right?

Like, the Mets, the Orioles, the Royals, the Angels, like, these guys are selling these pieces.

So, you are going to at least have a shot at landing, I think, every single one of these guys.

I'm with you, Tyler.

I really like Cano a lot.

I also, I do like Minter, though.

Like, it is a small sample size.

he hasn't pitched the entire season.

And, historically, he's been a really good reliever.

I like Kenley Jansen a lot, too.

Like, he's been really good lately.

I don't think he's given up a run this month.

Zero ERA in July.

So, like, for someone who, if you're looking at this team right now and you're like, okay, I need someone who I can count on to pitch in the ninth inning because I don't really have that guy right now.

If you can't get one of those people from that A-tier list, this is, like, Kenley Jansen's probably your next best bet.

Right?

Because, like, he's done it.

He's done it in big games.

He's done it in big moments.

And the stuff is still there.

I think I'm with you, DiNardo, where, like, if I can't land on anyone in that A-tier, I want two of these guys.

And, like, one of them has to be Kenley Jansen, in my opinion.

Like, you need to get Jansen and then you need to get one other guy.

I think the other elephant in the room here is the money situation.

Like, how much do the Pirates have available to spend?

You look at Minter, making $11 million this year.

Like, Henley's making $11 million this year.

You're going to be on the hook for a good bit of that.

Like, does that limit the other moves you can make?

I would be willing on some of these deals to throw in a higher prospect and get some cash.

If that's what's, like, keeping the deal from happening, like, you got to bring in talent, however you do it.

Right. And so if you need to add in maybe a slightly better prospect, I'm not saying trade any of your, like, we're talking about relievers here.

I'm not saying trade Edward Florentino or Seth Hernandez or Murf Gray for any of these guys.

But, like, if you need to up the ante a little bit on your side to get money to pay whoever's coming in, then you do it.

But at the same time, like, that shouldn't have to, that shouldn't have to happen.

Like, there should be some money available here.

This team made a, they made a run at some guys late.

And, like, we heard Ben say, like, he was hoping to go out there and get another starting pitcher.

That means there must have been some money out there to do that.

They saved a little bit of money with Urquidy being traded.

They saved $3 million on the draft pick that they didn't have to use.

so, like, they've got some money to bring on here.

So, I don't think, like, are you going to be able to bring on a ton of money?

Probably not.

But I don't see why they can't bring on $5 to $10 million.

Right.

Can I want to throw something out there about Jansen as well.

Because, again, like, you're scared about the numbers and this and that.

Again, I get it.

Like, the stuff plus shows that the stuff is still there.

I want to put in some numbers here.

So, he's always been cutter heavy.

This year, especially, also cutter heavy.

Those are 84.7% of the time.

Batters are hitting 160 off it.

They're slugging 293.

His second most highest pitch thrown, the slider.

He's thrown it just 8.7% of the time.

Guys are batting 167 off of it and slugging 167.

His sinker, he's only thrown it to, I'm sorry, he's only thrown it 30 times the entire year.

They're slugging 818 off of it.

Like, everything is just coming off of this one pitch.

And that's also why I'm more inclined.

Like, yeah, these numbers maybe just don't align.

His bread and butter is still untouchable.

It's still untouchable.

He just, for some reason, thrown this pitch 30 times and has an 818 slugging against it.

Two homers off of it.

Like, I don't know, maybe just some bad luck in that one pitch because, again, his cutter, which he throws the majority of the time, people aren't touching it.

He also has a negative one and a half win probability added.

And that's worse than Dennis Santana's was.

So, just don't throw the sinker.

That's what happens whenever, yeah, you give up home runs late in games.

So, preferably don't do that.

Yeah, don't do that.

There you go.

All right.

I think, but I'm with you.

I think if, obviously, if you can land somebody in the A tier, I think you only need one of these guys.

But if you can't land somebody in the A tier, I think you need two of these guys.

And preferably one of them being Jansen, in my opinion.

Just because you need, you got to have somebody with, like, late game, big game experience.

And they just don't have that right now outside Soto.

And we've seen how that's gone up to this point.

All right.

We ready for C tier?

Bring it on.

You know what?

Let's do this.

Let's kick it over to Cody, and then we'll come back with C tier.

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Does any of the B-tier guys come with free shipping?

Because that also might dictate if they're traded to the Pirates.

Yeah, a couple of these guys might.

I could see Kittredge.

Kittredge come with some free shipping.

There you go.

All right.

I do want to say this.

So the return for Chase, the return for Chase Silseth and Logan Ohoppy was infield prospect Angel Arredondo.

He is a 19-year-old infielder from Mexico.

He has a league average OPS in A-ball right now.

I'm trying to find a little more information on him.

But it basically sounds like they didn't really have to give up too much for this guy.

Good song, though.

You said Domo Arrigato, Mr. Roboto?

Yeah, that's exactly right.

I hate him so much.

Mr. Roboto, Domo.

So this guy, this guy's not even on any Angels top 30.

Like, I'm looking at basically America's top 30 list.

So, like, the Angels got a C tier for none of their top 30 prospects.

So, all right.

Take that.

Now, they did, take on some salary there.

So there was that.

Okay.

C tier.

Let's move on.

So Silseth is no longer on there.

But I added, these are basically all of the just half-decent relievers on every team that stinks out there.

So we've got Elvis Alvarado from the A's.

He comes with a bunch of team control.

Antonio Senzatella from the Rockies.

He's, yeah, it's been rough for him as of late.

Pete Fairbanks from the Marlins, along with Lake Bakar.

I've got to get the pronunciations on these.

John King.

Michael Peterson.

Calvin.

Like, I need to get these guys.

I don't want.

These are your guys, DiNardo.

You're Marlins.

Most of them are still out.

How do you even say this name?

Calvin.

Fauche.

Is also on this list.

So a bunch of Marlins on here.

You've got, from the Reds, Brock Burke and Caleb Ferguson, our old buddy.

From the Giants, JT Brubaker.

Brennan Bernardino from the Colorado Rockies.

Rico Garcia from the Orioles.

Kirby Yates and Sam Bachman from the Angels.

Caleb Killian from the Giants as well.

So, yeah.

Luke Baker.

Sorry, that's how you pronounced.

Lake Baker.

Okay.

I pronounced Luke Baker.

That can't be right.

Is it?

Is that right?

I don't think so.

There's no way that's right.

I think it's Bacar.

Lake Baker.

Bacar.

Baker.

Baker.

Is it?

Okay.

Yeah.

Bacar.

Bacar.

Maybe that's a Bacar then.

Not Baker.

Lake Bacar.

Lake Bacar.

All right.

So, I, preferably you're landing 1A, 1B, and one of these Cs, I think.

if you can land two Bs, then I think you can go ahead and take one of these Cs.

I don't think you want to, I don't think you want to land on two of these guys and one of the Bs because, like, these guys are good.

Like, these guys will help your bullpen.

Every single one on this list will help your bullpen.

but none of these guys, I think, are going to make any impact.

yes.

You don't think JT Brubaker will?

No, I don't think he will.

someone asked about Jeff Hoffman from the Blue Jays, too.

The reason why I didn't add Hoffman is just because he's still owed $11 million next year.

And, like, I'd be willing to take on that for Luke Weaver, but I don't know if I'm taking that on for, like, Jeff Hoffman.

So, that's why I left Hoffman off all of these lists.

I guess my thing to respond to Ty here.

I'm absolutely wanting JT Brubaker.

He's traded to the Pirates.

I'd be happy, and I think most people would be happy.

But are you happy because Jake Brubaker's also part of the bullpen?

Or are you happy because JT Brubaker is now your closer of the bullpen?

Well, Brubaker wouldn't be your closer.

he might.

He'd be, he'd be, like, a middle relief arm.

But that's what I'm getting at.

If you're getting just C-tier guys, that was, that was the point here.

Like, if you're just getting that's, that's why, like, no, you're not comfortable.

Like, these guys are just guys in your bullpen.

Yes, you're, you like them.

They make your bullpen better.

But, like, they can't be the guy.

Yeah.

Yeah, I need two from the B-tier.

I'm retracting my earlier statement.

I would really like two from the B-tier.

Yeah.

Yeah.

C-tier sucks.

I'll say this.

With this tier, the one I like the most is probably Kirby Yates.

I like Kirby Yates the most.

He can still strike people out.

Like, the strikeout numbers are still there.

He's not, like, outstanding by any means.

Like, he's not someone who I want closing out games late in September or October.

But I think Kirby Yates is someone who, like, absolutely can go out and give you a scoreless seventh or eighth inning, if you need it.

So, I think out of this list, like, Yates is my guy.

And I think you could get him for not a whole lot.

That's where I would be going here.

Rico Garcia is interesting.

He's also my.

Michael.

Michael Peterson's interesting.

But, like, I don't know if that's real or not.

Like I said, I would take any of these guys.

And if they, if the Pirates acquire any of these players, it will, it will help their bullpen.

But I don't see any of these guys being, like, impacted.

Kirby Yates would help a lot.

I like Sensatella as well.

He's a little bit pricey, though.

He's ten and a half million this year.

It's not terrible, but.

Yeah, the rest of them.

No.

I take them, but.

Eh.

As.

The Marlins guy.

I would take Fauche.

He has some sick stuff, like the sweeper.

But he just walks so many guys, too.

So, that's worrisome.

But he has clothes for them.

He has a little bit of experience, right?

Like, a little innings guy.

But, again, it's.

He's there for some metal relief help.

And that's what I just feel like.

That's the thing.

Like, all these guys on this tier, for the most part, it's like you're bringing them in to be a part of your bullpen.

Not to be the guy that's in there to be high leverage.

In your bullpen.

Right.

The positive is that none of these guys should cost a lot.

No.

Well, we just saw that, right?

Like, again, like, Chase Silseth is on this list.

And he was just traded.

And the Angels got nothing for him.

Right?

Now, again, they had to package Ohoppy in there, who's making two and a half million dollars.

But, like, Chase Silseth was a decent reliever.

I'm not saying he was great, but he was decent.

2.72 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 40 innings of work.

decent strikeout rate.

Like, this is the third best on the park.

Andy's got four years of control after this year.

So, like, if the Pirates had gone out there and gotten Chase Silseth tonight while we were doing this show, I'd be pretty pumped.

Especially if we, if all we had to do was give up an Angel Arredondo equivalent, which, let's face it, that is essentially looking at Bradenton's roster.

Let's call it, I don't know, like, this got, this is the most interesting part of the show.

No, but Raymond Mola, right?

Like, that's the guy that you'd be sending is someone who isn't on any list anywhere.

Which I think backs up the point of, like, this is why the Pirates can absolutely acquire, like, multiple relievers.

So, I agree.

Without a doubt.

And I think you could get by with two of these and a B tier, like, that'll help your team.

But you're still missing, like, the impact arm.

Like, you're missing that guy that you can just send out there and shut down a game in the ninth.

Because, like I said, all these guys are going to be helpful, but not necessarily what this team needs.

And I think this team does need a back-end arm.

Yep.

So, those are the relievers that are available.

I think I think I had 28 of them on this list.

27 of them are now, are now available still.

I'm also disagreeing with, there's people in the comments saying that they think Jeff Hoffman's better than Luke Weaver.

And I'm just going to disagree with you.

I'm just going to flat out disagree with you on that one.

So, we can, we can fight that out in Discord if you want.

But, let's move on.

Do we want to move to the next, the next topic?

I want to see you fight people.

For being real.

I like when people hate you.

How about lefty mashers?

How about lefty mashers?

It would be great to get a lefty masher.

If it included getting rid of Marcell Ozuna.

Yeah.

I think it would be nice to get one of these guys.

So, I've got Jo Adell, Tyrone Taylor from the Mets, Taylor Ward from the Orioles, Ty France from the Padres.

Eastory Ruiz from the Marlins.

Marlins.

God awful season.

Like, just dreadful season.

But, he's crushing lefty.

So, there is that.

And then Lane Thomas.

Oh, is Vientos hurt?

I thought I took off all the hurt people.

That might be.

That might be.

His feelings got hurt.

Oh, he's got a fractured hand.

Yeah, take Vientos off.

Scratch him off.

He's dead.

All right.

And then Lane Thomas.

124 way to rents creative plus versus left-handers.

So, yeah.

No Vientos.

So, I've got.

So, that's six names on this list.

none of these guys.

Maybe outside Taylor Ward.

Like, Taylor Ward's probably the most attractive candidate here.

In terms of, like, overall value.

Ty France is having a really good season, too.

But, again, like, going back to that issue, the Padres.

the Padres are ahead of the Pirates in the standings right now.

So, like, how likely is that to happen?

but, yeah.

I think there's some names on here that shouldn't cost you a whole lot.

especially if you're looking at, like, Tyrone Taylor or Lane Thomas.

I think Adele or Ward or France may cost you a little bit more.

and again, like, I don't know how much the Marlins would be willing to give up Ruiz.

Just because he's got quite a bit of control remaining.

and he's just, like, a really good fit for that ballpark.

So, I'm leaning towards Tyrone Taylor or Lane Thomas here.

As, like, the two main guys I'd go after.

and they both give you some pretty good defensive flexibility in the outfield, too.

Yeah, Lane Thomas is the guy, I think, that's the best quote-unquote fit.

Just being able to hit the lefties and play all three outfield positions, even though he sucks in center now.

And sucks in left.

But at least he can, you can throw him out there.

He's cheap.

The contract is tiny.

Can't imagine he costs much, and it would be such an upgrade over Ozuna.

I really wonder what the cost of Adele is.

That dude is just mashing lefties.

And so, the other thing, too, about this is, like, yeah, Ty France, like, those numbers are nice, too.

But he's essentially, like, a first baseman.

You already have quite a few.

Like, that's the problem.

This team has a bunch of first baseman DHs, right?

I understand, like, the whole idea is you can get Ozuna out of here.

Put one of these guys in there, too.

The DH maybe hopefully opens up.

But I want someone who can play the field somewhere that might help.

So, that's why, like, the outfielders make some sense here, as well.

You never know what could happen.

Again, like, I would love, and again, because it's the Angels.

Like, who knows what they do.

They're dumb.

Not that the Pirates are smart, but they're dumb.

So, maybe they can get the Angels to give them Adele.

But Ward, Taylor, Lane Thomas, as well.

Like, I think Lane Thomas could be cheap, so that could help there, in a sense.

But I guess I'm leaning more towards the outfielders on this list, if that makes sense.

Yeah, I'm also leaning more towards, like, a rental, too.

like, I like Jo Adell.

The issue with Adele is, like, do you really need Jo Adell next year?

And you can always trade him, I guess, if you need to, or whatnot.

So, that's where Taylor, Ward, and Thomas stick out for me, those three.

Taylor Ward, I think, would be the best option in terms of, like, player, right?

But I think you're going to have a lot of people calling on Taylor Ward.

And do you, how much of an upgrade is Taylor Ward to, because if you're getting Taylor Ward, you're also making him an everyday player, right?

And I don't even know if the Pirates need an everyday player right now.

What they need is a platoon guy against the left-handed pitchers.

So, I think that's why I would lean more towards, like, Lane Thomas or Tyrone Taylor.

Because, like, if you're trading for Taylor Ward, like, you're making him an everyday player.

And, like, I just don't know if they need that.

So, that's where I'm, that's where my head's at, is those two guys.

Tyrone Taylor, Lane Thomas.

Kick the tires on both of them.

Yeah.

I'm with you.

I don't, they don't need an everyday player.

If we're in the trustry here, guys, I don't see any lefty masher coming here.

I don't see them making a move for one.

Do they have to, though?

I don't know that they have to.

Man, I think they do.

It's just, they're just so exposed at this point in time.

I think the best way to put it, if playoffs are your intention, and they are, and this team gets into the playoffs, if any rotation has two lefties in it, they're cooked.

Even just, you bring a lefty out of the pen, and they're cooked.

Yeah.

Yeah, I don't, I'm agreeing with you, DiNardo.

Like, I think they need to address this somehow.

Does one guy, does one guy make that big of a difference?

One guy doesn't, but O'Neal is coming back.

Connor, hopefully, is coming back.

But they, you can't, you also can't just say, well, hey, O'Neal's coming back, and Connor is coming back, so we'll be fine at that point.

Like, they need to add to it.

Like, yeah, that's why they have to get one, again, at least one guy here.

I don't think you can get two guys.

But you better get a guy to more or less replace, like, your Billy Cooks.

Yeah.

Yeah, they probably, they probably do need to get one of these guys.

It's more that I don't think they're going to make a move for a lefty masher.

Yeah.

No, I'm with you.

I don't, I don't know if they're going to make a move.

I think the reason why someone like Tyrone Taylor or Lane Thomas makes sense, though, is because I don't think these guys are going to cost a whole lot, like, at all.

At all.

Like, you're going to be able to get these guys, I think, for just, like, a top 30 prospect.

And, like, I'm not even kidding.

Like, I think it's going to be as easy as that.

So, like, I would, I would do that.

I would do that immediately if you can.

Because, like DiNardo said, the goal here is postseason.

And if you find yourself in a series against the Cubs or the Braves or the Phillies, like, do you have a shot even?

Because you got to face Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga.

Like, do you even have a shot in a short series against the Cubs?

Cooks.

Do you even have a shot against the Phillies if they're throwing out Christopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo?

Like, do you even have a chance?

They don't have a chance because they can't get lefties out either.

But you're also, I think you've got to address it right now.

And what this also does is it potentially pushes Marcelo Zuno off your team, too.

Like, I want to add this in here.

Like, the guys we're talking about is, again, revisit 2024 when they got Brian De La Cruz.

Like, they were the Jesse Winkers of that time.

Jesse Winker was traded for Tyler Stewart, who, based off of baseball reference right now, isn't playing anymore.

So, what are we doing?

Yeah.

Make it happen.

You need to have a lefty.

I'll just say this.

obviously, lefty makes sense.

But you need someone who can hit a lefty.

Whether they're a left-handed bat, right-handed bat, whatever.

Because I just say that, too.

It's not going to happen.

But, people are talking about our boy out in San Francisco is making, like, $12 million.

That's not going to happen.

But, anyways.

But that's also the same thing.

Like, yeah.

Also, I don't think it's going to be a guy who's, like, going to be an everyday player.

Because you're not going to find a fit to play that person.

Like, you need to have a rental.

I think a rental makes sense.

And I think, again, someone who you...

Yeah, a platoon rental makes the most sense here.

And so, that's where Taylor and Thomas fit the mold.

Go get your Gabby Sanchez.

Go get what?

Your Gabby Sanchez.

Go get your Gabby Sanchez.

Boom.

There you go.

All right.

Last slide that I have here, before we get into some mock trades, is starting pitching.

I really just put this to left-handed pitchers, by the way.

I think if you're going after a starter, you get a lefty.

You don't have one in your rotation right now.

They play up at PNC Park.

I think Reid Detmers is obviously the best possible candidate out of these guys.

But he also comes with some additional years of control.

And he's going to cost a lot.

Foster Griffin for the Nationals is in here.

Trevor Rodgers with the Orioles.

And then Robbie Ray with the Giants.

Rounding that out.

There really aren't a lot.

I was looking around to see what was even out there from a left-handed pitching standpoint.

And there's just not a lot.

There's just not a lot out there at all.

There are some really terrible pitchers out there that are just not going to help your team at all.

But these are the four that would help you.

Right?

And like Detmers is going to cost the most out of these guys just because he comes with, two more years of control after this.

The rest would all be rentals.

Also, keep in mind, that's Reid Detmers and Henry Davis up there on the top of this picture.

I don't know if you caught that.

Yeah, sure did.

I was ready to go on a little tangent about how I really want Reid Detmers.

I don't anymore.

I'm good.

Two guys asking for Henry Davis to be their personal catcher every week.

Here's the other thing with Detmers, though.

Ben Cherington loves the 2020 MLB draft, apparently.

That's a good point.

You've got Detmers in there, too.

He could collect.

That would be, what, his fourth 2020 draft pick that he's acquired, I think.

I think he's supporting that.

I was going to say, I could be more than that, Jim.

Yeah.

He's a big fan of that draft.

A huge fan.

The asking price for him is going to be outrageous, though.

He's good.

Plain and simple, he's really good.

The Angels are weird.

They have no idea what they're doing.

They're going to ask for the moon.

He's probably not getting moved.

Well, I'll say this.

I think he probably doesn't get moved.

I'll side with that.

He probably doesn't get moved.

This is probably one of those deals where it just makes more sense to wait until the offseason to do.

But if you can get, it's almost like the Mason Miller thing in my mind.

That would be a luxury.

Just go get the rental guys.

Go get the Trevor Rodgers, Foster Griffins.

Robbie Ray.

I know a lot of people seem like they're sick on it.

I like to look at him.

And it's not that I'm not, but of course, he also costs a lot of money.

They're putting a lot of resources in this.

I think this is more of a luxury to do this than it is a necessity like the bullpen.

I do want him to go after a starter, but I guess what I'm going to say is Reid Detmers, if you really do like him as a pitcher, and I'm talking for the Pirates, like if they do really like him and envision him because you have the two more years of control, maybe go get him.

Because he is a lefty.

It helps out this year.

Mitch Keller is getting dealt at some point.

We all know that.

Maybe this is where that makes them feel comfortable.

It's like, okay, now we got Reid Detmers in here.

You're going to keep him.

But now this offseason, like, okay, we got our Mitch Keller replacement.

Let's unload him this offseason.

That's how they're going to operate.