Lysowski: Pirates won't sign Ohtani ... so what should they do?

By Lance Lysowski

Dec 2, 2017 • 12:00 am

9.7K

Yes, Neal Huntington spoke in a serious tone Wednesday when he told 93.7 The Fan that the Pirates would do "everything in our power" to land Japanese pitcher Shohei Ohtani.

The comment drew the ire of the fan base, many of whom are tired of such empty statements from the people in charge of the city's baseball club. Yes, the anger is justified, but Huntington wasn't wrong by making the statement.

After all, each of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball will push to sign the 23-year-old player being called the Japanese Babe Ruth. Surely Huntington knows how unrealistic that attempt is, though. So with the Ohtani matter put to rest, what should the Pirates actually do this offseason with the Winter Meetings only eight days away?

Ohtani, who is 23 years old, is realistic financially. The Pirates could afford to pay the $20 million posting fee and they have the most international signing bonus money to spend among National League clubs. Ohtani will sign a standard minor-league contract and will make the major-league minimum as a rookie, then be subject to standard raises before arbitration and eligible for free agency after six seasons of service time.

But Ohtani is seeking much more than money. Only one piece of that is an assurance that the club he chooses is dedicated to winning in 2018. In the same interview, Huntington was non-committal in keeping Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole for next season.

So, bye, bye, Shohei. Trevor Williams will be disappointed that his sales pitch fell on deaf ears:

Dear Mr. Ohtani,
You would be a great fit for the Pittsburgh Pirates! We have IC Light, Primanti Bros, pierogi races, and average to above average jokes in the clubhouse.
Yinz (?) will love it here in the 412.
Respectfully,
Trevor Williams
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) November 29, 2017

The Pirates' projected payroll is currently $103 million, which would set a franchise record for opening day, so salary will need shed. No, I don't see McCutchen or Cole being dealt, although the return for both could be tempting. No, Felipe Rivero won't be dealt, despite national writers insisting the Pirates could or should trade him as soon as possible.

Josh Harrison is the top candidate to be dealt. The second baseman is 30 years old and was an All-Star this season, batting .272/.339/.432. He's under contract for $10.25 million in 2018 with team options for the following two seasons. There are several teams in need of either a second baseman or third baseman, so there won't be a shortage of interest. Harrison would also yield a useful return, considering the organization is thin in the outfield and help is needed in the bullpen.

Harrison is important to this roster, both on and off the field. But the Pirates have a surplus of infielders and there's a way of replacing his production for less money.

So, with that in mind, what should the Pirates do?

• Acquire an outfielder and a young reliever in any trade for Harrison. Adam Frazier has proven capable of faring well defensively in both corner outfield spots, but he'd be the starting second baseman in this scenario.

Also, the market for relief pitchers is deep, but it would be smart to acquire a young arm making the minimum since Steven Brault is an internal solution.

• Go bargain-shopping for additional relief pitching. Sure, the Pirates should bring back Juan Nicasio. Left-handers batted just .208 against Nicasio in 2017. But he's likely going to maximize his value, which will mean a multi-year deal for at least $6 million per year. You think Huntington is regretting the two-year, $11 million deal he gave to Daniel Hudson last offseason?

I'm not talking about Sam Moll-level bargain shopping, but go sign someone like Boone Logan, a 33-year-old lefty with postseason experience who had 28 strikeouts in 21 innings for the Indians in 2017.

Logan will likely have to sign a one-year deal after tearing his left lat muscle in July, abruptly ending his season.

• Trade for third baseman Maikel Franco of the Phillies. He hit .280/.343/.497 (130 OPS+) with 14 home runs in 80 games in 2015.

The 25-year-old Franco slipped to .255/.306/.427 (94 OPS+) in 2016 and .230/.281/.409 (81 OPS+) in 2017. But he's hit at least 24 home runs in back-to-back seasons and could benefit from a change of scenery. Franco won't be a free agent until 2022 and is in the first of four seasons of arbitration eligibility.

His projected salary after arbitration is $3.25 million. It's time to give up on Jung Ho Kang.

The Phillies are seeking starting pitching. The Pirates have a surplus of that in the organization. That would give this club a lineup that includes McCutchen, Franco, Frazier, Josh Bell, Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte, Jordy Mercer and either Francisco Cervelli or Elias Diaz.

Not bad, right? Plus, Sean Rodriguez, José Osuna, possibly Max Moroff and the fourth outfielder acquired via trade on the bench.

Sure, this sounds like the episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza is thinking of a way for the Yankees to trade for Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds, but this is a blueprint that shows how the Pirates could address their needs while shedding some salary — which is much more realistic than luring Ohtani to Pittsburgh.

This team needs much more than this shopping list. They could use a top-of-the-rotation starter like Ohtani, as well as a proven power hitter, but we'll leave pie-in-the-sky scenarios to Costanza. Or for anyone who thinks Ohtani will actually pick the Pirates.

WHAT'S BREWING

• Matt Gajtka, Chris Bradford and Matt Sunday provided extensive coverage of the Penguins' 4-0 over the Sabres in Buffalo on Friday night. Be sure to check it out here. They'll be back at PPG Paints Arena tonight for the second half of the home-and-home.

• Our full football crew -- Dale Lolley, Christopher Carter, Matt Sunday and DK -- is heading out to Cincinnati for the Steelers' Monday night game.

• It's Saturday, so it's Site Stuff day, and DK talks about a personal challenge.

VIDEO

Gajtka and Bradford on the Penguins win from Buffalo: