LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — As Clint Hurdle prepared to step onto the MLB Network set inside the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort on Wednesday afternoon, he received news of a trade.
The Cardinals, one of three teams to finish ahead of the Pirates in the Central Division in 2017, reportedly acquired outfielder Marcell Ozuna from the Marlins. Meanwhile, the only rumors surrounding the Pirates at the Winter Meetings involve them possibly trading Andrew McCutchen, Gerrit Cole or Josh Harrison.
Neither Hurdle nor Neal Huntington are concerned with what the competition is doing this offseason. The Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers were expected to be aggressive, but that did little to influence the Pirates' strategy.
"With respect to postseason odds, I don’t think our odds were very good in ’13, ’14 or ’15," Huntington told reporters Wednesday afternoon. "In fact, I think our best odds were going into the ’16 season, so we want to be respectful of what the projections are. Ultimately we’re going to look internally and how do we feel we will compete. Who are the players we feel will succeed? Who are the players we feel have a chance to bounce back, and where do we think that puts us within our division? Most importantly, we have to take care of our business."
Both Huntington and Hurdle expressed confidence in Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco producing more in 2018. There's also a foundation in place with a young starting rotation that showed progress, as well as a bullpen that features one of the best closers in Major League Baseball.
But the Pirates' strategy at the Winter Meetings remains a mystery. After Huntington told fans at PiratesFest last Saturday that the club could possibly "retool," there were few new rumors circulating Wednesday regarding their involvement in the trade or free-agent markets.
Cole's agent, Scott Boras, told reporters he has seen "no evidence" the Pirates are considering trading Cole, although multiple reports have surfaced that the Yankees, Orioles, Twins and Rangers have expressed interest in the 27-year-old right-handed starter.
The Giants, who were unable to land Giancarlo Stanton or Shohei Ohtani, were reportedly interested in McCutchen, but they pivoted to available outfielders with longer contracts. Since their pursuit of the Reds' Billy Hamilton stalled, they could either circle back to McCutchen or hand the starting center field job to prospect Steven Duggar.
One industry source told DKPittsburghSports.com that the rumor of a possible trade involving Harrison "has legs," but the Angels, one team thought to be interested in the 30-year-old second baseman, acquired Ian Kinsler from the Tigers. The Mets and Yankees are among a number of teams in the market for a second baseman.
The Meetings will end Thursday with the Rule 5 Draft — the Pirates have the 10th pick — but movement will not halt once executives return to their respective cities. The shopping season will be in full swing until the end of the month and could continue beyond New Year's Day.
Typically there are a number of free-agent signings prior to the Winter Meetings, but they are being held one week later this year. As a result, the market was somewhat delayed. It wasn't until late Wednesday that the reliever market began to accelerate, with Juan Nicasio signing a two-year, $17 million contract with the Mariners.
"It's sort of a bottom-up approach that the market is taking this year," Boras said. "I think the largest deal that's been done has been a $38 million deal. You can see that the clubs are positioning themselves by getting through the trade market to really have a definition of what they want to do going forward."
Huntington said: "You guys are living it. You’re not chasing rumors, not just Pirates rumors. But you’re not chasing rumors all over the lobby, and it’s an interesting time. Part of it is the free-agent market. Part of it is trade market. Part of it is, again, where clubs are in their win curve and win expectation. Part of it is where clubs are with respect to the dollars they have available in all size markets."
Like many clubs, the Pirates have expressed a willingness to listen to offers on most of their current players. That strategy could be advantageous considering the high prices in free agency.
According to FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman, outfielder J.D. Martinez, who is perceived as the top free agent on the market, is expected to receive a six-year, $150 million contract.
After failed trade talks with the Nationals, Huntington told reporters on the final day of the Winter Meetings last December that it was "unlikely" the Pirates would trade McCutchen, because teams don't typically move a player of that stature late in the offseason.
But he wasn't ready to issue such a statement more than halfway through Day 3.
"I would not want to handicap any 'yes' move, 'no' move as we leave this session, let alone tomorrow leaving the Winter Meetings or pre-holiday time," he said.
EXTRA BASES
• The Rule 5 Draft, which begins Thursday at 9 a.m., could present the Pirates with an opportunity to add a relief pitcher. Last year, they selected Tyler Webb, only to return the left-handed reliever to the Yankees.
Huntington said the Pirates have a few players they are targeting — there are two open spots on the 40-man roster — but they could choose not to use the pick.
"There are players we talked about," he said. "We obviously have the spots. Part of it will be who’s there when we pick. If there’s a player we like available I would anticipate we’ll select one, but if not, we’ll not use the pick."
Teams can select an eligible, unprotected player in the Rule 5 Draft for $100,000, but that player must remain either on the team’s 25-man roster or major-league disabled list for the entire next season. If a team wants to remove a Rule 5 player from its active roster, the team must put him on waivers. If he’s claimed, the same restrictions apply to the claiming team. If he clears waivers, the selecting team must offer the player back to his original club for $50,000.
• During Hurdle's 30-minute session with reporters, he repeated Huntington's plan to fill the Pirates' need for a fourth outfielder. Although the club is exploring the free-agent and trade markets, both said the job could be given to either Adam Frazier or Sean Rodriguez, depending on which player is needed more in the infield.
However, Hurdle acknowledged the Pirates could benefit from having an experienced outfielder to serve in that role.
"To have an outfielder, though, a guy that’s got the experience, can move around out there, I think it’s definitely something we’re having very meaningful dialogue about," he said.
• Francisco Cervelli was limited to 81 games this season because of four stints on the disabled list, the second consecutive season he was limited by injuries. But the Pirates lost their only experienced backup, Chris Stewart, in free agency.
Hurdle, though, is of the opinion that Elias Diaz, a 27-year-old with only 67 major league games on his résumé, is ready to not only back up Cervelli but to be an everyday catcher if need be.
"I have every confidence in him, for him, if need be, to be a big league catcher, an everyday catcher," he said.