Going into last offseason, there was a league-wide expectation that the Pirates were going to be sellers. After finishing with the worst record in baseball and needing to restock the farm system, it seemed inevitable.
But some of the players that were expected to be moved went to Ben Cherington before that first trade and made a pitch to keep the group together and try to win in 2021.
“We felt we weren't far off from being a competitive team,” Joe Musgrove said in a Zoom call Tuesday, referring to Jameson Taillon, Josh Bell and Adam Frazier as well. “A couple of injuries, a couple players away from being a really good team. Before any of the trade stuff happened, we [told] the front office in Pittsburgh that we liked the group we had and we were confident our ability to compete.”
The Pirates opted to make the trades instead. Bell was the first, getting shipped to the Nationals on Christmas Eve. Musgrove and Taillon were traded a week apart in January to the Padres and Yankees, respectively. Frazier is still with the Pirates, though there was interest in him for a second straight winter. It seems very likely that he will be dealt either before the July trade deadline or this offseason.
In return, the Pirates brought back 11 prospects, some of whom are either in the majors or close to major league-ready -- like pitchers David Bednar, Miguel Yajure and Wil Crowe -- and others who have high upsides, but are a few years away -- like right-hander Eddy Yean and outfielder Hudson Head, both of whom have potential to be one day listed as top 100 prospects.
It was a move that could prove to be better for the club in the long run. It still stings in the short term, though. The Pirates have started the season 3-7 and are expected to finish with one of the worst records in the game again.
Musgrove didn’t think it had to be that way.
“We believed we were gonna turn into a really good team. But, you know, it's out of my control,” Musgrove said. “We would have enjoyed (being able) to stay here and try to compete as a group of young guys who were hungry to learn and hungry to get better, especially with the changes in the in the coaching staff. Everyone was meshing really well [with Derek] Shelton and Cherington and Oscar [Marin]. I don't know what there is to be said for it, but I really did enjoy my time here. The time I spent here made me a better player.”
Cherington said this winter that the trades were not financially motivated, and that they had the budget to keep the same team together in 2021.
Some in the industry expected Cherington to tear down the roster in his first winter with the club in 2019, but the only major trade he made was sending Starling Marte to the Diamondbacks. Most of the core he inherited were given a chance in 2020, and they finished with the worst record in baseball, 19-41, in an injury-plagued season. They also finished last in the National League Central in 2019.
Musgrove assumed a leadership role with the Pirates in late 2019 and through the 2020 season, one that he admits now was a bit taxing for him. It was certainly appreciated by Shelton and Cherington, who were trying to establish a player-centric culture.
“Joe was a big part of that, in terms of his conversations and his transparency and how he was very respected in our clubhouse,” Shelton said. “With the exception to the days he plays against the Pirates, I will always cheer for Musgrove.”
Musgrove will make his first start at PNC Park since the trade Wednesday, facing Tyler Anderson, one of the veteran starters the Pirates brought in this winter to take the spots of the starters they traded.
Coming off his and the Padres' franchise first no-hitter Friday against the Rangers, Musgrove is treating this game as any other game.
“You can’t look too much into it,” Musgrove said. “You can’t get too emotionally attached to the outing. It will be a little more fun because I’m close with all of those guys, and I know ‘em personally. So, we’ll get to jaw at each other a little bit back and forth. But it’ll be a fun, competitive outing.”
While his time with the Pirates ended sooner than he hoped, Musgrove continued to speak highly to his former hometown. Former, being the key word, because while he is pitching Wednesday, he sold his Lawrenceville home Tuesday.
"I love this city,” Musgrove said. “It really grew on me the couple years I was here. The blue-collar lifestyle. I feel like I cemented myself in the city pretty hard with the way I played the game, and the fact that I just kind of dove myself into the culture of the city. Really tried to take it all and embraced it.”
