The importance of setting the tone for the offseason
If you listened to the latest episode of the Podcast To Be Named Later, you might have heard Chris Halicke and I discuss the importance of the Pirates setting the tone for their offseason during next week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
The Pirates have been linked to a plethora of free agents, including KyleSchwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Josh Naylor before he re-signed with Seattle. They’ve also been connected to trade targets, per Jeff Passan, such as Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Brandon Lowe, CJ Abrams and even Ketel Marte.
Ben Cherington and Travis Williams continue to acknowledge the need to be aggressive after failing to do so last offseason. But now it’s time for the dominoes to fall and moves to be executed. Starting things out by signing a significant free agent or even trading for the right bat would go a long way toward sending a message to the fan base that things will indeed be different this offseason.
If they’re actually serious about spending money and doing what it takes to improve the lineup, a starting move that would make sense would be to sign EugenioSuarez to a two-year deal worth between $30 to $35 million.
Suarez, 34, is coming off a year in which he matched a career high with 49 home runs and set a career high with 118 RBIs. He did struggle with a .189 batting average over 53 games with the Mariners after being acquired from the Diamondbacks, but Suarez’s power — 325 career homers in 1,630 games — could certainly help a Pirates team that ranked dead last in Major League Baseball with 117 home runs. To put that dreadful number into perspective, the Cardinals finished 29th with 148 home runs. The Pirates were the least threatening team in baseball in terms of the long ball, and by a hefty margin.
I’m not saying that Suarez, or a player of his caliber, will move the needle on his own. This team needs two or three solid bats to transform this lineup into something formidable. But executing on a deal with a player like him and showing that there’s action behind the words being spoken this offseason would be a good start to the Pirates’ efforts this winter.
THE ASYLUM
The importance of setting the tone for the offseason
If you listened to the latest episode of the Podcast To Be Named Later, you might have heard Chris Halicke and I discuss the importance of the Pirates setting the tone for their offseason during next week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
The Pirates have been linked to a plethora of free agents, including Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Josh Naylor before he re-signed with Seattle. They’ve also been connected to trade targets, per Jeff Passan, such as Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Brandon Lowe, CJ Abrams and even Ketel Marte.
Ben Cherington and Travis Williams continue to acknowledge the need to be aggressive after failing to do so last offseason. But now it’s time for the dominoes to fall and moves to be executed. Starting things out by signing a significant free agent or even trading for the right bat would go a long way toward sending a message to the fan base that things will indeed be different this offseason.
If they’re actually serious about spending money and doing what it takes to improve the lineup, a starting move that would make sense would be to sign Eugenio Suarez to a two-year deal worth between $30 to $35 million.
Suarez, 34, is coming off a year in which he matched a career high with 49 home runs and set a career high with 118 RBIs. He did struggle with a .189 batting average over 53 games with the Mariners after being acquired from the Diamondbacks, but Suarez’s power — 325 career homers in 1,630 games — could certainly help a Pirates team that ranked dead last in Major League Baseball with 117 home runs. To put that dreadful number into perspective, the Cardinals finished 29th with 148 home runs. The Pirates were the least threatening team in baseball in terms of the long ball, and by a hefty margin.
I’m not saying that Suarez, or a player of his caliber, will move the needle on his own. This team needs two or three solid bats to transform this lineup into something formidable. But executing on a deal with a player like him and showing that there’s action behind the words being spoken this offseason would be a good start to the Pirates’ efforts this winter.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!