However anyone might care to assess the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade -- and I really don't, to be honest -- it's vital to recognize the motive. Because that's what defines the Pirates, just as it has for the entirety of the Bob Nutting tenure.
It's not about grading individual deals, fun as that might be. It's not about Hayes' value. It's not about whichever random 34-year-old reliever or whichever Class A prospect they'd receive in return. It's about the why. It's about what compelled Nutting to sit in some room at 115 Federal, presumably, with Ben Cherington still employed as his top baseball executive for some insane reason, and hear out the specifics of moving Hayes.
Track that, and the answer's glowing in the dark.
It's money. With this owner, it's always money.
Which explains why MitchKeller’s being discussed, as well. Because Keller, like Hayes, has a ton of money he's owed for years to come. Because Keller, unlike, say, a pitching prospect who might net even more via trade, brings the bonus of cutting more payroll for years to come.
THE ASYLUM
DK: The motive's always money
Two-word analysis: Salary dump.
However anyone might care to assess the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade -- and I really don't, to be honest -- it's vital to recognize the motive. Because that's what defines the Pirates, just as it has for the entirety of the Bob Nutting tenure.
It's not about grading individual deals, fun as that might be. It's not about Hayes' value. It's not about whichever random 34-year-old reliever or whichever Class A prospect they'd receive in return. It's about the why. It's about what compelled Nutting to sit in some room at 115 Federal, presumably, with Ben Cherington still employed as his top baseball executive for some insane reason, and hear out the specifics of moving Hayes.
Track that, and the answer's glowing in the dark.
It's money. With this owner, it's always money.
Which explains why Mitch Keller’s being discussed, as well. Because Keller, like Hayes, has a ton of money he's owed for years to come. Because Keller, unlike, say, a pitching prospect who might net even more via trade, brings the bonus of cutting more payroll for years to come.
They are who they are.
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