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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 9.27.17
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Bill Brink
12:00
Good morning and thanks for stopping by the final Pirates chat of the year. Thanks for all the questions you've already submitted, and keep them coming. Here we go ...
J234
12:00
Will the payroll be cut since attendance was down considerably this season? If so, it sure appears the Pirates are in the middle of spiraling down the drain again. I feel like I am being held hostage by Nutting.
Bill Brink
12:02
I'm fascinated to see whether it does. I ran the numbers last night. Bear with me: If they pick up McCutchen's option, decline LeBlanc's and Stewart's, Kang is able to collect his salary and they don't add a single external player, their opening-day payroll will be about $95 million, very close to what it was this year. Can they match that and try to put a good team on the field without trading a high-salary player, or does revenue sharing and the influx of Disney money help? We don't know yet.
Pat Annegan
12:02
Who will be in the pirate outfield next year?
Bill Brink
12:03
Polanco and Marte, for sure. They could trade McCutchen this winter to maximize value, because the acquiring team gets a full year and the right to offer a qualifying offer after 2018, or try to compete and move him at the deadline if it doesn't happen. It depends on how the outfield market shapes up this year
Chuck
12:04
Do you have any encouraging words for discouraged Pirate fans?  McCutchen's performance last night offered a momentary uplift for Pirate fans disheartened by the team's poor showing in 2017.  Reading Pirate blogs gives the impression that fans feel that there is no hope next year for this team with its present perceived tightfisted owner.  Given the present state of affairs, do you think that there is any hope for the Pirates to realistically contend for a divisional title or wild-card playoff spot in 2018?  If so, what is your reasoning?
Bill Brink
12:06
Let's play glass half full: Marte plays a full season and is good; Kang gets into the country and hits 25 dingers; McCutchen stays and is more consistent; Cole stays and looks more like 2015 Cole than the past two years and keeps the ball in the park; Polanco stays healthy and hits; Hudson, Santana and Neverauskas get the ball to Rivero; Cervelli stays healthy; Trevor Williams makes 30 solid starts; someone else is passable in the No. 5 spot, some combination of Brault/Glasnow/Kingham. Contention is possible, and remember, almost everything went wrong this year.
Al in NJ
12:06
Hi, Bill.  In your opinion what three things should the Pirates do this off season to give themselves a legitimate chance of contending next year? Or is that not even possible?
Bill Brink
12:07
I think it's possible. 1) Keep McCutchen, Cole and Harrison. 2) Acquire a legitimate fourth outfielder to cover for injuries to Marte and Polanco. 3) Find some power somewhere.
MSBOB
12:07
If the Astros, DBacks, Rockies, Twins and Indians can make the playoffs why can't the Pirates?
Bill Brink
12:08
They can, they just haven't for the past two years. More things need to go right for the Pirates, and this year everything went wrong.
OHIO412FAN
12:08
Bill, with the season coming an end very soon, what can we takeaway from this Pirates season? What needs to change in order to get this team back into being a consistently qualifying playoff team, if not better? And, what are the biggest offseason questions surrounding them?
Bill Brink
12:10
The biggest questions are whether or not they will trade McCutchen, Cole or Harrison. Takeaways: They either need more power or have to figure out how to score without it; Williams and Kuhl look like rotation options for next year, while the next step for Glasnow is uncertain; they need to find a way to keep Gregory Polanco healthy; second and third base could be more of a rotation if Kang doesn't come back.
B. Beane
12:10
Big moves this off season(e.g., trading Cole and/or Cutch) or more fringe moves and resurrection attempts?
Bill Brink
12:12
If you see a big move, I think it will be more along the lines of a trade of one of their current players. I don't see a big free-agent acquisition or trade bringing a high-profile player into the organization. Could see a fourth outfielder, another starter, relief help.
TrenchDavis
12:12
Who is more likely on opening day roster next year? Luplow, Moroff, or Meadows?
Bill Brink
12:13
Luplow or Moroff. Not Meadows. Depends on if they sign another fourth outfielder, or think Luplow can be that guy, and if Kang is back or not, because that affects how Harrison bounces around.
OHIO412FAN
12:13
It seems to me the front office and management never seems to pull through on getting this club to the next level. What’s holding them back for doing so? What do you think they can do differently next year for better results in the long term future?
Bill Brink
12:14
I would agree that that didn't happen in the past two years, but they built teams that got to the playoffs three years in a row. Now they have to find a way to do it without MVP-caliber McCutchen. This year, everything that could go wrong did, with regards to Taillon, Marte and Kang. Next year they will adjust accordingly.
B. Beane
12:14
The brass does not seem as high on Kingham as they were pre-injury, though his stats are great. Did his stuff decline?
Bill Brink
12:14
They like him a lot, but they did not need to promote him and get a look at him because he is expected to be granted a fourth option for next season, which gives them more time to evaluate.
TrenchDavis
12:14
Do the Pirates sign a viable major league FULL TIME third baseman if need be? So rhat Freese can go back to his intended role.
Bill Brink
12:15
Hurdle alluded to Harrison moving around the field more next year, so if Kang isn't back, Harrison will probably split time between second and third, possibly right field to keep Polanco off his feet.
12:16
What other questions do we have today?
Nate
12:18
Why do fans not understand that expenses have to be lower than revenue, and since Pirates have lower revenue streams this equals lower expenses (i.e. payroll). And that Nutting can't just write a check as an influx to operations, as he isn't sole owner of the franchise? Is it strictly passion that jades, or a lack of caring about the business side?
Bill Brink
12:20
The majority probably do (Twitter is a bad barometer for fan opinion) but the Pirates don't help their cause in this department when they trade two prospects to dump Liriano's salary, then give away Nicasio. Reasoning and rational arguments get lost in the noise.
TrenchDavis
12:20
Based upon previous answer of Harrison playing more third next year, doesn't hat mean they might see Frazier as an everyday second baseman?  Let's face it. His bat has to be in the lineup right?
Bill Brink
12:21
I don't think they think his defense is everyday level yet, and I would expect Harrison to play somewhere every day, second or third or outfield, so Frazier might start at second when Harrison is at third or in a corner if one of those guys has a bad matchup or needs a day.
TrenchDavis
12:21
I really like how the bullpen next year is shaping up with a mix of young solid arms and veterens. Seems only to need a lefty specialist. Your thoughts?
Bill Brink
12:22
I agree, with one caveat. Hurdle doesn't like lefty specialists, so they need another lefty who isn't their closer who can get lefties and righties out.
Steve
12:23
As you stated, the payroll is around the $100M mark already w/o any big moves, and the Bucs could probably use some power. With this being the case, is the best bet to hope that Marte and Polanco tap into some, or that the Pirates pick-up on some of the trends that were happening around the rest of the league? As Olney has been writing, the market will be suppressed for power hitters, but none are a fit for 2B or 3B (maybe 4th OF).
Bill Brink
12:24
And Buster is absolutely right. There's so much to be had now, they don't just need more power, they need a bunch more to keep pace with the league. The best hope is probably that they tap into some internally, because a three-true-outcomes guy is not really the type of player Hurdle and this coaching staff prefer.
TrenchDavis
12:24
Is Diaz the long term answer behind the plate? If he can hit .250 it seems as though his defense is solid and pitch calling has improved.
Bill Brink
12:25
I've been really impressed with him since he's played regularly. The arm is legit, and the pitchers talk about increased comfort with him back there. The bat should be good enough for him to play regularly.
12:26
Lightning round. Go.
Steve
12:28
Is there any chance Nova gets dealt this offseason?
Bill Brink
12:28
Don't think so, unless they try to blow it all up and start from scratch.
TrenchDavis
12:28
I gotta go back to work but I'm curious who you like in the playoffs? I'll say a Cubs indians rematch with Indians in seven.
Bill Brink
12:28
I continue to think Kershaw has to have a Bumgarnerian run at some point, so I like Dodgers-Indians.
Jack
12:30
With Cole, Nova, Taillon, Williams, Kuhl, Glasnow, Brault (to lesser extent Eppler, Kingham, Holmes) all starting options, do we see any depth traded for 3B, OF help, or something else?
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