2026 Pirates Thread

Bison13

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I like the trade, they need to charge something to get a better bat on the infield with Griffin out for another month. My only issue is that I think they might be looking at this kid as the replacement for when. Lowe leaves after the year. Hopefully the bullpen arm helps out as well, they still need to get one more of those too
 

KingLando

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I like the trade, they need to charge something to get a better bat on the infield with Griffin out for another month. My only issue is that I think they might be looking at this kid as the replacement for when. Lowe leaves after the year. Hopefully the bullpen arm helps out as well, they still need to get one more of those too
Eisert is underwhelming but an arm is an arm at this point. Can't ve nhch worse. Gonzalez is intriguing but yeah I think that means Lowe is gone...or at least more likely he is.
 

LB99

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I like the trade, they need to charge something to get a better bat on the infield with Griffin out for another month. My only issue is that I think they might be looking at this kid as the replacement for when. Lowe leaves after the year. Hopefully the bullpen arm helps out as well, they still need to get one more of those too

I don’t know these White Sox players well enough to really have an opinion. Although, I do know that organization has been praised for its ability to accumulate young talent and turn things around rather quickly to be competitive. My first thought was where is Temarr Johnson, as I thought he was drafted as a SS when the Buccos took him #4 overall in 2022. After doing a little digging, I realized he was moved full time to 2B last year and spent the whole year in Double A working on it. I also thought that you couldn’t trade draft picks in MLB?
 

KingLando

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I don’t know these White Sox players well enough to really have an opinion. Although, I do know that organization has been praised for its ability to accumulate young talent and turn things around rather quickly to be competitive. My first thought was where is Temarr Johnson, as I thought he was drafted as a SS when the Buccos took him #4 overall in 2022. After doing a little digging, I realized he was moved full time to 2B last year and spent the whole year in Double A working on it. I also thought that you couldn’t trade draft picks in MLB?
Generally that's true but teams can trade comp balance picks for players
 
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Bison13

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I don’t know these White Sox players well enough to really have an opinion. Although, I do know that organization has been praised for its ability to accumulate young talent and turn things around rather quickly to be competitive. My first thought was where is Temarr Johnson, as I thought he was drafted as a SS when the Buccos took him #4 overall in 2022. After doing a little digging, I realized he was moved full time to 2B last year and spent the whole year in Double A working on it. I also thought that you couldn’t trade draft picks in MLB?
You can only trade the competitive balance pics, not your slotted pics in each round.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Johnson, he never had the arm to play shortstop and he had too much swing and miss in his swing even back when he got drafted. I don’t know if he’s ever going to be a big league player let alone a star
 
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LB99

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You can only trade the competitive balance pics, not your slotted pics in each round.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Johnson, he never had the arm to play shortstop and he had too much swing and miss in his swing even back when he got drafted. I don’t know if he’s ever going to be a big league player let alone a star

I agree that he may never be a star, but even if he could be just a solid MLB contributor in the future, that would be good to go along with Griffin, Reynolds, and Cruz. Those are the young stars of the organization right now. I sure hope the Buccos realize the need for Lowe and O’Hearn to remain on the roster. Johnson is only 21 yrs old, so he still has time to improve and develop. Here’s a scouting report I found in him and his switch to second base. There are still reasons to be encouraged.

 

Mufasa94

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I like the trade, they need to charge something to get a better bat on the infield with Griffin out for another month. My only issue is that I think they might be looking at this kid as the replacement for when. Lowe leaves after the year. Hopefully the bullpen arm helps out as well, they still need to get one more of those too
Lowe just turned 32 and is on pace for his career year. I unfortunately expect him to be looking to cash in on the opportunity.
 
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Bison13

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Lowe just turned 32 and is on pace for his career year. I unfortunately expect him to be looking to cash in on the opportunity.
he should, he is out performing his current deal, but at age 32, not sure he should get more than 4 years. I want Pittsburgh to extend him, but will they offer 4 years and 75 million? I think someone will give him at least that and maybe even a 5th year or more.
 

LB99

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he should, he is out performing his current deal, but at age 32, not sure he should get more than 4 years. I want Pittsburgh to extend him, but will they offer 4 years and 75 million? I think someone will give him at least that and maybe even a 5th year or more.
I can’t see the thrifty Pirates doing that.
 

KingLando

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Nice win today
Not thrilled with the draft but they're 18-23 year old kids. Time will tell
 

LB99

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LB99

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A little write up about the Pirates draft selections so far by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. (I don’t know why the link says notice of privacy, but it will open to the article)

 
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PSUFTG

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I don’t know these White Sox players well enough to really have an opinion. Although, I do know that organization has been praised for its ability to accumulate young talent and turn things around rather quickly to be competitive. My first thought was where is Temarr Johnson, as I thought he was drafted as a SS when the Buccos took him #4 overall in 2022. After doing a little digging, I realized he was moved full time to 2B last year and spent the whole year in Double A working on it. I also thought that you couldn’t trade draft picks in MLB?
Some FYI:

Termarr was drafted as a 2B, has never played significantly at SS (a handful of games in A ball - but overwhelmingly at 2B).
In his minor league career, around 350 games at 2B, less than 50 at SS.

When drafted, some considered him the best pure hitting talent in the High School crop - since then his best batting average was the 270 mark he put up in AA Altoona last year. He did that with no power. Think "Ke'Bryan Hayes" type results.

He is currently hitting below 200 in AAA.

The only thing he has done consistently at the plate is draw a ton of walks. Walks in about 15% of his plate appearances during his career.
Again, puts the ball in play - no power to speak of - and low batting average ("Ke'Bryan Hayes" again?)

Defensively does not provide anything special - average glovework at 2B - not exactly a high end commodity.

On the plus side? As a young HS draftee, he has always been playing at a younger than typical age for his level - but that is now fading away after spending part of 2024 and al of 2025 in AA, and now stagnant (horrible?) results at AAA this year.
Still relatively a young prospect (just 22 years old), but the sand is rapidly running out of the hourglass.


Aside from Comp picks, you can't trade draft picks - and the ability to trade Comp picks is new.
You also can't trade recent draft selections (in their first year after being drafted) though teams often use the PTBNL route to move recent draftees (like the Pirates did, IIRC, in that awful organizational FUBAR trade for Chris Archer - when they "threw in" Shane Baz as a PTBNL).
 

FGDreadnought

Redshirt
Jul 1, 2022
34
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It is nice to see the bucs hitting after the lack of in last season. I'm in shock to see the scores this season, happy shock that is. Hope the bull pen can improve in the second half of the season.
 

NittanyBuff

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Eisert is underwhelming but an arm is an arm at this point. Can't ve nhch worse. Gonzalez is intriguing but yeah I think that means Lowe is gone...or at least more likely he is.

Raise it. 🏴‍☠️ Nice sweep of the Brewers to head into the all star break.

7 of their last 10, sweep Brew Crew to go into break, couldn't have gone any better.
 

psu83

Junior
May 29, 2001
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Bullpen strikes again-DFA Santana already! Eisert looks like another Cherrington gem acquisition! Klueless Kelley in fine form again wasting Mlodzinski in game 1.
 
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KingLando

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it's not even surprising anymore--I don't understand the staff's faith in Santana at this point. I'm shocked when he doesn't blow a lead
 

Mufasa94

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Buccos lose opener to Yankees. Concern that Ashcraft was lousy/bad/hit hard (choose whatever unflattering description) for the 3rd time in his last 4 starts. It is the most innings he has pitched in a season in his pro career, and it is only July.

Here’s to hoping it is just a bad stretch and his arm isn’t tired/dead as far as effectiveness goes.
 

KingLando

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Buccos lose opener to Yankees. Concern that Ashcraft was lousy/bad/hit hard (choose whatever unflattering description) for the 3rd time in his last 4 starts. It is the most innings he has pitched in a season in his pro career, and it is only July.

Here’s to hoping it is just a bad stretch and his arm isn’t tired/dead as far as effectiveness goes.
It's my fault. I praised Ashcroft and then he collapsed
 

Bison13

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Don’t exactly know why he went with Mlodzinski after Keller‘s five innings, the lineup was already loaded with lefties. Got lucky that he only gave up the three run bomb and that bullpen did their job after.

The team has been striking out a ton since they got back from the All-Star break. They are scoring some runs, but would like to see the bat on the ball a little bit more.
 
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LB99

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Don’t exactly know why he went with Mlodzinski after Keller‘s five innings, the lineup was already loaded with lefties. Got lucky that he only gave up the three run bomb and that bullpen did their job after.

The team has been striking out a ton since they got back from the All-Star break. They are scoring some runs, but would like to see the bat on the ball a little bit more.

I agree. It’s tough to be picky as a Bucco fan though. A win is a win, especially against the Yankees.

Raise it. 🏴‍☠️

 
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hapval8286

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Jan 4, 2013
145
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Still holding on to the hope for a strong second half and a playoff appearance because...
-over 4 weeks ahead of total wins compared to last season and
-tied for 10th most wins in the majors
Only 4.5 spots behind Cubbies which makes the 3-game series starting tomorrow a huge one...close the gap.
 
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BCS PSU

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Still holding on to the hope for a strong second half and a playoff appearance because...
-over 4 weeks ahead of total wins compared to last season and
-tied for 10th most wins in the majors
Only 4.5 spots behind Cubbies which makes the 3-game series starting tomorrow a huge one...close the gap.
This team still can't win more than three games in a row, let alone go on a streak like the Red Sox are doing now. That's why in the end, they probably aren't going to finish much above or below .500. Their schedule does get easier in August, but they also only play 8 home games in that month. It's incredible that their GM still hasn't bolstered he bull pen with at least two legitimate MLB relief pitchers.

Although I don't have much good to say about that organization, I do give them respect for hanging in there despite playing without their starting catcher, first baseman, shortstop and center fielder for the past several weeks.
 

Bison13

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Valdez has made Cruz expendable. All prospects not named Hernandez or Gray should be available.
Johnson, Sanford and Stafura look to be blocked by Griffin, Gonzalez, gray, and potentially the Gonzales they just picked up from the Sox. All of them should be heading somewhere else in the next week to get a relief arm. There are some other outfield bats coming through like the password and Lonnie White, who could go if teams need someone in that position. I wouldn’t be against giving up Barco either though I think he’s our best left-handed arm in the system
 
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KingLando

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Still holding on to the hope for a strong second half and a playoff appearance because...
-over 4 weeks ahead of total wins compared to last season and
-tied for 10th most wins in the majors
Only 4.5 spots behind Cubbies which makes the 3-game series starting tomorrow a huge one...close the gap.
I wish I was that optimistic
Chandler has been better recently and Skenes looked good his last time out
Absolutely need to upgrade the pen though if they want a shot. Need a legit closer IMO