Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

I wonder the talks started after someone read the idea on the blog yesterday :)

Yankees don't play giveaway so they probbaly offer them to other teams.

Another busy day with threads-something new seems to break every couple of hours.

i post those rumors and DK provides the detailed information.....haha

Wu420

My but you do have powers beyond those of mortals :)

Swisher would be good, but I'd rather have Xman back.    

A gal can dream, right?

No big loss if neither come here.  I wonder how many threads we would have if we post about all the FA'a or players that may get traded for that we will not sign?

Nady was traded for a couple of reasons and those reason still exist. Swisher had a bad year and owed a lot of money.  Does anyone really think we should chase them?  NIMO

DK,

As soon as we saw that the Yanks were considering moving Nady, I think we all thought the same thing. And someone actually put the thought into a post, yesterday.

We talked about this quite a bit yesterday.

I can't see it happening because they want what we can't afford to give up.

LOL maybe NH read those posts on here and contacted Cashman, anyway i would much rather see Swisher and especially rather see Nady in the OF over Nyjer Morgan this year.

Just more 'talks' that will amount to nothing. If the Yankees move either or both of these players, they naturally want something of value in return. I do not foresee the Pirates parting with young talent or one of our cornerstones for either of these guys. Keep looking NH..........

As for the Nady, the Yanks can hardly expect a return that is on par with what we received, last year. They were still in the playoff hunt last year, and received Nady, who was playing his lights out at the time. Now, he is in the last year of his contract. AND, Demaso Marte, who also was playing well when we gave him up, isn't part of the picture, this time.  

If Nady were to agree to a contract extension we can afford, as a requirement for consummating a trade, and if he can be had for just one pitcher (who isn't named Paul Maholm or Matt Capps), I'd take the trade.

Nick Swisher? Only if it's for "future onsiderations."                                    

Snell...we could send them Snell  He can watch CC pitch all he wants then.  *grin*

Do we have any pitchers that may struggle to make the team and are out of options that may interest the Yankees, or would it be just too embarrassing to trade Nady back for less than what they gave?

Ya but that was the only time he pitched well?  the day after watching him.  Maybe we should put a highlite reel of CC in the dugout before he pitches and for in between innings to keep him on track.

A .219 hitting Swisher over .294 hitting Morgan? Fahgetaboutit!!!

@uglyken wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Jan 8, 2009 8:50 PM

Do we have any pitchers that may struggle to make the team and are out of options that may interest the Yankees, or would it be just too embarrassing to trade Nady back for less than what they gave?

________

Your a mean one Mr Ugly

I like it though...

Ken,

"...would it be just too embarrassing to trade Nady back for less than what they gave?"

Again, not an apples to apples situation. That said, doubt this trade will ever become reality, and without that contract extension I mention above as a pre-condition, it shouldn't happen.

DMac & Mad

DMac & Mad

He probably hypnotized himself watching him on that little screen………I am CC, I am CC, I am CC……

@ugly

thats not a bad idea.....

@uglyken wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Jan 8, 2009 8:57 PM

DMac & Mad

DMac & Mad

He probably hypnotized himself watching him on that little screen………I am CC, I am CC, I am CC……

______

If it works we will take it.  Cheaper then paying an overpriced FA that is washed up and will retire after the year ends.

I don't see too many pitchers that we could not do without. Other than Maholm and Capps, who could we not do without?

The real problem here is that even if we could consummate a deal, Nady would probably retire to avoid coming back.

@Batavia wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Jan 8, 2009 9:06 PM

I don't see too many pitchers that we could not do without. Other than Maholm and Capps, who could we not do without?

The real problem here is that even if we could consummate a deal, Nady would probably retire to avoid coming back.

_________

It's more the issue we need arms in ST to see who can make the rotation.  After that then if you wanted to trade one....

Interesting set thoughts here.  Amazing what a team can get away with when they win.  What would we be writing if the Pirates traded away a bunch of prospects, including pitchers, for a player and then after half a season tried to trade that player because they needed pitching?  Not brilliant management.

Batavia

We can't afford to give up any pitcher that will otherwise be one of our starters this season.

Since Boras is Nady's agent, we can only count on having him this year. That is not without value because I think that the PBC would rather leave McCutchen at AAA one more season.

Nady had his career year last year and he was healthy all year for the first time. The odds of those two things repeating are REALLY slim. JL is right .219 Swisher is not going to be a contributor.

Batavia,

"Other than Maholm and Capps, who could we not do without?"

Though I look forward to the coming out of our young group, as a whole, the answer to your question is probably, no one.

"Nady would probably retire to avoid coming back."

Ha! I don't think it would be that bad. I rather suspect he would be warmly received --even revered, once again --in the club house. However, he's a Boras client, looking towards free agency. I see what lies beyond this year as the biggest problem. We absolutely shouldn't be considering him if it's  just for one year. But that probable reality is what makes most of this Nady talk moot, in all likelihood.

You guys have to be nuts.  The Pirates would score a coup of they could get both Swisher and Nady.

Swisher becomes the heir to Adam LaRoche, who becomes expendible.  And as far as rather having Nyjer than Swisher or Nady...

What???

Swisher hits 30 at PNC.

Yes, Swisher and Nady for Tyler Yates.

Griffey and Bonds in the same outfield.

George Costanza rules!

Pointless rumors like this mean... nothing. They're pointless. Hence, pointless rumors.

IF the Pirates were to get Nady back - it would look bad. It really would. We deal him in a career year, and then the Yanks "return the outfielder to sender." It's unlikely he'll post numbers anywhere near what he did in 2008, and with 2009 as his first free agent year, Scott Boras will look to make Xavier much mula ($$$).

IF the Pirates were to get Swisher - they won't, but if they were, (a) what would they have to give up and (b) does Swish fit in the Burgh? If LaRoche becomes "expendable" with Swisher's arrival (which isn't the full truth... put Nick in LF), what would the Bucs order be? McLouth, Sanchez, Doumit, LaRoche, Swisher? Does that really excite you? If he's owed $22mil/3yrs .. is Swisher worth it.

I'd rather see a healthy Brandon Moss, a speedy Nyjer Morgan, a top prospect like Andrew McCutchen... or a top free agent BOBBY ABREU? Abreu is out there, and is affordable. He is. He really is.

PS - Duke84's comment was the best post on the PBC blog in the last three months.

@Bucco Joe

I agree 100%

Let's not forget to factor in the possible return of Nady's Ladies into all of this.

Bucco Joe,

"The Pirates would score a coup of they could get both Swisher and Nady." That presumes the Bucs would be trading for both of them. And Swisher is no "heir to Adam LaRoche." He's only one year younger, an inferior hitter, and probably inferior first baseman.

I never said Nyjmo starts over Nady. He starts over Swisher. My nine year-old son starts over Swisher.

JL

I can only name 4 at the best 5 players on the roster right now better then Swisher in my mind

McLouth,Doumit,Maholm,Capps,and Jack

I was looking at it as "either or" not both.  

I'd rather see Nady start over Nyjmo, with Moss in Left, if healthy, but that's MO.  I'm not dense enough to think this will actually happen.  

Let us ask our resident stat master to give us a comparison of Swisher and Adam La for the past two years then we can decide which we would rather have. I'm betting it will be no contest in favor of Adam.

This will be in either DK or my morning links tomorrow but a good read for those around tonight

Hall of Fame owner who put honor before profits

www.njjewishnews.com/.../sptHallOfFame.html

DK -

I thought about this after my post. By rumors I meant the possibility that two would actually be traded - not that the two clubs haven't talked. Rumors was  a poor word choice... but the rest of my comment should've mad sense.

DMac ... really?

Swisher > Nady > Moss > Morgan > McCutchen - in my opinion.

Dejan,

Whether anything came out of it or not, I'd be curious to know *why* this was discussed.  I loved having Nady on the team, but I can't imagine how adding him would fit in the plans of the front office, unless there was an extension in mind.  I'd be very curious who initiated the conversation.

Oh Mein Papa,

I compared LaRoche to Swisher yesterday. LaRoche is better.

Marty,

Granted that Swisher himself is only 28, we've seen enough of him to know what he is, and what he isn't. He had a career year, three years ago. Take that out of the equation and there isn't much to be excited about. His moderate power is mitigated by his low BA. He has the disadvantage of being a known commodity, whereas our outfielders are still unknown, but possibly better, entities.  This is one case where I'll take the several birds in the bush, over the one in the hand (and Swisher isn't even in our hand, anyway.) I say let our own young'uns have a chance to show what they got!

Adam

2007--.272 BA, 21 HR, 88RBI, 62 BB  131 SO   2008- .270 BA, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 54 BB, 122 SO

Swisher

2007--.262 BA, 22 HR, 78 RBI  100 BB  131 SO  2008  .219 BA, 24 HR, 69 RBI, 82 BB, 135 SO

So Adam has a better BA, they tie in HR, Adam leads RBI by 26, Swisher walks more and strikes out more

@TBB...We're all entitled to our own opinion.  I don't include McCutchen because from what I understand, unless he has a killer ST, he'll still start in Indy.  I don't think highly of Morgan's arm at all, and I still think he needs work on his base running.  Nady is the right hand power bat that we need to back Doumit and McLouth up and he's got a great arm.  

While I have you on the board Dejan...

Pedro? Please? Pretty please? Do you know anything about the possibility of Pedro Martinez to the Burgh? I've written about the idea of having Pedro on the Pirates so much on my blog, it's starting to even annoy me. However, we need a veteran, and what veteran presence is better than the former Cy Young winner? Of course, this is all based on the fact that Martinez is fully healthy. We have his former pitching coach Joey Kerrigan... doesn't that count for something?

DK

He was one of kind in baseball.

"Everything I know is up there at the top of the file... that's it on Swisher-Nady."

Well, we all did our usual bang-up job of milking it, and then some.

Wasn't trying to put you down, DMac. And yes - Nady's right-handed bat is a title more valuable at this point.

Alright. This Joe's head is now spinning, as I realize we have a "BuccoJoe" as well as a "JoeBucco." On behalf of Jersey Joe, and stat guru JAL, I say we Joe's stick together.

No problem...I thought I'd back up my point of view, that's all.  ;-)

Oh that search bar - gets me every time ;-).  Thanks for hanging out on the blog "forum," DK, I look forward to read your newest article tonight.

JL - Sorry I missed it yesterday. Mybad.

Thanks JAL we can always count on your invaluable services

Don't the Pirates have enough problems without hearing "Who's Your Daddy?" chants when Pedro takes the mound in opposing ball parks?

I would offer Snell and Grabow and no more.  Snell may prosper with a change of scenery.  I don't see him getting any better here with his attitude.  Grabow has been a solid set up man for us but i would trade that for a pair of soild bats in the lineup.

JL

Now you are getting a bit Ben Franklin, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

TBB,

You're alright, kid. And I like that emblem you made for your avatar. Pretty darn cool. Do miss Shawn Chacon's mug, though. Someone mentioned last night (or was it today?), that the Bucs might yet have use for Chacon. Now THAT, of course, was mere rumor and speculation. But as I've said before, Chacon was serviceable enough for us only the year before last, that I'd see no harm in offering him a non-guaranteed spring invite. Now, especially with Dumatrait's setback. Chacon did his crime, but then served his time. He's no Barry Bonds. Let the guy have his career back.

papa

Thank you :)

PapaCoach,

No, no. I didn't mean it that way. That point, which we both arrived at independently, deserves repeating. I just meant to say that I had thought the same thing, and had the answer to your question. Of course, Stat Guru JAL was ever ready with the specific stats no sooner than you mentioned it to him.

Timely and amazing work, as usual,  JAL. And I am now going copy and paste that Ben Franklin line into my file of famous quotations. I love it!

Time for me to head for my little cot in my little asylum room

Back tomorrow morning with the official unofficial links and whatever else I find that DK either doesn't use or comes out after he posts his morning links.

Wishing a good night to all

Ohhhh don't tempt me JL don't tempt me... my site is devoted the Pirates, Major League Baseball, and Shawn Chacon. He is a "hero" on The 'Burgh Blues. His antics last year are hard to excuse - but just imagine what 2009 could bring for Chacon. Possibly a Comeback Player of the Year Award? Who knows.

I have a question. The longer free agents sit on the market the better for the Pirates.  I think Abreu was mentioned, but what about Dunn?  Maybe Jon Garland, or even Lowe? Having one good veteran in the rotation would certainly help. It seems like one or two year deals are going to be very common in the next month. I personally would have taken a shot at Brad Penny and paid what the Red Sox did.

Trades are bad option right now.  Prospects are all the hope the Pirates have to build the system as the money will never be there to go after a CC Sabathia.  Although I would consider trading Snell as I think he is a headcase.

I was at the game Chacon hurled a jem against the pads for us in 07'. that was the extra inning circus where the catcher for the Pads flipped out over the non-homerun call.  That was pretty entertaining. Even though we blew the lead late.  

I think Adam Dunn would be a great fit.  Doesn't matter that he strikes out as much as he does. He could hit 50 dingers with our short porch in right.  Watching that alone would be enough to put people back in the seats.

JBrindger,

"Trades are bad option right now.  Prospects are all the hope the Pirates have to build the system as the money will never be there to go after a CC Sabathia."

Well said. And the only scenario in which I see the Pirates reaching for a big-name FA (like Abreu, for example), would be if they "sit on the market" even longer, and become so cheap that we owe it to ourselves to at least consider it. But in my own humble and personal opinion, '09 is for giving the young guys we already have, their chances to show what they've (and we've) got. A steal of a deal for Nady, along with an extension to his contract, is about the only scenario I could sit up straight for.  And nobody's putting money on THAT happening any time soon.

Adam Dunn is a one tool, can’t run, can’t catch, can’t throw, out of our price range, player that will just block our youth movement in the outfield, or cause a large increase of infield errors due to his inability to pick balls of the dirt at 1st base. If we were almost set and only need that one more bat to fill in the line up then that would be a completely different story.

While I’m a hopeless optimist, and I think that we could be ready to compete in 2010-2011, that schedule is not ensured because current players may suffer injuries or other setbacks. Risking 8 digit multiyear salaries for single tool FAs at this tine is stepping too far astray from their stated path of building from within. We have too many other holes on this team to worry about adding a player whose only asset to us is that we can stick him in the 4th batting spot. We need more tools for that kind of money.

But this is also one of the few teams where our centerfielder is good enough to make up for at least some of the mistakes he is sure to make in the outfield.

@uglyken wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Jan 8, 2009 11:14 PM

Adam Dunn is a one tool, can’t run, can’t catch, can’t throw, out of our price range, player that will just block our youth movement in the outfield, or cause a large increase of infield errors due to his inability to pick balls of the dirt at 1st base. If we were almost set and only need that one more bat to fill in the line up then that would be a completely different story.

+++++++++++

Ever get tried of repeating yourself for these new guys or repeater of Dunn one tool man?

I should copy my post from the other day and keep it handy as well.

Troop on UglyKen

I realize this argument is silly because Baldelli probably didn't want to play for the Pirates and because you can't just throw money at free agents when you stink, but......

There is something funny to me about the Pirates paying Ramon Vasquez $4 million to be a backup UT infielder for 2 yrs while they let Baldelli go to the Red Sox for an incentive-laden deal that guarantees less than $2 million.

Though I wasn't as excited about Baldelli as some, he would be a far better risk/reward scenario than Vasquez, who had a career year in '08.  Baldelli is fairly young and at least a starting-caliber talent if he can get his health issues under control (a big if).  

The bottom line is this:  Baldelli was a situation where the Pirates might overpay, if $2 or $3 million would have done it.  If you can give Vasquez $4 million for UT work and no upside, why can't you give something similar for 4th OF work and much upside?

That was one situation where NH could have been more bold.

@SandlotWizard wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Jan 8, 2009 11:32 PM

I realize this argument is silly because Baldelli probably didn't want to play for the Pirates and because you can't just throw money at free agents when you stink, but......

There is something funny to me about the Pirates paying Ramon Vasquez $4 million to be a backup UT infielder for 2 yrs while they let Baldelli go to the Red Sox for an incentive-laden deal that guarantees less than $2 million.

___________

Big difference here.  RV plays all the infield spots.  RB does not.  Cannot compare them and what this team needs.

Outfield is not a weakness looking forward. We have McClutchen likely coming up this year and perhaps Tabata next year. Dunn is 28 years old and he made $13 million last year; how much do you think we are going to have to pay him? He is now at the prime salary contract stage of his carrier. Again, what is he going to make this year and the years beyond?

OK Mad.... I'll change my tune jus a bit.

Sign Doug

13 mil is completely outrageous for dunn.  We'll leave that kind of pay for the rich market teams.  If he sticks around in the market and the price comes way down I'm in.  It's more like wishful thinking than anything.  

Joe Magrane on MLB Network: "... (Pirates) fans may be better suited waiting for Steelers' tickets to go on sale."

NICE JOB JOE! You've failed us, Magrane!

Kevin Millar, on the Hot Stove report tonight, defended the Buccos. Is he worth a one-year deal?

And Vazquez doesn't have the possible health issues Baldelli has.  Maybe NH was as bold as he felt he could afford to be in this case.  

Oh yeah, and I'll join the "Sign Doug" group now.  *grin*

Maybe I was just missing some things from last season...but I'm still rather lost on the whole idea of Brandon Moss really being a great option for the Pirates...and I think it might be a little sad that he is one of the best options that we have...I don't remember seeing much from him last year and yet he's basically being given the starting job without our front office looking for any upgrade...o well though, I suppose I don't have a clue..haha

16 years of...ummmm, excellence?...GO BUCCOS

@ MadTurk

In comparing Vazquez V. Baldelli, I am only looking at bang for your buck.  Team need has little to do with it.

Vazquez is 32, has a career .685 OPS and hasn't played more than 105 games since 2002.  

Why pay $4 million for that?  It is similar to paying $1 million to Chris Gomez last year, like paying $20 for a McDonald's cheeseburger.  Just not good value.

Rocco is 27 and has a significant pedigree, despite his unreliability the last several years.  Paying him $4 million for 2 yrs might have had a big payoff.  And that is chump change.

Instead, with Vazquez, you paid $4 million for 2 years of .250 3hr and 300ab.

Why do that?  

DK I posted that I heard via rumors the buccos were talking to the yankees about nady or swisher and an hour later your post came through thats all i was saying before..

@UglyKen

uglyken wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Thu, Jan 8 2009 11:42 PM

OK Mad.... I'll change my tune jus a bit.

__________

No need to change a thing.  I was agreeing with the post but why oh why do we have to repeat ourselves over and over?

Hey don;t tell Dmac I am here, she told the nurse I escaped.  Rats.  I will hide shortly once again.

@SandlotWizard wrote re: Pirates, Yankees talk Swisher, Nady

on Jan 9, 2009 12:12 AM

@ MadTurk

In comparing Vazquez V. Baldelli, I am only looking at bang for your buck.  Team need has little to do with it.

Vazquez is 32, has a career .685 OPS and hasn't played more than 105 games since 2002.  

Why pay $4 million for that?  It is similar to paying $1 million to Chris Gomez last year, like paying $20 for a McDonald's cheeseburger.  Just not good value.

Rocco is 27 and has a significant pedigree, despite his unreliability the last several years.  Paying him $4 million for 2 yrs might have had a big payoff.  And that is chump change.

Instead, with Vazquez, you paid $4 million for 2 years of .250 3hr and 300ab.

Why do that?  

______________

Do you need the hamburger more then the chicken nuggets?  That helps determines what you will pay for.

DK I posted that I heard via rumors the buccos were talking to the yankees about nady or swisher and an hour later your post came through thats all i was saying before..

Looks like Wu thinks he scooped him with a google search.....

Woo.

haha I had my people call me this afternoon haha

Ants Marching

=================================================

www.youtube.com/watch

Wu,

This one's for you:

www.youtube.com/watch

I'm a lifelong Yankee fan (born approx. 15 minutes from Yankee Stadium), who now resides outside of Philly. I went to this post to read what the Pirates writers and fans thought might be transpiring in terms of a possible Swisher/Nady trade. First of all, let me say that, although I’m a Yankee fan of some 50 years, my first non-Yankee hero was the great Roberto Clemente after seeing him play in the 1960 WS. You folks that were old enough to see him play were very lucky to see one of the all-time great players and people in MLB history.

On the possibility of a Swisher/Nady trade, I’d make the following observations as a Yankee fan. It wouldn’t embarrass the Yankees to trade Nady back to the Pirates for less than we gave in the deal last year. We were gambling for needed parts (i.e., a left reliever and a corner outfielder with power). The gamble didn’t payoff in a playoff appearance, but that’s life in the big leagues. The Yankees are use to taking such gambles in order to win pennants. Please don’t take this as a slight, but given the Yankees deep pockets, we know we can afford to gamble more than most other teams. That’s not hubris; it’s simply the economic reality of baseball.

I’m not certain the Yankees are looking for pitching in a possible Nady/Swisher trade. My guess is they’re more interested in McLouth. A trade of that nature, of course, would require far more than Nady & Swisher. We’d probably have to send at least Ian Kennedy, another young pitcher, one of the Yankees two young centerfielders (Cabrera or Gardner), along with Swisher & Nady (and money to cover some of Swisher’s contract).

Mr. Kovacevic, I was wondering what would it take (in your opinion) for a McLouth to NY deal to happen. Is there any possibility?

Two other things: I’d like to compliment you Pirates fans on how cordially you deal with each other. I’m sick & tired of readying blogs in which fans insult each other simply because they disagree. I applaud all of you for how you conduct yourselves on this blog. My second observation is that you folks are very lucky to have a beat writer who takes the time to respond to your questions & observations. Kudos, Mr. Kovacevic. I doubt I’ll ever see the same type of interaction from the reporters that cover the Yankees . . . and certainly not to the degree that you apparently respond to your readers. You Prates fans are lucky to have a man like him.

wmdeleo

Excellent post and thank you for your complements, we are definitely aware of our blessings.

uglyken,

Thank you for your return compliment.

I love the picture that accompanies your postings, I just hope it doesn't bare any real resemblance to you for your wife's sake (if you're married) or your children's sake (if you have any).

I hope you're Pirates have a turnaround year. I know I'm lucky (as a Yankee fan) to support a team that has the resources and wherewithal to do whatever it takes every year to field a winning team. Given that, however, I feel bad for the teams that have to scrape by financial to compete. Even though I'd love to live long enough to see my Yankees win 26 more World Series, I enjoy seeing the underdogs win when my guys don't. (I still fondly remember the "We are Family" days in Pittsburg.)

Good luck to all you Pirates fans. I hope my Yanks and your Pirates can work out a mutually beneficial deal for McLouth, who I think would be an ideal piece in the Yankees lineup.

If any of you are interested in an Honest assessment of any of my Yankees players (such as Cabrera, Gardner, and Ian Kennedy), let me know, and I'll be happy to respond. I promise I'll give you must honest impressions based on what I've seen of these guys. After all, I won't be telling you anything that your GM and scouts shouldn't already know. Here's an example of what I mean:

Melky Cabrera: Excellent speed, very good glove, exceptional arm in CF (one of the best around), but he sometimes takes questionable routes to fly balls over his head. He can make up for most of his mistakes, however, with his speed.

Melky has two big problems as a major leaguer: 1) He's a gap hitter with some HR power who thinks he's a power hitter. If he accepted the fact that he's a gap hitter, he could be a consistent 270+ to 290+ hitter with 15-22 HRs and a lot of doubles and triples. The problem last year was that he kept trying to hit HRs and either popped up or hit weak grounders for easy outs. On the plus side, if he gets on often enough, he could easily steal 25-35 bases. On the downside, if he doesn't accept the fact that he's a gap hitter, he'll hit about .240 with a dozen or so HRs.

2) Melky is either very stubborn or not very bright. As indicated above, he hasn't realized yet that he's a gap hitter with some power. If he had already accepted that fact, the Yankees wouldn't even consider trading him. The other reason I say he's not that smart is that, even after about four years in the majors, he still insists on sliding into first to try to beat a THROW to first! My god, I knew at age eight not to slide into first base to beat a THROW! So, he's a little thick upstairs.

If your coaches can get it through his thick head that 1) he's a gap hitter with some power and 2) you NEVER slide into first to beat a THROW, you could end up with a very good CF in Melky. If they can't get through to him, you'll end up being frustrated with him, like us Yankee fans.

wmdeleo

Concerning McLouth,....

Obviously I can’t speak for the PBC management, but their stated position is that they would have to be “blown away” by the offer. He has been identified by Pirate management as one of the core players that they intend to build their team around. My impression is that they would have to feel that they robbed the Yankees (or any team) in order to give up one of the four players that are supposed to be the nucleus of a team that can contend in 2010-2011.  

Oh… by the way….you should see what I look like when I’m NOT wearing my teeth.

;-)

uglyken,

I was aware that Pirate management considers McLouth one of your “core players,” which is why I assumed it would take a 4- or 5-for-1 trade, plus some dollars for the Yankees to get him.  I may be overvaluing our talent (most fans do), but I would think a trade of Ian Kennedy (P), a mid-level pitching prospect, Melky Cabrera (CF), Swisher (1B/outfielder), Nady, and a million dollars or more might be enticing.

Kennedy has potential, as indicated by the number of teams that have enquired about him; he was one of the names mentioned last year in the Santana negotiations with the Twins. My honest assessment is he’s (at best) a decent #2 pitcher, but more likely a 3-5 slot pitcher. I think he’d do a lot better in Pittsburg than the pressure cooker that is NY. (Patience is NOT a virtue in Yankeeland.)

If the above proposal was not sufficient, there’s an outside chance the Yankees would consider replacing Kennedy with Hughes, who has #1 potential as a starter. The Yankees would be very reluctant to include him in a package, unless they’re absolutely in love with McLouth. (If the Yankees had kept Hughes on the table in the negotiations with the Twins last year, Santana would probably be a Yankee now; Hughes has that much potential, although it’s time for him to live up to that potential.)

I'll try to check back in to this site on the weekend or Monday at work to see if you or any of your other Pirate fans have anything interesting to add on a potential trade with the Yankees.

PS: I like your sense of humor, Ken (I assume that's your first name).

Wmdeleo

Hello again. I can only speak for myself, and to be honest, the viewpoints and backgrounds of the regular posters here are very diverse.

The posters here spend all of there attention on the current day’s threads. That is to say that at the time of this post (Saturday, 1/10/2009), they can be found on the threads began today, and similarly will be on the new threads started tomorrow. If someone wants to continue a discussion from a previous days thread, they will usually reference the previous discussion and post their comment, sometimes it just makes sense to copy and past previous posts to the new thread.

I encourage you to drop a comment into the middle of the fray of one of the new day’s threads; you will find an amazing number of posters here that will openly engage and play the part of Pirate GM. Like I said, there is a wide range of backgrounds here, but there is one common thread that binds us all. We love baseball.

Again, I want to encourage you to engage the entire group and post comment on the most recent threads. I think that if you just copy and paste what you wrote in your original post and reposted it to a new thread, it will go over quite well. You can never go wrong stirring up memories of The Great One in this city.

PS. Don’t ever hesitate to post questions to this forum throughout the year, especially when there are rumors of dealings between us.

Wmdeleo

I just want to add one more thing, I wouldn't expect too much activity on these threads tomorrow (Sunday). Almost everyone will be focusing their attention on the Steelers game Sunday afternoon.

Have a great weekend.