Welcome to the weekly Pittsburgh Pirates Rumor Mill, where we update you on all of the latest Pirates trades, signings, rumors, injury news, promotions, demotions, and the like from the past week.
So since the Pittsburgh Pirates inked Ivan Nova to a three-year deal, the off-season has quieted down for the Pirates. Then again, the off-season has been rather quiet for baseball as a whole since the end of the Winter Meetings. That’s only natural with a long off-season, but the free agent class was relatively weak as well. And the Pirates only had one major hole to fill, and they accomplished that with the Nova signing.
Of course, the team can always improve, and they’re constantly evaluating possible trades and looking at the remaining free agents. Well, the hot stove heated back up for the Pirates a couple days ago when Ken Rosenthal sent out a few tweets concerning the Pirates and Jose Quintana:
Sources: #WhiteSox engaged in daily trade discussions on Quintana. #Pirates, #Astros involved, possibly others. #Yankees appear longshot.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 4, 2017
Sources add: #WhiteSox firm on Quintana’s value; also could move him at deadline. NYY seem less willing than others to move top prospects.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 4, 2017
If #WhiteSox move Quintana, they likely will sign free-agent SP on one-year deal to help protect youngsters. Could always flip at deadline.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 4, 2017
Essentially, we’re hearing mostly the same things we’ve heard since the Quintana-rumors. But it’s important to note that the Pirates are still talking to the White Sox and haven’t given up on those talks, and that they seem to be the front-runners if Quintana does get moved, next to the Astros.
I still have to see a big trade acquisition from the Pirates before I believe they’ll pull a blockbuster like this off.
Injury Updates
There are no major injury updates on any of the Pirates players, and all of those that ended the season on the disabled list should be ready for Opening Day.
Minor Moves
The only move the Pirates made recently was designating minor league outfielder Willy Garcia for assignment. Garcia likely didn’t figure into the Pirates future plans.
Be careful what you wish for…
Every time the Pirates are connected to a big name, whether it be in the off-season or at the trade deadline, the fan base gets split in two, with almost no one in the middle ground. On one side, there are those that are willing to trade almost any prospect to get a deal done. On the other side are those that won’t give up any prospects. And even those that are in the middle tend to not be willing to give up the necessary prospects to get a deal done.
We saw the haul the White Sox got for Chris Sale. Sale is an ace on any staff in baseball, but Jose Quintana is darn good in his own right. He’d likely put up better numbers in the National League, and his contract is incredible. So it only makes sense for the White Sox to wait for a team to overpay to deal him. His contract and remarkable consistency on the field make waiting the perfect, and logical strategy. Someone will eventually overpay; someone always does.
So while it might be smart to overpay a bit for Quintana, the Pirates need not empty the farm for him. And fans need to be aware of that. Be careful what you wish for. You may like the thought of Quintana now, but if he costs Josh Bell, Austin Meadows, and then some, the team may regret the deal down the line.
If Bell is part of the deal, the team loses their starting first baseman next season. Even if David Freese fills in, they then lose a tremendously productive bench piece. If Meadows gets moved, the Pirates will have a gaping hole in the outfield once Andrew McCutchen eventually moves on.
To me, Tyler Glasnow makes sense to move. So does Kevin Newman and Mitch Keller. I tend to lean on the side of being protective of Bell and Meadows; those are the two untouchable prospects for me. If that means a deal for Quintana can’t get done, then so be it. If I were a member of the White Sox front office, I’d demand Meadows to start as well. The White Sox shouldn’t settle for less, and the Pirates shouldn’t drastically overpay. This is a very real stalemate that may very well end up with no deal getting done.
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