Pittsburgh Pirates Wake Up Call – The Doldrums Are Here

In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.

It is November 21st 2016, and Pittsburgh Pirates fans are officially getting antsy.

With the Winter Meetings scheduled to kick off on December 4th, followed by Piratefest on December 10th, the next two weeks can be lousy for the baseball fan looking to have some action to discuss. With the holiday week and winter meetings so close, GMs sometimes pull back and save their big moves for the big event, leaving the next two weeks barren and cold. In that vein, here now is a round up of where various rumors stand.

Andrew McCutchen

Not much new on the Andrew McCutchen front, though many are now envisioning scenarios that make sense for the Pittsburgh Pirates if they were to firmly decide to trade McCutchen.

David Schoenfield over at ESPN throws out an idea. He posits that the Pirates and Indians could connect on a trade that sends RHP Mike Clevinger, Indians’ number eight prospect SS Erik Gonzalez and RHP prospect Triston McCkenzie to Pittsburgh in return for McCutchen.

That package seems to be a very underwhelming return for McCutchen. The Pittsburgh Pirates absolutely must get MLB players in return. Clevinger and Gonzalez were both late callups last year, but still lack punch.

Sean Rodriguez

Sean Rodriguez‘s name continues to float among several teams. As of this writing, five other teams have also been linked to being in the mix for Rodriguez, including the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rodriguez’s market has rightfully heated up after his breakout 2016 season, and he may be priced too high for the Pirates’ plans.

Ivan Nova

We have previously reported on the evolving market for Ivan Nova. Having received several offers in the 3-year/$36 million range, Nova’s market has bitten back, suggesting that many do not see signing him as the slam dunk that many felt previously. This is nothing but a good thing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who could now be back in the mix should Nova’s market continue to remain static.

Derek Holland

Pirates Breakdown was the first to tell you that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ had more than just a passing interest in Texas Rangers starter Derek Holland. The two sides have spoken, but there has been nothing new to report on in regards to Holland’s potential signing. For a refresher on what Holland can bring to the team’s rotation, click here.

Baseball Talk on the Web

We are going to take a different track to Baseball Talk on the Web today. Instead of offering you specific stories, here are a few sites that you should put in your regular rotation.

• BaltimoreBaseball.com is an independent media outlet – just like Pirates Breakdown –  covering the Baltimore Orioles. Their team have put together a phenomenal site and corresponding mobile app.
• We have linked to them often this year, but Jays From the Couch is an excellent source for all things Pirates North, er, Toronto Blue Jays.
• Call to the Pen has a fantastic staff that churns out fantastic content constantly.

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