Part 4-The Long Term

So we have changed the way we select talent in the amateur draft, we have chosen the type of team we want to play as, we are working on installing a teaching effort that is the same from GCL to Pittsburgh, We have installed minor league managers and coaches that fit what we want to do and when possible, we try to fill these spots with players from Pirate past.
We also have made a few images, merchandising, and marketing changes and began to spend more money on the Latin and Asian markets.

So now what?

Well, We start working on future contracts NOW with Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny.
The past group tried to nickel and dime young players for as long as possible and then wondered why those players stuck it to them in arbitration and then left in free agency.
We want the players that we develop to want to stay in Pittsburgh.
How do we do that?
Well, you never can keep them all with our budget and some will want to chase the bigger contracts elsewhere.
But by giving young and productive players fair deals concurrent with their seniority, you build up goodwill.
Anyone that deals with others respectfully and honestly will have easier dealings down the road than someone that puts the screws to you when they hold the cards.

So we are opening talks with Snell and Gorzelanny ASAP and attempt to give them fair contracts for them, that takes arbitration off the table for a few years.
Nothing is worse for player-management relations than arbitration.
Someone always winds up with hard feelings as far as the loser goes and the player gets to hear himself be belittled by the team that has his rights.
These two are the horses of our future rotation, let's try to make moves to keep them happy, and maybe you have a chance of keeping one down the road.

We will be in the race for the top Japanese players at a position of need.
On this team-that projects as 3rd base, unless Neil Walker turns out well and outfield, as I do not think we have a chance to re-sign Jason Bay down the road.
Why?
Littlefield did to Bay, exactly what I described and wait to avoid above.
Ill will, bad feelings and fewer dollars to play with equals goodbye, Jason.

We also look at the budget and attempt to sign 1 player of these 3 at a fair value -Jason Bay, Adam LaRoche, and Freddy Sanchez.
I do not think Bay would accept and LaRoche is not likely either, but Sanchez-Maybe.
Making a commitment to one of these players will not be a financial black hole for the team, like past attempts with Pat Meares, Jason Kendall, and Jack Wilson.
ALL of those players were signed despite questions about them.
Meares (health and bad player), Kendall (wore down from catching and little power), and Wilson (average bat, coming off a career year).
The player that you sign of the 3 has none of those concerns.
This shows commitment to winning and yet you do it with a player worth the money.
That has not been the case in similar past attempts.

The Pirates will not be afraid to trade and I realize that trading for prospects is yet another Pirate rebuilding program.
I know fans are tired of these, but I believe that by laying out in the open an honest program that entails the short and long term, that shows that we have a plan that shows a desire to WIN, not sell tickets.
I believe that the Pittsburgh fans will back a young team that is allowed to grow together as a young team, not a mismatched crew of washed-up veterans.
The goal is to win the division, not dream of .500.

Here is my plan.
Hope you enjoyed it and feel free to comment either here or send me an email.
Back to the normal program tomorrow with Random Ramblings on things I did not write about during the series.
 Photo Credits
Gorzelanny-AP Photo-Jeff Lewis
Snell-AP Photo-Spencer Green