Starling Marte goes back to some of the earlier days of the blog when I covered the Pirates far closer than I do currently, but I don't understand the hurry in moving the 31-year-old outfielder.
Marte hit. 295 with 23 homers and 25 steals last season, is under contract (11.5 Million) for the 2020 season and a team option for 2021 (12.5 Million) and by trading Marte, the Pirates are now in need of signing a centerfielder to replace Marte for a team that had only a few recognizable stars.
Bryan Reynolds had an excellent rookie season for Pittsburgh and could move to center, but it appears that the Pirates are more likely to keep Reynolds in left and sign a veteran free agent to install in centerfield.
Kevin Pillar and Cameron Maybin are two veteran free agents that are coming off decent years at the plate and can play above-average defense and could be targeted for Pittsburgh.
I suppose it depends on the price that would be paid for a veteran flychaser to consider Marte as a better bargain.
If you can get a Millar-type for five million, maybe I can see it, but should you have to sign someone to an eight million deal, keeping Marte would be a preferable option.
Pittsburgh obtained two young prospects, who will likely start at Low A Greensboro.
Shortstop Liover Peguero and righthanded pitcher Brennan Malone are both nineteen and were considered in the top twenty in the Arizona system.
Peguero turned nineteen on New Year's Eve and lit up the rookie Pioneer League as a member of the Missoula Osprey in hitting .364 with five homers in 36 games.
Peguero was promoted to the short-season Hillsboro Hops, who made the Northwest League playoffs, and hit.262 in 22 games without a homer in Hillsboro.
The Diamondback system is deep at shortstop and Peguero will have fewer hurdles to climb through the Pittsburgh system.
Peguero was rated by MiLB.com as Arizona's 18th rated prospect.
Brennan Malone struggled in his short debut (eight innings and an ERA of 4.50) after being drafted with a sandwich pick, 33rd overall, in the 2019 draft.
Malone sits in the mid-90s and can touch the high 90s, but needs to develop a secondary breaking pitch to go with the heater.
At 6'4 and 205 pounds, Malone has the type of body that projects to fill out and depending on the outcome of his eventual off-speed stuff, could be a middle of the rotation starter.
Malone was listed as the ninth-best prospect in the Diamondbacks system.
I'm going to finish with the Cleveland Indians, who are a team screaming for an outfielder (preferably two) with a strong bat and Starling Marte not only would have fit the bill, he would have done so at a very affordable price for his production.
The Indians farm system could have parted with a similar prospect return and likely even accommodating a return of players closer to the majors than the offer that the Pirates accepted.
It's possible that the Indians made a good offer and Pittsburgh selected an offer that they preferred if so that's OK.
And it would be very acceptable if the Indians like another available outfielder more than Marte or see another option as close to Marte at a cheaper price, but if the Indians again pass on a chance to improve with a closing window of contention to save cash for Paul Dolan, it would be yet another log on the fire for a team that doesn't seem to want to commit to winning championships.
No comments:
Post a Comment