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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.16.24
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Jason Mackey
12:47
Hey, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get going at 1 o'clock. Thank you for the adjustments, as days can be kinda funky at Pirate City.
1:05
And away we go ... sorry, also working on a story.
Forbes Field
1:05
What will you be watching when Cruz comes to bat -- how will we know if the big holes in the swing start to narrow?
Jason Mackey
1:06
I'm just gonna be watching Cruz, but his bugaboo has been left-on-left and breaking stuff away. It tends to lengthen his swing, creating those holes. He was better last spring and during the early portion of the season with that stuff.
Mon City Smitty
1:06
Can Pirate fans reach 100 potential trades the Pirates should have made this offseason?   Not sure which is worse, the fans trading for players X, Y, Z or the Pirates not doing any of it.
Jason Mackey
1:06
It has been a wacky offseason, no doubt. And a frustrating one for fans.
Soggy
1:06
Hi Jason!  It's an exciting time of year for baseball fans.  What is the over/under on the # of games that Davis catches for the Pirates this season?
Jason Mackey
1:07
I'm not sure. Really early to give you a legit answer, but Henry has looked outstanding so far. One of the best here, honestly.
Wayward
1:07
Jason, I have enjoyed your articles this week!  You have mentioned the muscle Davis has put on.  Anyone catch your eye as having changed during the offseason?
Jason Mackey
1:08
It doesn't matter, but Oviedo is much bigger. First person who gained weight during TJ. Looks like Peguero added some weight as well. Good weight. Not saying he looks bad.
Richy
1:08
It appears a trade may not be imminent or is this latest round of chatter just possibly posturing as full camps are getting closer?  
PS I appreciate your reporting.  I enjoy your written articles and insights on the game.
Jason Mackey
1:09
Thanks, Richy. I still think it would make a lot of sense for the Pirates -- and the player -- to get something done prior to the first full squad workout. I'm really surprised there are still significant moves being made around MLB, to be honest.
Cullen
1:09
Hey Jason,  congrats on the columnist job! Your Pirates coverage has been outstanding and this is well deserved!
Jason Mackey
1:09
Thanks so much Cullen!
Tim
1:09
What will Endy Rodriguez be able to do this year to keep it from being completely lost?  Can he work on non-throwing aspects of catching?  Will he be able at some point to join Indianapolis as the DH like Ohtani is doing after elbow surgery?
Jason Mackey
1:10
That's an interesting idea, Tim. Hadn't thought of that. Might be worth asking Shelton tomorrow -- like why that isn't possible. I don't know about the severity of elbow injuries, though I know he had more done than just TJ.
Cullen
1:10
Sorry if you got this question already as I'm sure it will be popular...how has Davis looked catching big league arms so far? Any improvement over last year?
Jason Mackey
1:11
He has looked fine, but it's sides. No hitter, no counts. Not a real thing. But if it's a small sign, his work there has been just fine.
Tim
1:11
Hi Jason - any insight on the 4Topps seats in centerfield of Lecom?  Thank you
Jason Mackey
1:11
None, I'm sorry.
Gene
1:11
Do you think Josh Palacios is on the opening day roster?
Jason Mackey
1:12
I do, yes. I think they like Palacios a lot. And I don't think they're wrong. Great personality. Had some pop last year. They had him working in center today.
DaquidoBazzini
1:12
Right now, the Pirates could go out and get Cody Bellinger and Trevor Bauer, and it would instantly make them a contender in the NL Central. Bellinger would cost some money, but if  needed, they could flip him in late July. Bauer has already said he'd play for the minimum. Why not make these moves (other than plain old cheapness)??
Jason Mackey
1:15
I think they think Bauer is a jerk, independent of anything with the sexual-assault allegations. I know a lot of people want to react to Cherington's quote yesterday, and that's fine. It's a free country. I think their feeling is that he wouldn't be a good teammate, and they don't want to disrupt what they have. They certainly aren't alone in tacking that tack, though other teams also spend actual money on pitching. ... Bellinger, eh. I don't know. That's a ton of money. Is there enough certainty to justify what he's gonna get? Dude had a 66 OPS+ from 2021-22. Was great in 2023, no doubt. But would I go 12 years, $264 million? Not a chance.
Cullen
1:15
I'm assuming that there was a fair amount of smoke around Cabrera if you did a prewrite on a possible story? I'm also assuming the names you listed for the return are your input as BC doesn't seem like the type to reveal that info? Having said that, if that's the return, the Pirates should take that!
Jason Mackey
1:16
Yes, there's smoke around a trade. They've been talking to the Marlins. Cabrera makes sense. Those are the names I've seen publicly. The only ones. So I included them to flesh out a story, figuring welp, worst case I just delete. Obviously I didn't know the other parts were going to happen. I'll take the trade, too.
YIKES!
1:16
Jason, nice article /interview with Cherington the other day.  Really enjoy your stuff.   The major league season is such a grind,  even if they add another starter they are almost guaranteed to loose a few to injuries during the year.   Who are the depth pitchers who wouldn't start the season but might be called to back fill in a starting role?
Jason Mackey
1:17
Thank you for the kind words. Those guys are Jared Jones, Jackson Wolf, Paul Skenes ... eventually Mike Burrows, JT Brubaker ... maybe Josh Fleming or Brent Honeywell (former Rays guys) ... could be Quinn Priester, Roansy Contreras or Luis Ortiz if they don't earn starting jobs out of camp.
Wayward
1:17
Jason, Given BC's latest comments do you get the feeling that we are looking at just one additional SP?
Jason Mackey
1:18
I don't think they would be against signing two. I think they could pull of a trade with the Marlins and sign Domingo German, to use actual names. It's also possible they could not swing a trade and German works out. We'll see. But I don't think they're saying, "We can only get one," no.
Cullen
1:18
Do you get the impression that the Pirates will let Endy work on maintaining his swing and/or catching, ie: things that don't involve throwing? I know that he injured his UCL on a weird swing but that seems like a freak accident. If he is able to catch or swing halfway through rehab it could mitigate some of the lost year...
Jason Mackey
1:18
I hear ya. I don't know enough on what Endy will be able to do. It's a good question that was brought up earlier. I will try to find out from the medical people.
Dave
1:19
What happened with your reported "slippery" email?
Jason Mackey
1:21
I've explained this a bunch, but ... and assuming you mean the Cabrera thing. We prewrite stories all the time. You take what's out there, put it together and have it ready. Something happens, then you can always adjust/add/delete. Emailed my editor. He put it in our content management system. It was set to draft, which never changed. Somehow, it wound up on a secondary app. Once again, I'm extremely sorry for the frustrating or false hope it may have created.
George Costanza
1:21
Hello Jason. Thanks for the time. Why would the Pirates worry about the supposed public relations nightmare signing Bauer or German would cause when they haven't worried about being known as the cheapest, worst run organization in sports for the better part of 30 years? Not to be critical.
Jason Mackey
1:22
The PR nightmare isn't why they're uninterested in Bauer, FWIW. They're very much considering German. They employ Chapman and Bae -- guys with not great pasts.
62 Stack Monster
1:22
Sorry I meant to ask could both of these instances be related?
Jason Mackey
1:23
They could, but I don't know any of that for sure. I know guys with other options often take them. That's routine. When the Pirates win more, that will change. Also, if a guy is good enough to earn a multi-year deal, chances are he can pick somewhere other than Pittsburgh. But the bang-for-the-buck is more directed at some of the contracts handed out this offseason. Not defending it. Just explaining.
62 Stack Monster
1:23
Hello Jason, welcome to FL!  In your article with Cherington you wrote that Cherington noted his obstacles as such:  "The Pirates not feeling like they were getting enough bang for the buck, for one. And also players not really committing to them as a desired destination.
Joel
1:23
Hi, Jason. Happy Spring Training!
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