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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.05.22
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Jason Mackey
11:36
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Thanks for stopping by. A lot to talk about. We'll get started at noon.
Bill
11:56
Jason, first of all congrats on your big career news. Very well deserved! With Heineman hurt, do you think the Bucs will try to claim Pedro Severino who the Brewers DFA? He's 29, under control another year and a better option than what they currently have. Only WSH/CHC ahead of us in waivers.
Jason Mackey
11:57
Hi, Bill. Thank you very much for that. Really excited about the new role. Yes, I could see them looking into that. Can't say for sure, but I think I'm saying the obvious by pointing out that having Taylor Davis as a regular option behind Jason Delay is not ideal. Can't say for sure they will get him, but any help would be good at this point.
Bill
11:57
Who are the next group of young players to come up? Swaggety and Suwinski are both hitting well at Indy and should get another shot.
Jason Mackey
11:58
Those are the two I'm looking at, Bill. Maybe not together, but I think whomever has more confidence or might be in a better place to succeed -- Suwinski would probably be the easy answer -- would be my choice.
madeintheshade
11:59
If a Pirate is DFA'ed or released, do they still get their full salary? Also, if a player is injured, do the Pirates pay their salary or does an insurance company?
Jason Mackey
11:59
It depends on the type of deal. Also matters where or not they're claimed on waivers. If a player is injured but, say, on the 10-day injured list, yes, the Pirates continue to pay their salary.
Cullen
11:59
Congrats on the new gig, Jason, and very well deserved! Peguero has been on a prolonged cold streak for the last month, he is young for AA but should we be concerned?
Jason Mackey
12:00
Thanks, Cullen. And no, I don't think we should be concerned. As you said, he's young. There are going to be growing pains. I think Peguero is going to be just fine in the long run. Very good player. Nothing over which to fret.
Wayward
12:00
Who and when are the DFA's and who gets called up?
Jason Mackey
12:01
Next one I'm looking at is JVM. They need to make space for some outfielders at Triple-A as I mentioned. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens soon, to be honest.
Cullen
12:01
Do you expect to see any more of the Pirates 2021 draft class promoted to Bradenton this year? Bishop seems to be hitting pretty well in rookie ball.
Jason Mackey
12:02
Yes, I would imagine they want to get those guys a taste of affiliated ball before long. Would not shock me at all if that happened here in the next couple of weeks.
Prince Bob
12:02
How surprised are you the Ben Gamel is still here? Were there no offers? Could the fact that none of the new kids in the outfield look like Cutch 2.0 yet have them thinking of trying to re-sign Gamel? He wouldn't cost all that much even by Pirate standards.
Jason Mackey
12:03
I am surprised, yes. I thought he would for sure be gone. I wonder if their ask was too high. I know they were talking with Toronto but ultimately didn't finish anything. And, no. I don't think it makes sense to keep Gamel. Nothing against him, but they have other guys they need to play.
Cullen
12:03
Due to the glut of middle infield talent in the system, could Termarr potentially get moved to CF? If his bat is as good as advertised he should fit pretty much anywhere but would play up at the premium position.
Jason Mackey
12:04
I don't think so. From what I know, he has limited experience out there. He loves playing the infield. He's also highly rated. Never say never, but I think they have guys they could move before him. Nick Gonzales actually came up as a CF. Wouldn't shock me if they tried him out there. I think you let Termarr show what he can do before moving him.
Mike
12:04
Hayes has to be a huge disappointment right
Jason Mackey
12:05
Not in my mind. I don't know why so many people view Ke'Bryan as a finished product. We knew his offense would have to grow when he signed his deal. He's an elite defensive player who will need to mature a little as a hitter. That doesn't make him a "huge disappointment."
Stuck-in-Philly
12:05
Good morning, Jason -
Jason Mackey
12:05
Good morning to you.
Prince Bob
12:05
I asked last week about the Pirates and Brian Reynolds getting a deal done. Mulling it some more, I doubt it will happen. He is going to cost money even with a home team discount, maybe eight figures a year, and probably for at least five years which means they'd be paying him for three years when he's past that magical age of 29 when his hitting statistically has peaked. I just don't see that as the kind of money they'd spend and think if they were going to do a deal with him they'd have it done by now. But I'd like your thoughts here.
Jason Mackey
12:06
I see where you're coming from, and you might not be wrong. However, not all cases are the same. They got something done with Hayes. I think they could do the same with Reynolds. Reynolds a couple years ago was an elite, elite rookie. Not ready to back off of something because he would be past his prime. Sign your best players would be my approach here.
Scott C.
12:07
Jason - assuming Cruz sticks at short, there could be a logjam at second with Newman, Marcano, Peguero, Gonzalez, Castillo and maybe even Johnson if he progresses quickly. How do you see this playing out?
Jason Mackey
12:08
There's so much to see and learn, Scott. It's hard to say. I will say this: Cruz offers more offensive upside than anyone on this list by a long shot. His defense hasn't been bad enough that I would want to move him. Tough to see him NOT in the mix. Marcano can bounce around. I don't think Newman's production will match his cost after the season. And TBD on the others. I think they're far from finished products. You could always trade one or entertain Cruz going to the outfield -- it may be what makes everything fit -- but again, there's just so much to take in at this point.
Prince Bob
12:08
And on a whole other note, what do guys who are back and forth between the minors and majors do about housing? Suwinski, for example, had to get a place in Altoona then another in Pittsburgh when he's called up. But he couldn't really let go of the place in Altoona knowing his time in Pittsburgh could be short and he'd be back. I assume that meant a hotel in Pittsburgh, at least at first? But if he got a more permanent place he's got two rents to pay and now he must be paying a third in Indianapolis? That's a lot of rent to pay for a guy making MLB minimum or less.
Jason Mackey
12:09
Suwinski stayed in a hotel in Pittsburgh, like many. In the other two spots, the team supplies housing that players can move in and out of fairly easily. He may be living in a couple different places, but he's only playing rent once -- wherever his feet are.
Dave
12:09
Do you think it would be a good move to keep Gamel around for another year or two. I don’t think he will be very expensive, seems like a good professional & clubhouse guy. Could be a mentor/Dh/4th outfielder?
Jason Mackey
12:10
Given what Gamel has done, I think he will have options as he hits the free agent market. I think he will entertain those, to perhaps play on a winning club. Same time, the Pirates need to find out about the young outfielders in their system. Just makes sense for them to move on, in my opinion.
Stuck-in-Philly
12:11
Good afternoon, Jason.  Baseball used to be my favorite sport.   Long after I graduated college in '98 I would have been able to tell you major league roster for almost every team and the stats for most of each team's players.  Now, not so much after the past 20+ years of Pirates baseball.  I am still tangentially interested in baseball (I watched "Thor" make his debut for the Phillies last night and I am not a Phillies fan).  Here is my question:  Have you seen any indication from Cherington and ownership that things will change?  I think them not moving to move Bednar and Reynolds at the deadline was a massive failure and only confirms my opinion that they are not interested in truly tearing things down to move in the right direction.  If ownership and management think that keeping those players on the roster for an extra 100 people in the stands each night and another 500 TV viewers, they are losing the forest through the trees and losing generations of Pirates fans.  What are you thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:12
Couple things: If they would have traded Reynolds and Bednar, there would have been a large group of fans that said they weren't interested in winning, etc. They were in a no-win situation. I would also say that the Pirates are the furthest into a rebuild we've seen them in a long time, maybe ever. It's taking time, no doubt. You would also like to see more progress. But I don't think all hope is lost here. They have talent in the minor leagues, and they need to develop those players appropriately. They also need to keep the good players they do have, and I have no problem with them doing that.
Jps717
12:12
I like the plan that BC has put together to grow the club into a winner.   That said,   How can you get to Aug and not have 5 starting pitchers on the team?  What’s their plan for starters for the balance of season?   Why are so worried about pitching Contreras?
Jason Mackey
12:14
They're thin on pitching, no doubt. It's also not like it grows on trees, especially when you refuse to spend money. But I get it. They need to find more, and they're going to be shoe-horning stuff the rest of the way. Probably hoping younger guys like Bryse Wilson or even Cody Bolton take a step. They're being cautious with Roansy because he's one of the only elite arms they have at that age/level. They're also not built to win right now, so as much as I want to see him, I get not wanting to waste the innings.
C. Montgomery Burns
12:14
Bligh Madris hasn't been hitting at all recently. Do they explore sending him down and bringing Suwinski or Swaggerty back up?
Jason Mackey
12:14
He hasn't, you're right. And, yeah, I think Bligh -- if he's not hitting -- would be one of the roster casualties if/when they decide to promote the guys you mentioned.
Guest
12:14
when is Jack back? and who goes when he does come back?
Jason Mackey
12:15
I think relatively soon. Maybe on this (long) road trip. At this point, I would think maybe VanMeter. It's not a position-for-position swap, but I could see them keeping Madris to see what he can do at first.
Dave
12:15
I don’t mean this as a negative Pirate comment. You can’t realistically expect 25 young kids to all figure it out at once. That being said will the Pirates supplement the roster with a veteran (a good one) if said prospect doesn’t turn out. Basically like the Blue Jays but with a more modest payroll?
Jason Mackey
12:16
I think when the core of what they have grows up a little bit and is bigger. Basically the young guys need to take some lumps and grow. When they're able to compete a little more, the team is better, then I think you will see them patch holes. I also think they could be more aggressive doing that this offseason.
johnkovalcin1
12:16
Why has the best catcher been sitting on the bench??  Jason Delay?  Now he is playing because Heineman is injured AVG 204
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