Will Neal Huntington make a big trade splash soon??

by impliedi on Jun 20, 2011 1:51 AM EDT

While I'm not a big fan of mortgaging the team's future when it's present isn't yet ready, however...

The Pirates have been stockpiling pitching for a while, could the time be now to start adding some pieces to fill some holes moving forward? Is is really possible that NH will begin to part with some of his prize pieces to fill out the major league roster?

I was thinking about Gaby Sanchez out in Florida. Has done remarkably well in his year and a half, however, most people think that Logan Morrison is going to shift over and take over the 1B position in a matter of time. I'd love to see the Pirates be able to pry away Sanchez with some of the org's pitching (whether it be majors or minors). Sanchez would solve a hole at 1B for the team, and best of all, won't even hit arbitration until after next season, so he could be a long-term solution.

While I'm still a Lyle Overbay fan, not only is he underperforming this year, but in almost all probability won't be here next year, leaving the team to fill the void at 1B for another year.

I know when people think of trades or free agents, they get mostly excited about the big names, big bats, big arms. But it's the acquisitions of guys who are on the brink, or have had a small amount of success, like Sanchez, that pay dividends in the long run. A move like the Chris Snyder trade (or, before that, acquiring Adam LaRoche) where a guy is in your control beyond the year, are the kinds of moves the Pirates should almost always take a risk on.

So, my questions:

1. How much pitching would it take to pull Sanchez away from the Marlins?

2. Do you think Neal will pull off a trade like this kind (trading for a young-ish MLB player) during this season?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Comments

meh

Sanchez doesn’t do it for me. How’s about we trade some prospects for Mike Stanton now that’d be tantalizing having him and Pedro 4-5 wouldn’t it?

^a guy can dream can’t he?

Benny Benack III

by benny benack on Jun 20, 2011 2:11 AM EDT reply actions

yep, keep dreamin

by white angus on Jun 20, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

hahaha keeep dreaming is right

by BigB2323 on Jun 20, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Hanrahan and/or Karstens will go- IMO

Who knows, but if I am a team that is in contention, really a true contender, I have to be looking at Hanrahan as my closer or setup guy and Karstens as my middle reliever. A good team that has the capability to come back when down would love to have a Karstens that not only could eat up innings but also could hold the score at bay until they make their comeback. I know most don’t think Karstens is worth much,but for the right team and in the right situation, I believe he would really help a team make it to the playoffs. So, hopefully, the Bucs could get some type of quality young 1B or SS that is close to the majors for these 2 players. If not, there must be an up and coming SS in the DR that the Bucs could pursue because it is time that new training academy in the Dominican Republic starts paying dividends. If not these guys, I say no deals will happen.

by long4willie on Jun 20, 2011 2:51 AM EDT reply actions

Ok... If by the trade deadline we are 10 games

Below .500, I’ll accept a Hanrahan trade. But, if we are near or at .500 and competing, no way in he’ll do I trade him.

by Krid on Jun 20, 2011 5:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

*hell

by Krid on Jun 20, 2011 5:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Being near .500

doesn’t mean your going to compete. Never understood why .500 was a goal. It just means your average. I will look at how many teams we have to pass if we are .500, right now I think its 5 or 6 for the WC.

by Epsy on Jun 20, 2011 6:40 AM EDT up reply actions

can't understand 18 years of losing ?

sorry, being .500 at the end of the season means a lot, for the players, for the fans, for the whole Pirates organization.

"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"

by Elektrostal_Kid on Jun 20, 2011 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions

it means more to people who cant see the long term goal of the franchise

you dont get rid of talent for a 3 month rental just so you can become average.

by white angus on Jun 20, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, I agree, but don't read too much in my comment please

that’s just what I ask… For sure, long term vision is the real solution for small markets teams to be successful in that game.

"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"

by Elektrostal_Kid on Jun 20, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Hanrahan is a long-term piece.

by Mr. E on Jun 20, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I should add IMO..

This team is not a contender this year, to me they are still two years away from making noise, thats why it ouldn’t bug me to trade Hanny, Malhom, but noway are we buyers.

by Epsy on Jun 20, 2011 6:41 AM EDT reply actions

if were still 4 – 5 games within 1st place by the deadline, id consider us contenders, thats clearly striking distance and with a lot of divisonal games in august/september a move in the standings can easily be made.

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Jun 20, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

you can be a buyer and not be a contender, what dont you get?

The Pirates were buyers on Chris Snyder last year, you can add a piece for the future by giving up prospects, that would be considered buying. This team could easily start winning next year IMO.

by BigB2323 on Jun 20, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

thats completely different

we traded not one single prospect for Snyder

by white angus on Jun 20, 2011 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think the Pirates should make a big splash at any position besides RF or SS

The one factor that is holding this team back is the Disabled List and it has been unkind to say the least. Prior to his injury Steve Pearce was doing a great job of getting on base from the 2 spot in the lineup. When he and Pedro comeback it essentially is like adding two strong offensive players to your lineup, assuming el Toro is actually playing like the raging bull he is capable of.

If we can manage to hang around .500 until we get those two cats back our lineup will become much more lethal compared to what it is now. To be honest once you get past the 4 spot no one is a real threat to get on base. So the way I see it when Pedro and Pierce come back we now have 6 people who can get hits compared to the 4 we have right now. Peirce and Jones can split time at 1B and spell whoever is in right and relegate Overbay to the bench. Now if they can get a bat that will crush homeruns and put him in RF we now have a pretty damn good lineup aside from the catcher and there really isn’t anything we can do about that until late July.

I don’t know who we can get to play RF but I would really enjoy Cuddyer prowling around beneath the Clemente wall. Or if we wanted to do something internally we could DFA Overbay and bring up Presley. He’s not going to be the big bat that we need but he will help and maybe Pedro steps into that role

by samvescovi on Jun 20, 2011 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

Speaking of Pearce.....

What’s his injury status? Working towards a rehab assignment?

by dave1231959 on Jun 20, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Back

hopefully soon after the All-Star break. Small possibility before it.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jun 21, 2011 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Cuddyer would be an exciting addition. But at 32 he will be on the decline by the time the team can really contend. The team needs to stop signing bandaid fixes like Overbay, Don’t use any significant resources on anyone over 30 i say.

by dan.nq on Jun 22, 2011 2:26 AM EDT up reply actions

1) A lot
2) I think he is trying but this is a very hard trade to make. The backup plan would be a rental move where we won’t give up much more than salary relief.

Also, I’ve seen Morrison has clashed with the Marlins a couple times now and maybe he should be the target over Sanchez.

by Mr. E on Jun 20, 2011 1:50 PM EDT reply actions