Besides completely overhauling scouting and management positions a lot more needs to be done - although I did hear they opened up a training facility in the Dominican recently. So let's take a quick look at one of the sorriest franchises... the Pittsburgh Pirates. (italics below, denotes prospects)
Positives: Garrett Jones, Ryan Doumit, Andrew McCutchen, Zach Duke, Pedro Alvarez
Upsides: Iwamura, Milledge, LaRoche, Hanrahan, Crosby, Gorkys Hernandez, Jose Tabata, Brad Lincoln, Tim Alderson, Tony Sanchez
Negatives: They have been so bad for so long and continue to be a team in desperation. Their team payroll is the lowest in the league at around $32 million.
Salaries:
C: Ryan Doumit (29) - $3.55m
1B: Jeff Clement (26) - $0.42m
2B: Aki Iwamora (31) - $4.85m
3B: Andy LaRoche (26) - $0.44
SS: Bobby Crosby (30) - $1.0m
LF: Lastings Milledge (25) - $0.54m
CF: Andrew McCutchen (23) - $0.42m
RF: Garrett Jones (28) - $0.42m
Image 2: Pedro Alvarez (vandymania.com)
C: Tony Sanchez
IF: Pedro Alvarez (23) - $0.89m
OF: Gorksy Hernandez (22) - $0.03m
OF: Jose Tabata (21) - $0.65m
P: Zach Duke (26) - $4.5m
P: Paul Maholm (27) - $4.5m
P: Ross Ohlendorf (27) - $0.44m
Closer: Joel Hanrahan (28) $0.44m
RHP: Brad Lincoln (24) - $0.33m
RHP: Tim Alderson (22)
Obvious needs: Pitching, pitching, pitching... and oh ya... an impact bat or two.
The Pirates have a solid 1, 2, 3, 4 once Alvarez is ready. McCutchen, Iwamura, Alvarez, Jones could be too left handed though for some to live with leaving the possibility to slide Iwamura down to the 8 hole and perhaps move up a guy like Milledge to 2.
I'm sure all Pirates fans loved watching Garrett Jones pound the ball like he did last year but his bat alone is not going to scare a pitcher. An impact bat needs to be added, preferably a 1st basemen. Jeff Clement is a low risk-high reward 1st basemen but I know there is a better bat to be had there.
My lineup would go:
CF: McCutchen (R)
3B: Alvarez (L)
LF: Milledge (R)
1B/RF: Jones (L)
1B/RF:
C: Doumit (S)
SS: Crosby (R)
2B: Iwamura (L)
Free Agents that could fit (italics below, denotes 2011 free agents):
1B: Jermaine Dye (36), Hank Blalock (29), Carlos Delgado (38), Derek Lee (35), Adam Dunn (31), Carlos Pena (33)
OF: Rick Ankiel (30), Johnny Damon (36), Jayson Werth (32), Andruw Jones (34), Pat Burrell (34), Eric Byrnes (34) *if released
SP: Pedro Martinez (38), Mark Prior (28), Ben Sheets (31), Bronson Arroyo (34), Jeremey Bonderman (28), Aaron Harang (33)
RP: Kevin Gregg (32), Octavio Dotel (36), Joaquin Benoit (32), Will Ohman (31), Frank Fransisco (31), Juan Cruz (30), Jeremy Affeldt (32)
Notable Pennsylvania Baseball Players: great list...
Mark DiFelice, Taylor Bucholtz, Khalil Greene, Ryan Garko, Kyle Banks, Nolan Reimold
References: mlbtraderumors.com, baseball-reference.com, mlb.com
Note: I do understand the importance ot trades and strategery that goes into them. Perhaps I'll dig a little deeper next time. Thanks!
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