Despite sweeping the Mets, I just don't see any hope here, unless management is secretly spending money to clone Jason Bay. They should sell the team and move it to a city that can actually support an MLB team, which would allow a little money to be spent on player development and free agents that aren't named Jeromy Burnitz. Even then it will be a loooong rebuilding process.

After selling the team, they should act quickly to be the AAA affiliate for the Yankees, so PNC Park can be put to better use. Attendance numbers probably wouldn't drop much...

I don't think the short run should even factor in with this team.  They have lots of young talent, but I want these guys to have time to develop and grow before expectations are put on them.

First things first, buyout Burnitz for $700,000.  It's a small price to pay to get rid of him.  Let Randa walk also.  Those two guys save you $9 million in payroll.  Non-tender Chacon, that will save you potential $3-4 million.  Look to deal Torres and Marte.  They've had good years, but they'll be 37 and 32 respectively by the time the team is ready to compete.  Pickup some prospects for them, it's better for the future of the franchise.  

Shedding the contracts of Marte and Torres frees up another $5.6 million.  Add that to the $12.5 million saved by letting Burnitz, Randa, and Chacon go, you have just over $18 million available.  Use this money for contract extensions for Freddy Sanchez, Xaiver Nady, Mike Gonzalez, and John Grabow.  Sanchez, Nady, and Gonzalez all get similar contracts, 4 years each and between $12-14 million each.  Grabow I'd sign to a 3 year, $5 million deal.  He's been effective vs. lefties and I'd keep him for just that kind of job.

Explore the idea of trading Jason Bay.  It's kind of an unusual idea, but if you can get a better than average return, make the deal.  I'd talk with the Angels about Santana/Wood/Kotchman for Bay.  I don't think it's too much to ask for, as the Angels offered Santana and Aybar for a 30 year Miguel Tejada.

Lock up Santana to a 6 year deal, likely worth say $20-24 million total.  You buyout his first two years of free agency, and lock him up through the age of 30.  He fills out my rotation with Duke, Snell, Gorzelanny, and Maholm.  It's a young group, but very talented with tons of potential.  Give them the next two years to learn and grow.  Keep Victor Santos around in the pen as long man/6th starter.  Grabow, Capps, and Gonzalez are the late innings guys starting next year.  Give guys like Bayliss, Sharpless, Vogelsong, Burnett, Bullington, and McLeary shots at the last three spots in the pen.  Give Lincoln the next year to two years in the minors, with the idea of him taking over the closers role in 2009 or 2010.

With Bay, Randa, and Burnitz gone there are some spots open in the lineup.  Paulino and Doumit share the catching duties, with Paulino getting 80% of the playing time.  Kotchman takes 1B and it's his job.   He'll give you Gold Glove defense, and a 280/350/470 line for the next few years.  Castillo sticks at 2B for now, with Wilson at short and Sanchez at 3B.  By 2008, if not midseason next year, Wood should be ready, probably at 3B.  I'd move Sanchez to 2B at that point.  There is quite a bit of INF talent in the minors.  Stansberry, Lillibridge, and Walker(C or 3B) provide some options to go with the above mentioned guys.  It shouldn't be too hard to find 5 guys to fit at these positions.

Nady replaces Bay in LF, and I'd let Gerut(vs. RHP) and Bautista(vs. LHP) platoon in RF.  Unfortunately, both Chris Duffy and Nate McLouth struggle vs. RHP.  I'd let them battle it out for CF, with loser staying on the bench.  The prize of the Pirates farm system, Andrew McCutchen, will be manning CF by mid 2008 or the beginning of 2009.  He's a guy that is worth waiting for, and will be a big star.

The bench for next year would look like this: McLouth/Duffy, Bautista, Doumit, Brad Eldred, and a UTL type.  The UTL type isn't of great import, as Castillo will likely be on the bench by mid season with Wood up and starting.  There is a lot of young talent in this organization, it just needs time to grow.  To help facilitate this, I'd fire Jim Tracy.  He's a guy who prefers veteran players, and I don't want the youngsters getting yanked around by him.  I'd honestly bring in a guy like Tony Pena for a second shot as a big league manager.  He did well with a similar type franchise in KC, and he could be the right guy here.

I've been to PNC Park numerous times. It's a wonderful stadium. It's a shame that management is so clueless. They signed that light-hitting 2B a few years ago to that monster deal (the one who played with the Twins...his name currently escapes me .. was it Mike Benjamin?). They ruined Brad Eldred. They never take shots on the high-upside guys in the draft, instead opting for the college-polished guys who will be cheaper. The Sean Casey signing was incredibly bogus. They almost messed up Bautista (wasn't it some kind of mistake with Rule V or something). Van Benschoeten has been a joke (wasn't Mauer or someone available when they took JVB?)......i'd like to attribute their troubles to the team not getting fan support. But there are other teams who don't get much fan support (but who happen to have competent scouts and a compotent front office).

First things first. FIRE Littlefield. Look at what he has done the past few years. Sign Burnitz and traded for Casey. When they were playing Craig Wilson less money to do the same job. Makes no sense. So DUMP HIM.

of the current team around "when the time is right?"

15th in NL in Runs scored
13th in OBP
15th in HR
15th in TB
16th in OPS
16th in SLG

530AB's to leadoff hitters who get on base less than 30% of the time (Duffy/McLouth)

BAy, Sanchez and Paulino are the only ones at this point showing anything above replacement value with any number of AAAA guys stuck out there. You may want to give a Doumit or Duffy a little more time, but that leave FOUR completely wasted starting lineup spots every day.

Jack Wilson has to go...  I don't care how slick a fielder he is, he's unproductive with the stick.  His tenure with the Bucs is a shining example of everything wrong with this franchise... unwavering loyalty to mediocrity.  Get a castoff from the Dodgers (Betemit, Lugo, etc)  Any number of guys will contribute more offensively and provide an adequate glove.

So many young pitchers... who knows who will work out and who will flame out, but the consensus seems to be there's some talent there - including some other teams would like to have.  You're never going to keep them all, so it's time to fish or cut bait...  Pick the ones you believe in and give them opportunity...  Tout the rest and move them along for bats and minor league bats.

Maholm, Duke and Snell are your current mainstays in the rotation...  no point in getting a number 1 right away, so a veteran #3-4 will do. Then Gorzellany as #5

Burnett's your soft tossing LOOGY. Gonzalez, Sharpless and Capps fill out the pen.

This team can get turned around, but they need to do more on offense...  last 2 stats - 15th in BB's and 5th most strikeouts...  bad combination

 This one's hard. I suppose they got some young pitching, but too many question marks left and right.

  Keep Chacon if they want, it doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but seeing the pitching market next year you might as well keep him for his price tag, he wasn't really as good as last year but he really isn't a crappy as he has been this year. But obviously keep the possibility of trading him open if the deal is right. I think at his price tag if he puts up a decent early season you can get a steal for him.

  I think to contend next year is unrealistic, they need to figure out their lineup. right now they have 3 to 4 guys that are good enough.. that's a loooong way from ready.

  See if you can trade anything for Elijah Dukes, look for teams with excess players ... particularly for OF / 1B ...  Wilson at SS is passable unless there are siginicantly better options that comes cheap (which is unlikely at best) carrying a bad bat in SS is far less damaging than a bad one in the outfield.

   I suppose... if you could somehow get Dukes, then sign a decent 2B (Which shouldn't be too expensive... let's say Mark Loretta)

   Dukes     RF
   Loretta   2B
   Sanchez   3B
   Bay       LF
   Nady      1B
   Paulino    C
   Duffy     CF
   Wilson    SS

   something along this line should at least be passable... aka better than what the Astros or Cubs probably will throw out there.

   pitching staff mostly just bring back what you have this year and try to work things out, trade Chacon if the opportunity arise before or during the season.

   this should at least get them on the right direction..    

 

Dukes is too good and has too much potential to be a Pirate. And you act as if the D-Rays will just give him away.

They really arent that bad a team. Here is my plan for the buccos, it may sound crazy but I think that they could compete with these moves and a little luck. First and foremost they need a LH slugger. To get that I would look to Japan. Lee Seung-yeop, a korean LH 1B is looking to bring his Japanese league HR title to the majors, I feel that he would be a risk well worth taking since he is 29.

Then I would look to stabilize the rotation with a nice RH arm. My pick would be Adam Eaton. He might be a bit cheap and can still be a decent starter in this league. a Schmidt would be nice, but it is unrealistic to think that the pirates would be able to outbid the big spenders to get him. the only other option I would consider is if they can get Jose Hernandez for cheap.

that is it really the only moves that they can realisticly make - If they play like they have played the second half of the year and take on the additions that I have suggested they should be competitive, possibly breaking their 14 year streak of losing seasons.

Tomo Ohka should also be included in the list of pitchers the pirates should look at targeting this offseason.

Well, Chacon next year should be 3M-3.5M or so, it's the final year before FA, so the chances of him putting together a good year is decent.

and more importantly, looking at the current pitching market. your not going to get any even half decent pitching for under 4M a year. might as well keep Chacon.

If he strings together a good year, he'll also be a very useful trade bait during the season.

If not, you still don't lose much.

As for Elijah Dukes, I would be shocked if TB doesn't move him or Rocco Bodelli this winter, Dukes seems the more likely of the two to be moved. and they were sounding so down on him they were already floating him around the block before the dealine anyway. I think he'll end up somewhere else next year, if the Pirates could put together a good deal for him, do it.