Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Discussion

by John Sickels on Dec 31, 2025 9:00 AM EST Comment 25 comments

I am now hard at work on the Angels. The next team up is the Pirates. Discuss this system. Is it as bad as Houston?

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Jim Negrych

He can hit..but havent heard good things about his glove. 2 sleepers 1B Cal Anderson and P Brent Klinger

by NYSOX on Dec 31, 2025 9:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Definitely not as bad as Houston's

I mean, the top of the system is better, with Pedro, McCutchen (even if you are lukewarm there, he’s better than Castro as a prospect), Tabata.

by toonsterwu on Dec 31, 2025 9:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Well said.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Dec 31, 2025 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

They did sign those two Indian reality show winners. I think one of them can dial it up to 90.

Hey, those two probably won’t make it, but you know what? There’s 50 gazillion people living there. Maybe they can carve out a niche, set up some kind of academy or something.

by SmokeyJoeWood on Dec 31, 2025 9:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's the Pirates, I'm sure it would somehow go horribly wrong

Like they get a Dalit ("untouchable") catcher and a strict Kshatriya pitcher who refuses to take baseballs touched by the catcher. Hello 6-hr game!

by slacker george on Jan 2, 2026 5:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I cannot fathom an organization as bad as Houston's

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 31, 2025 11:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

right

McCutchen and Alvarez alone make it a better system than Houston.

I agree - Noonan is as valuable as a dead horse… and he too should be beaten by some dude in a top hat who looks like he’s holding his junk.

by cool hand Charlie on Dec 31, 2025 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Even one of them makes it better, two makes it much better.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Dec 31, 2025 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody

is as bad as Houston; they’re their own tier at the bottom.

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by prestonb1291 on Dec 31, 2025 11:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Definately a Two tier system

Pirates OVERALL rank in the bottom third of systems as their depth is limited but they are way above Houston & even some more reknowned systems at the top

Alvarez/McCutchen & Tabata (post trade) are all high B prospects (Alvarez may even be a A-)

Otherwise some names that have possibilities include:

Pitchers - Moskos (although they must still be biting themselves for non draft of Wieters) ,Barthmeier (would the Astros love to have him back),Duke Welker,Bryan Morris (from LA),sleeper is Brad Lincoln WHOSE 08 stats have to be considered in light of his comeback PLUS possibly Watson (solid SP),Michael Felix (nice season at Hickory), Ronald Uviedo

Position wise - guys like Negrych,Grossman,Ford,Friday PLUS Diaz (exToronto C but COULD shift to the infield & has a real bat but no power)

by frenchredsox on Dec 31, 2025 12:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Alvarez is definitely an A-

And had he not signed late, he could have been an A. He’s maybe the best hitting prospect after Wieters, I think.

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by OldProspects on Dec 31, 2025 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

he is the best hitting prospect including Weiters, but Wieters is a better overall prospect because he can play catcher. The only other people who could come close to these two are Smoak and Heyward.

by joegonzo on Dec 31, 2025 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jamie Romak

He has trouble hitting the ball, but when he hits it, it goes far. Perhaps a Russell Branyan?

The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.

by mckeeno on Dec 31, 2025 12:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jarek Cunningham

Anyone like him as a real sleeper??

by bmurphy9 on Dec 31, 2025 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes....

I think Cunningham is going to have a huge breakout season while playing shortstop. Other guys who might be included are Robbie Grossman, Robert Miller, and Wesley Freeman. Grossman has good tools with an outstanding work ethic, Miller has front end stuff, and Freeman looks like a clone of Matt Holliday when he was drafted(that doesn’t mean he will be Matt Holliday because Holliday had to work hard to fix his swing and do a couple other things).

by joegonzo on Dec 31, 2025 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What do people think about guys like Pearce and Walker, whose stocks have fallen?

Never, Never, NEVER give up

by hero66 on Dec 31, 2025 2:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Easy...

Pearce is no longer a prospect and Walker almost has no future with the bucs now that they have Andy LaRoche and Pedro Alvarez.

by joegonzo on Dec 31, 2025 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Shelby Ford

Wishful thinkin’ that he turns out to be a poor man’s Pedroia?

by ByANose on Dec 31, 2025 3:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It depends...

on what you think a poor man’s Pedroia is. Technically everyone who plays second(except Utley) could be considered a poor man’s Pedroia. But if you think A poor man’s Pedroia can put up 275-15-15 than yes Shelby Ford COULD do that.

by joegonzo on Dec 31, 2025 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ford..

Anybody know anything about his defense?

by jseiner on Dec 31, 2025 4:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I've heard...

average to slightly above average in one place and average to slightly below in another. I think it is probably average from those two.

by joegonzo on Dec 31, 2025 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Only 2 to watch for

McCutchen and Alvarez top a very thin system

by bryeic on Dec 31, 2025 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

But aint that the truth about a load of systems ??

Yes it is thin in real “certain” prospects but they do have more than their fair share of possible stars the deal for Bay netted them an ex 1st rounder in Morris & Lincoln is another who has the stuff to become a good (2/3) starter.

Lots of the problems lies at the upper end of the minors (ie AA+) & thats due to the past management drafts & the Pirates inability to sign any decent IFAs…..but it is not as thin as some (eg Astros or Reds) & could be a lot better if some of the “kids” do take off in 09 -- Nelson Pereira for example

by frenchredsox on Dec 31, 2025 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe it's the Stoly's talkin

but i can’t believe the lack of respect McCutchen gets on this site. Think about it, and this is low end expectations for him in his rookie season: plus D in CF, 30 min. 50 max. SBs (like the Pirates aren’t gonna cut him loose), at worst a league ave. K/BB rate (which has improved overall thru minors) . Now take a good look around and see how many teams couldn’t use that in CF. Then add in what he “should” improve on as seasons pass by, which is all of the aforementioned plus his power (which again is vastly underrated). Find me a CF that hits 400 ft.+ shots in BP on a reg.basis like he does. Anyone worth an shite knows that equates to 20 HR power esp. in a neutral park. Add it all up and what we’re lookin at here is Rickey Henderson lite. Out of all the sites focusing on minors this community really should know better, I like Alvarez just as much as the next guy but hell I’ll just come right out and say it - you mf’n haters need to wise up!

Mulder: Babe Ruth was an alien? Arthur Dales: sure; all the great ones were aliens.

by dew on Jan 1, 2026 1:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

couple of things

-I think if variables has taught us anything, drinking and posting can be a dangerous venture.

-Supposedly McCutchen still has some work to do defensively, especially on his judgement and route-running. He’s a freak athlete, obviously, but assuming plus D from the kid next year isn’t quite right.

-I wouldn’t be so sure the Pirates are going to cut him loose. McLouth probably could’ve stolen 40+ bases this year if management hadn’t held him back. Not saying its a bad thing, I personally like that he picked his spots and went 23-of-26. My guess is that if McCutchen spends the whole year in Pittsburgh, he won’t get the greenlight more than 30 times, especially if his success rate is around the 64% clip it was last year at AAA

-400+ ft BP shots don’t always mean too much, although you’re right, Cutch could definitely top the 20 HR mark a few times in his prime.

Otherwise, I agree with the point you’re trying to make. Cutch will be a damn useful ballplayer even if he doesn’t reach his full potential, and I think people here and other places occasionally loose sight of that in their discussions.

by jseiner on Jan 1, 2026 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs