It’s go time.
The Pittsburgh Pirates can’t afford to have a repeat of this offseason at the July 30 trade deadline less than a week from now.
“We have the resources we need to get better and to compete and contend. I’m confident in that.”
These were the words of Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington at his end of year media availability last October. Words that preceded the action of signing Rowdy Tellez (.697 OPS), Martin Perez (5.20 ERA), Yasmani Grandal (.516 OPS), Aroldis Chapman (3.82 ERA), Josh Fleming (4.02 ERA), Michael A. Taylor (.530 OPS) and Domingo German (0 MLB starts, 5.53 ERA at AAA) while trading for Marco Gonzales (5 starts 2.70 ERA) and Edward Olivares (.624 OPS).
In fairness, Tellez has been exceptional since the start of June, Gonzales has done quality work when he’s been healthy, and Chapman has been better since April, but otherwise? Ouch. That’s a whole lot of nothing, less than nothing in some cases and holding the team back from being better.
The Pirates wrapped up a series win from the St. Louis Cardinals today with a 5-0 victory, the second series win since the All-Star break for a Pirates team that hasn’t lost a series since the very first one of July.
Still, Tuesday night’s game where the Pirates offense came up short and handed phenom Paul Skenes his first loss of the year in a gut wrenching 2-1 defeat leaves a bitter taste. A game they could and should have won. A game they hopefully won’t look back on and say they had to win. A game that showcased the Pirates biggest weakness. They just don’t hit enough.
They’re 27th in team wRC+. Bryan Reynolds, Andrew McCutchen, and Oneil Cruz are the only everyday starting players with on-base percentages over .300. They’re also the only major source of power, accounting for 46 of the team’s 102 home runs. That trio can only carry the team to so many wins. Especially when lineup cards that include multiple players who just aren’t Major League hitters are an everyday occurrence.
The Pirates should jump at the chance to improve at the trade deadline. They have the resources they need to do this. Nobody is asking that they totally transform the roster, or even suggesting that would be possible. Just that management seriously care about 2024.
Like this past offseason, prices will be high, but right now, it’s the cost of doing business. You can’t get cold feet when it comes to seriously investing in this roster like you have at previous junctures. If you’re not willing to take these risks, maybe this industry isn’t for you.
Baseball is a strange sport; you may feel all cozy about having all this starting pitching now and for the foreseeable future, but the tomorrow you’re envisioning may never arrive. Paul Skenes may be more Herb Score or Mark Fidrych than Nolan Ryan, Mitch Keller may not be the model of durability that he’s been to date, Jared Jones might flame out as a starter in the Majors, etc.
That isn’t me casting doubt or trying to diminish what they have; it’s me pointing out how critically important it is to make the most of this while you have it before things totally outside of your control cause this to all go to waste. Get creative if you have to.
For the first time since 2018, the Pirates are over .500 on July 24. 52-50. Five years deep into Cherington’s tenure as GM, it’s go time.
Jazz Chisholm and Brent Rooker sure would look nice in black and gold.