Hey, Neal. You're sending conflicting messages.
One moment you're saying we don't have enough depth the next moment you're saying the pieces are in place. I'm probably one of the most gullible believers in the Pirates and what Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly are trying to do. I have a problem with Huntington trying to actually make us think that they are legitimately trying to sign Jack and Freddy(sounds like a new sitcom) to extensions.
In case you didn't hear they both rejected the offers from the Pirates. Surprise, surprise. The Pirates were asking these two to take ridiculous pay cuts. Jack's going to be a free agent after this year and will find a team that will give him above average money to play shortstop with them. The Pirates, most likely would have traded him long before this if they had anybody to replace him. It is not easy to find a quality shortstop inside or outside the organization right now for what the Pirates want to pay. They would be better off offering him a reasonable contract, than lowballing him so much that no self respecting fan would even think they were actually making a sincere effort to keep him.
If Freddy gets to 600 at bats this year, he'll make $8.5 million in 2010, which is almost what the Pirates offered him for 2 years. Would you take that? I wouldn't. Freddy is a talented fielder and can hit for average, see 2006 batting champ. He deserves a paycheck that is on the level with his talent. He's probably willing to take less than he could get elsewhere, just not absurdly less, which is what the Pirates are offering. C'mon Neal, Frank, and Mr. Nutting. Step up to the plate.
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Jack will not get above average money from anyone else. Look at Adam Everett's contract for comparison (one year/1 mil). Freddy is not guaranteed anything in 2010. Bucs would buy-out the option for like 600k, I believe.
ReplyDeleteI 'like' bot of these guys, but they are not answers, only fillers.
It's hard to call Jack and Freddy 'fillers' when there is no one in the system to replace them when their gone. It's obvious that the FO doesn't want to pay them and for all the moves Huntington has made, he's made no effort to acquire middle infielders.
ReplyDeleteIf the FO isn't willing to make a serious attempt to sign Jack and Freddy, then there is no reason to believe that they will spend the money on quality FA replacements. So the middle infield will be manned by the likes of Ramon Vasquez, Brian Bixler and Luis Cruz...not very impressive.