Hot Stove Thread

Let me on record now as saying that the P-Rats would be insane to part with Snell or Capps to bring back Inge. And I like Inge.

 

I can't imagine the Pirates would give up Snell for Inge. Not even Dombrowski could pull off a heist of that magnitude. I like Inge, too, but I can't see the Tigers getting a whole lot for him. I'd be happy with Capps, really.

 

1st, Girardi - will take some getting used to. Also, I like the signing, the key with middle relievers is that their performance varies wildly from season to season, with the exception of the very best (Shields, Nelson, Timlin, GOrdon etc.) so you want to avoid multiyear deals, don't chase last year's breakout star, & look for a long track record, even if it's one of mediocrity. If he , can't pitch big innings, he won't do it much, but there are going to be plenty of low-mid leverage innings they need pitched with the SPs they have, and someone has to throw them serviceably. For 1 year at 3.5 million, you could do alot worse.

 

I haven't read what the Pirates would offer.

I think Damasco Marte would make more sense. Older and makes more money than Capps, but still a good reliever. Inge was terrible last year and now he is either trade bait or a backup in Detroit. Capps was outstanding last year and he is only 24. There is no way the Pirates should even consider trading Capps for a guy like Inge.

But it's the Pirates, so stupidity would not be a surprise.

Edit: I agree with Cran. I brought up Snell as a joke.

 

Bring back Inge? The Pirates have never had Inge. He was drafted by The Tigers in 1998.

I doubt Inge would bring Capps or Snell. More likely could be Marte, although he may be a stretch too.

Maybe the Tigers get a couple prospects to help build up the farm again.

 

Oh, I completely agree. It would be ludicrous for the Pirates to give up one of them for Inge.

 

I agree too.

Sincerely,

Aramis Ramirez

 

Which was what I had in mind when I suggested nothing is too stupid for the Pirates to do.

But the Ramirez deal was a pure salary dump. Inge makes a lot more than Capps and Snell combined. Inge has three years left on a four-year, $24 million contract. Neither Capps nor Snell is even arbitration eligible yet.

 

Now that's funny.

 

Didn't the Cubs' GM openly make fun of the Pirates after that trade was done?

 

Or you could do a lot better. Like letting 10 minor leaguers battle for LaTroy's gig and save $3.2 million in the process.

If all you can find on the market is middle relievers with a track record of mediocrity, then why throw money at them? Every year, a dozen or so journeymen are plucked off the scrap heap and turned into serviceable middle relievers. After blowing gobs of money on some truly awful "set-up men," the Yankees should be trying that, instead of figuring the law of averages and a minimal committment will finally result in success.

Even for $3.5 million, LaTroy's track record, his history of imploding in anything resembling a big spot and his struggles against the AL East--I think he has a career ERA below 5 against just one AL East team--makes this a waste of money.

 

Can you imagine the look on Girardi's face when he glances at his line-up card in a pressure situation at Fenway and realizes his only RH options are Hawkins and Farnsworth?