Comments on: The Potential of James McDonald

By: Matt Beam

Matt Beam — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Wow, was hoping it might be more like Marte and Owens so agree with you about not giving that up for 2.5 years

By: Kevin_Creagh

Kevin_Creagh — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:42:00 +0000

Right now, we’re working on an update of sorts to the Prospect Trade Surplus work of Victor Wang (should be out mid-June).

If you believe Lowrie is a true 2.5 WAR (I’m a little skeptical), let’s put him at 7 WAR from now until the end of 2014. He’s arb eligible in 2013-14 and will probably make $3.5M and $5.5M in salaries those two years. $35M of WAR – $9M of contract = $26M

In terms of a hitter, that’s one #11-25 hitter by BA’s Top 100. Or a Top 10 pitcher plus a #76-100. In that combination, that’s Cole and Marte. Or Taillon and Marte.

As much as the Pirates need a quality SS, I wouldn’t give those two guys up for Lowrie. That shows you how valuable it is to develop your own SS.

By: Matt Beam

Matt Beam — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 16:22:00 +0000

Jed Lowrie, like most of the Astros, is supposedly available. He’s eligible for free agency after 2014. What might it take for the pirates to acquire him (assuming prospects) and would it make sense to you if a reasonable trade could be arranged?

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 03:56:00 +0000

Castro’s BABIP by year:

2010: .346
2011: .344
2012: .355

Seems like a normal range. I’m not totally sold on his defense, as I’ve pointed out. But it’s rare to have his offense with strong defense. You usually either get one or the other. And his strikeout rate is at 15.7%, up from 13-14%. Hardly a concern. He doesn’t walk a lot, but he makes up for that by hitting for a high average.

By: Patrick Kelly

Patrick Kelly — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Tim, I’m a bit shocked that you write this and not even mention Castro’s high BABIP (which with his speed I’m not as concerned with) and the fact that he walks about as much as Josh Harrison. His K rate is rising, his walk rate has gone from bad to horrible, and his BABIP is at a career high in the bigs. I also do not believe for a moment that he has been legitimately raise his UZR 20.3 points in the span of 1 season.

Add in all of the question marks and there is no way I am giving up Cole and Marte for him. If you were to say Cole and a guy like Grossman, I would be more inclined to pull the trigger.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Machado has a much better bat, but seems like a pretty good bet to eventually move to third base.

By: RAS TN

RAS TN — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:42:00 +0000

Tim, Question in your opinion how does Marrero compare to Machado from a few years back….?

By: john.alcorn

john.alcorn — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:12:00 +0000

I’m with you Tim, I think its more a case of overrating your own guys rather than any knock on Castro. An almost sure thing 4-5 win (or better, he’s just 22) SS for 4 1/2 years for almost any prospects would be a great deal for any team. Putting an elite player at the toughest position to fill is more than worth an extra two years of any pitching prospect. Cole and Taillon could be aces, the also could be shoulder surgeries, or control plagued mid rotation guys. Castro is already a top 5 SS in MLB and could get even better as he matures.

By: leadoff

leadoff — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:46:00 +0000

I think the SS position is a little down right now in Pittsburgh, but not critical enough to give away the farm for Castro, it is still a very strong position defensively on the major league level. They tried to get Alonso from the Reds over the winter, but had nothing to offer the Reds that would get him, that includes one of the best they have in the minor leagues right now. Barmes is the answer, he will hit enough for this team and if the Pirates are in contention in August or Sept. they will need a strong SS.
As far as Castro is concerned, I am not sold on him yet, the Cubs seem to bring guys up and they go crazy for a while then they go away, guys like Soto, Barmol. IMO, Castro gets a lot of lucky hits, but he is very athletic.

By: Richard Ya'Zhynka

Richard Ya'Zhynka — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:35:00 +0000

If I were starting an expansion team and I were given the right to draft one major league player, it would be SS Troy Tulowitzki. Excellent defense and a .900 OPS at a position where most teams are lucky to get .700.