The Pirates tried to trade for Hardy on Thursday.
It seems like a certainty that the Pittsburgh Pirates will try to upgrade their starting shortstop position in 2011. We’ve heard that the team is interested in J.J. Hardy and Jason Bartlett. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Pirates tried to trade for Hardy on Thursday, prior to the non-tender deadline. Rosenthal mentions that the Pirates continue to pursue Bartlett and Hardy.
Dejan Kovacevic mentioned Cedeno is his morning links, comparing Cedeno to the other backup shortstops over the past few seasons, with the note that Cedeno can actually play shortstop. It seems that no one is projecting Cedeno to open the 2011 season as the starting shortstop.
July 8, 2012 at 1:37 pm
My biggest question with those moves is who hits leadoff? I’m concerned about Marte leading off because he tends to strike out alot and doesn’t walk much either. That’s the last thing we need in a leadoff hitter. I like Willingham, doesn’t seem to be much talk about acquiring him though… more about Quentin and now Upton.
July 9, 2012 at 11:54 am
Marte can do it. Keep in mind how low the bar has been set with Presley and Tabata leading off this year. Neither one has an OBP above .300. Marte is the kind of player who can hit .300 BAA with a .340 OBP. Not the ideal .350 OBP you want, but he’ll give a decent amount of XB power that neither Tabata nor Presley have.
July 9, 2012 at 11:55 am
Guys like Resop and Cruz have had very fluctuating performances. Right now Resop is doing well again, for example. I’m not saying either one has to go right now, but they would be the ones to look at first. I can’t imagine the fanbase will kick up much of a fuss if Cruz was gone, in terms of popularity.