Following the trade for Wandy Rodriguez, the Pittsburgh Pirates are now going for a hitter. Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Pirates are seeking help at first base or the outfield.
Rob Biertempfel reports that the Pirates asked for Shane Victorino, but talks were hung up when Philadelphia asked for Brad Lincoln. Biertempfel reports the Pirates were offering Jared Hughes and a minor leaguer. Victorino is having a down year, but if he benefits from a change in scenery, he’d fill two of the big needs for the Pirates: a corner outfielder and a leadoff hitter.
Earlier this month I projected Victorino with a $3.3 M trade value, and that was ignoring his down year and giving him the production of his 2009 and 2010 seasons. That’s the equivalent of two Grade C pitchers. Hughes isn’t exactly a prospect, but he’d easily have the value of a Grade C guy, considering his numbers in the majors. A Hughes/minor leaguer for Victorino deal seems fair, considering Victorino’s down year.
However, as I noted in the trade values article, Victorino carries some name value, which could drive his price up beyond what his trade value should be. Brad Lincoln would be too much for Victorino, but at an inflated price, Hughes and a minor leaguer could be too little.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Interesting. I know we have a lot of pitching in our system, but I figured Hughes was being considered as a potential future Bucco closer. Maybe he doesn’t have the elite strikeout stuff yet but he’s young. Any thoughts on Hughes as a closer a couple years down the road?
Doesn’t your title kind of contradict itself by inferring that Victorino is still a good hitter. Not really enough of an upgrade anymore to give up anything for.
Why not load up some prospects and go after the big fish out in Colorado-Carlos G!
Carlos Gonzalez at Coors Field (2012): .388 BA, 13 HR, 44 RBI .452 OBP, .708 SLG, 1.160 OPS,
Carlos Gonzalez away from Coors Field (2012): .264, 7 HR, 22 RBI, .322 OBP, .451 SLG, .773 OPS.
Is Carlos Gonzalez a good player? Yes. Is he a great player away from Coors Field? No. He would not be worth what the Rockies would want for him.
Patience will work for the Bucs here