Pirates are following the Royals' lineup approach

     The Pirates have had an interesting offseason. This has included losing two of their biggest power threats in the lineup (Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker). The players that are replacing them are Josh Harrison and newly-signed John Jaso. These guys don't have quite as much power, but they do get on base at a higher clip. This begs the question: Is less power and more on-base potential the Pirates goal?

     Last year, the Royals went into the season with not much big-time power hitter, with their biggest threat, Billy Butler, going to Oakland. Royals were not concerned with this at all. Instead, they rolled with it, and their lineup of good overall hitters worked out. Their trade deadline addition, Ben Zobrist, wasn't a power threat, either. 

     I think the Pirates are trying to emulate this in their own way. We have seen the Pirates copy the Royals methods before, when they set up an elite back end of the bullpen similar to the Royals when they acquired Joakim Soria last July. It wouldn't be surprising if they tried to copy a method of the Royals again, since they do seem to have the answers. 

     The Pirates lineup is in a similar situation as the Royals last year. The big power threats for the Pirates are few and far between, with McCutchen, Marte, and Kang being the hugest threats, and none of them are thumpers by any means. But just like the Royals, the Pirates have guys that can hit for higher average and get on base more. Polanco, Harrison, Jaso, and Cervelli fit that mold well. Looking through the lineup as a whole, the threat of players getting on base at all times is a consistent thought that could make pitchers fearful. 

     Last year, the Pirates lineup was more about power, swinging for the fence, and providing instant offense. Meanwhile, the Royals had more consistent hitters, bunched together hits. and created runs that way. I believe that was the real difference between the two clubs. It is very hard to beat top pitchers with instant offense. That is why the Pirates had trouble a lot of the time. When looking at the Royals, it seemed that they could get to any pitcher. The reason; they were able to bunch together hits. Good-hitting teams can rattle pitchers throughout the whole game. That creates an advantage for the offense. That was something the Pirates were missing last year. 

     The Pirates offense, in its current state, projects to be better than they were in 2015. Pirates won 98 games with a so so offense and great pitching. We all can hope that the Pirates pitching doesn't NEED to be as good as they were (it would be nice, though). I think this new method of how the lineup is built is a good fit for the Pirates. 

Pirates sign John Jaso

     Earlier today, the Pirates announced the signing of John Jaso. Jaso figures to be the left-handed platoon at 1st base to go along with Michel Morse/Jason Rogers. He signed for 2 years for a total of $8M. So, let's check out John Jaso and see if it was worth it. 

     Firstly, John Jaso has not played too much at 1B in his whole career. He is as catcher by trade but can also play the outfield, if needed. However, many believe he can play an adequate 1B. This is due to the fact that catchers normally can turn around and become 1B, especially as they get older and their knees start to give (See: Joe Mauer and Mike Napoli). The transition isn't anything major. Even if Jaso is an average 1B defensively, his value will still be far beyond Alvarez' at half the cost. 

     Now, let's talk about Jaso's offensive capabilities. When looking at his numbers, the power doesn't blow you away at all, as he is not a big home run guy. He'll hit you a few, but he's not a bomber in that category. His skills lie in getting on base. In 2015, he hit in the .280s but had an OBP of a whopping .380. That is very, very good. His ability to get on base frequently is something the Pirates need in their lineup. Another thing to like about Jaso is that he always ranks very high in "Weighted Runs Created" which is a stat that is similar to RBI but done a bit differently. In other words, Jaso is very good at accounting for runs, even if he's not credited with the RBI. The Pirates also need more of that on the team. 

     For many teams, a signing of Jaso wouldn't really fit. However, for the Pirates, it's a perfect fit. Pirates need more base runners and run producers, and Jaso does both of those things very well. He can also fill in the left-handed part of the platoon at 1B, and I think he will do nicely. At $4M a year, this could very well be a steal for the Pirates if Jaso does what he has done in his career up to this point. It's not a flashy move, but it is certainly a move that the Pirates made that will improve the team overall. The cheapness of the deal also let's the Pirates enhance the club in some other areas *cough starting pitcher *cough. Also, even if Jaso flops and/or when Bell is ready, Pirates don't have a big financial attachment towards Jaso, so they aren't sweating it. 

Could the Pirates sign Daniel Murphy

     It was reported just a bit ago from Mike Puma of the New York Post that the Pirates are interested in Daniel Murphy. Of course, Murphy came through big time in the playoffs for the Mets, helping lead their charge into the World Series. Now, he is pretty much forgotten about because of his high demands for a contract. He is one of the more notable free agents left. He will not return to the Mets after they traded for familiar face Neil Walker. So, the question is this: Could the Pirates actually sigh Murphy?

     Firstly, the last time anyone really checked in on the dude, he was asking too much for his overall production. Outside of that amazing playoff run, his numbers were so so. His defense let him down at times, too. Looking at the whole picture, he won't get what he wants, and I think that is why the Pirates have climbed into the picture for him. 

     Secondly, I do think he would fit with the Pirates very well. He probably could see an increase in his defensive numbers as a 1B as opposed to a 2B. Also, he is a left-handed hitter. As we sit here today, the Pirates only have one regular left-handed hitter in the lineup, that being Gregory Polanco. This means that it is clear they need at least one more, if not two. You won't get very far with mainly right-handed hitters. You need some lefties to balance it out. Murphy could provide that. While his overall production isn't great, they are good enough to slot somewhere in the order where the lineup would look more balanced. 

     Again, the real question is the money. I think Murphy will have to lower his demands to sign anywhere. Knowing that the Pirates are in on him might suggest that he has or is likely going to. If he does that, the Pirates would definitely be intrigued, and there is a positional fit there. It would be crazy if, after all this, the Mets and Pirates just swapped 2B. It would be strange, but hey, this is baseball we are talking about. 

Pirates sign Ryan Vogelsong

     Yes, you heard the headline right. The Pirates today signed veteran Ryan Vogelsong to a one-year deal. Vogelsong spent 6 seasons with the Bucs from 2001-2006 then bounced around after that, and was most recently a member of the Giants. In his time there, he was able to amass a couple of World Series' rings. Last season, Vogelsong was 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA. However, he did hit a home run, which is pretty improbable for a guy like him. 

     I'm not sure what the plan is for Vogelsong, but I do know this: If their plan is for Vogelsong to be the 5th starter in the rotation, there is truly a problem. I get that they are trying to stopgap until Glasnow, Kingham, and Taillon get to the bigs, but come on. This is truly cheap. Vogelsong is a washed-up has been that has no business being in any major league rotation. 

     I think this project is just too much for Searage. It is one thing to fix a young guy or a guaranteed bounce back guy, but an age-old veteran like Vogelsong is past fixable at this point. The only reason Vogelsong was ever in the Giants rotation the last couple of years was because the Giants were plagued by injuries and depth issues. Again, I love how Searage has done, but I think this is just too much for him. We'll see how it goes, but as of right now, the move isn't that great. 

Pirates acquire INF/OF Jason Rogers

     Yesterday, the Pirates made their second inner-division trade with the Brewers in the last 6 months. The Pirates acquired corner INF/OF Jason Rogers from the Brewers in exchange for OF Keon Broxton and P Trey Supak. Let's do a rundown on the players involved in the deal. 

OF Keon Broxton- Keon Broxton was acquired in 2014 from the Dbacks in a move that was supposed to be rather meaningless. Dbacks were giving him away. However, the Pirates saw good potential in the guy because of his defense and speed. That is the reason he was broken out in the majors at September callups last season. He was used primarily as a pinch runner. His hitting prowess was never anything to marvel at, though. His ceiling with the Pirates was a 4th OF, if that. Willy Garcia probably had him beat there. He had no place in Pittsburgh. The Pirates did a great job turning a meaningless pickup into value in a trade. Good work. 

P Trey Supak- Supak was a second round draft pick by the Pirates in 2014. However, he has struggled in his first two seasons in the low minor leagues. Given this and the fact that the Pirates are loaded with pitching prospects, it was easy for them to push Supak in a trade like this. 

INF/OF Jason Rogers- Jason Rogers, despite being 28 years old, made his big league debut not too long ago. His debut came in 2013. Doing the math, the Pirates earned a lot of years of control for a pretty decent player overall. His defensive metrics look good, especially at 1B, where he posted an above average score, according to UZR. Another thing that strikes me is that he was great down the stretch, hitting over .400 in the latter part of the season. He posted a .296 BA overall in close to 200 plate appearances, which isn't bad by any means. 

     I like this trade. I think the Pirates gave up a couple of players that didn't really have organizational fits while getting back a player that may not be a big name, but he is still a decent player. He won't be the guy to put the team over the top, but he certainly gives the Pirates flexibility to spend in other areas, knowing that Rogers is still making the league minimum. Rogers is also a great insurance policy in case of injury to someone or if Kang isn't ready by Opening Day, or even by May. The Pirates like the position flexibility, and Rogers provides that. Knowing how the injuries happened last year, Rogers is just the guy the Pirates need to help sooth the trouble, if it should arise. As I said, I like the pickup. The Pirates did good with this one. 

Royals set example of how to win as small market team. Pirates must follow.

     The Royals have made a complete 180 degree turn in the last two seasons. They went from the cellar dwellers to the perennial favorites in the American League. They were 90 feet away from tying WS game 7 in 2014, but fell short. However, it all came together in 2015 as they were able to win the World Series, which was their expected fate. All of it looks great on the surface, but it took a lot of work behind the scenes to build such a success in 2 years. So, how'd they do it? Let's look.

     The first thing that came from all the Royals losing seasons prior to 2014 was that they were able to build a great core. It all eventually came together to make a scary team all around. Even when these players had struggles, they didn't give up on them. They stuck with the players, the manager, and the plan. This was all great in 2014, but it fell short (granted Bumgarner wasn't being stopped that year). In 2015, they knew they had to improve. This is when they decided to expand payroll and go get players that could help them win a title, knowing that it would get them over the hump. They took some risks, but it paid off. They knew they had the depth in the minors to make risky trades, such as Zobrist and Cueto, and they had payroll flexibility to take a chance on Kendrys Morales, and some pitching. What did it lead to? The first World Series championship in 30 years for Kansas City.

     You may be asking: What does this have to do with the Pirates? Well, it has a lot to do with the Pirates. Looking at the two teams, they have very many similarities. They have good, young core talent, a very similar market size, and have both been able to turn their organizations around recently. The Royals have turned themselves around quicker than the Pirates. While the Pirates have enjoyed 3 straight years of playoff teams, they have all been wildcard game appearances, losing in the last two. In this time, the Royals have been to two World Series' and have won one. Why is this? Both teams being about the same should mean similar results, right? There is one difference between the two that stands out most. That is the willingness to go for it.

     As we can remember, the Royals were really feeling frisky last year and showed their fans that they wanted it. What did they do? Oh, you know. Acquire two pretty good players in Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist. They knew they had the farm system depth and the payroll flexibility, so they did it. As I have stated, it ended in a title.

     The Pirates made moves at the trade deadline, too. However, they were not quite as great. Soria was the most attractive piece they got. However, the others did well in their time, but they weren't high-impact players. Pirates were scrapping together a lot of second-tier players that eventually lead to a 98-win team with wasted potential. Pirates beat up on the little guys, but couldn't beat the big boys enough. Royals, with big talent, consistently beat up on the big boys. The talent level was the difference (not the fact that they faced Mr. Jake in the wildcard game).

     The Royals and Pirates have conceivably the same payroll flexibility at this point. The only difference is that the Royals are willing to amp it up a notch to win championships. Meanwhile, the Pirates are afraid to show the money they have. Because of this, the Pirates settle for way too much 2nd-tier talent. Both the Royals and Pirates have to rely on the core and 2nd-tier talent. However, the Royals brought in some first-rate talent last year to win. Pirates brought in none of that. Royals used their resources in order to do this. Pirates elected to continue to hoard most of what they got in terms of money and prospects. Guess what? Royals got a ring. Pirates got ousted after one playoff game.

     Royals went out of their comfort zone in order to win a championship. Pirates have yet to leave that zone yet. A little life lesson can be applied to the Pirates here. Here is the lesson: You cannot achieve what you want if you don't leave your own comfort zone. I think this can really be applied here. Pirates have yet to leave that zone. That is why the result has been the same for three straight years with early playoff exits. If they don't leave their comfort zone, that is all the far they'll ever get.

     Don't get me wrong, I love the playoff appearances. I am not taking those for granted. However, there is a point where the front office has to take this core talent to the next level, especially considering their years together are quickly waning. The time is now for the Pirates to build a World Series team in this city that has invested so much into the Pirates. People stuck around through all the losing. It is time to return the favor by making some moves to get this team over the top. I am not saying to break the bank or kill the farm system, but you got to do better than a bunch of reclamation projects and 2nd-tier guys. It is time to break the Pirates mold and do something that isn't Pirate-like. It is time to be smartly aggressive and get players that will make a high impact and help bring this city what it righfully deserves. Your move, Pirates.

What exactly is the Pirates plan?

     This past week, we have seen the Pirates let go of two of the longest-tenured Pirates. Those being Neil Walker and Charlie Morton. For Walker, they were able to get a solid middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher in Jon Neise. For Morton, they got a single-A pitcher in a trade that was just a salary dump. With these moves looking kind of head scratching on the surface, I will try to make sense of it all. What is the Pirates plan?

     The Walker trade did not make sense from a financial point of view. However, it did make sense from a need standpoint. With the addition of Neise, they have a pitcher with 3 years of control attached to him, if they so choose. The Morton trade, however, makes less sense when originally thinking about it. People say, why trade him for a single-A pitcher? The main reason they did it was to dump his $8M that he was making in 2016. The Pirates got an average pitcher, at best, off their books. There is some good salary relief there.

     It is now well known that the Pirates need another SP. They needed one before, but it is deathly obvious at this point. The only guys in the rotation at this point are Cole/Liriano/Neise/Locke. Yes, Locke is the 4th starter. Talk about scary. Anyway, many speculate that the Pirates shedded Morton's contract to free up some money to get another SP. It makes sense from a need standpoint. Many  think that this is the time that the Pirates dish out some money and get a good free agent SP. However, some reports suggest that that may not be the case. Who really knows, though?

     The other BIG hole on the Pirates is the lack of a left-handed-hitting 1B. Everyone knows that the Pirates are in need of one. The Pirates have some options there in the trade and free agent market, and Neal Huntington is definitely in search of one. The freeing up of some payrolls could be related to that as well. 

     The Pirates are definitely going to make some more moves to make this team a contender in 2016, no matter how much you hear about them playing for 2017. We can trust Neal Huntington in this. The plan looks very incomplete right now, and that is because it isn't done yet. Calling the team bad in December isn't a good thing to do. The team will look different in April than it does now. No MLB team's roster is set as of now. Making predictions in December is dumb. Just let it play out than give your opinions on the offseason. 

Deal official: Pirates send Neil Walker to Mets for Jon Neise

     The Mets and Pirates both announce the trade that has been the big talk around the Winter Meetings today. That is the trade of Neil Walker for Jon Neise. It is a pure one-for-one trade. Now that it is done, was it a good deal or not? 

     I think it was a good deal. There are reasons why this is. First of which are the contracts. Neil Walker was set to make about $10M in arbitration this year. Neise, on the other hand, will make $9M in 2016 and has 2 options years after that at $10M and $10.5M. Pirates will not be financially tied down by Neise because of the club option years, and the Mets will only pay Walker for one year, which is pretty low-risk. Good deal for both clubs. 

     From a talent standpoint, the Mets get a 2B that is very consistent, however declining. Pirates are getting a starter they had a 2015 that didn't line up with his career numbers, but he's still solid for a 3 or 4 starter and will be that for hopefully 3 years. Moreover, this is a trade of guys that are solid players, but they are not amazing. 

     I think over the long run, the deal is pretty good for the Pirates. If Neise works out like he can, the Pirates will have a solid pitcher for awhile, at a rate that is cheaper than free agents of his skill are receiving. If he doesn't pan out, Pirates can dump him in any of his two option years. I'll end this by saying thank you to Neil Walker for all he did, and welcome to the Burgh, Jon Neise. 

Market for Neil Walker heating up

     The market for 2nd basemen is pretty scarce this offseason. It was made even more scarce when the Cubs got around to it. Cubs traded recently converted 2B Starlin Castro to New York and then signed Ben Zobrist, who teams were looking at as a 2B. This makes the market thinner than it was before. With Daniel Murphy seeking more than most teams want to pay him, teams have started to look into trades. The main guy at the top of the list is Pirates' 2B Neil Walker. Nationals, Mets, and Angels all have more serious interest than that of the Orioles and others. The Angels are reportedly "very serious" in acquiring him and are pushing the hardest to get him. The market is heating up and moving fast. I do not see any way that Neal Huntington could walk away from this. With Walker only having one year of control and Hanson and others on the roster that can fill his spot, I can't see any reason he would not be traded, especially if pitching is coming the Pirates' way. With things happening quickly at Winter Meetings, I could see him being dealt before Huntington departs from Nashville. The real question here is: which team is the best fit as a trade partner? Let's analyze each.

Orioles: Orioles, at last check, had only "lukewarm" interest in the 2B. The Orioles are interested in basically every hitter available as they try to improve in that category. However, there are really not many fits there in terms of players or in salary.

Nationals: Nationals are definitely in the market for a 2B, and Walker would make sense for them. The Nats definitely have the young, controllable arms that the Pirates desire, and they are deep in that category. Guys like AJ Cole could make sense in a return. 2 Cole's in one Pirates rotation? Perhaps...........

Mets: Mets looked like the favorite to land Ben Zobrist from the very beginning. However, they got snubbed when he signed with the Cubs. The Mets have an in-house option at 2B in Dilson Herrera (former Pirates prospect), but they don't prefer him at this stage. It also looks like Murphy won't be back there unless they are desperate. Walker could provide some power in the middle of the order, at least more so than Murphy did or Herrera could. Also, the Mets have the pitching to make it work. We know they won't trade away their big 4 (Harvey, Matz, Syndergaard, or DeGrom), and they won't deal Wheeler either. However, Niese, Gilmartin, Montero could all make sense in some sort of package. I see it as a longshot at this point.

Angels: The Angels are the most serious about Walker. They are pushing really hard for him at this stage. This is the likely destination for Neil Walker, if I had to guess. The Angels definitely have the pitching to make a deal work. I would say that CJ Wilson and Jered Weaver are likely not part of any talks. However, Hector Santiago and Matt Shoemaker are likely being discussed. Both are midde-of-the-rotation starters. Santiago has slightly better numbers, but is a free agent after 2018, as opposed to Shoemaker who isn't a free agent until 2021. Anyway, they are both attractive targets.

     With zero percent chance of a Neil Walker extension (reported earlier in the week), there is no chance he is kept for the ride in 2016, either. Pirates have the internal options to fill the void, as I said before. It isn't a question about if he will be dealt; it is a question of when.

Pirates seem to be up to a lot of setup on day 1 of Winter Meetings

     So far, the Winter Meetings for the Pirates, and many other teams, has been a sluggish go of it. However, that is not such a bad thing. There is a reason why the meetings are over multiple days, after all. This first day, for many teams, is a set up day, instead of diving in head first. Pirates are part of this group. 

     Now, it has still been an interesting day on the Pirates front. Here's the main summary:

Pirates are said to still be interested in Masterson; could be in on Napoli.

There are still a few teams in on Melancon, as well as Walker.

Pirates are meeting with representatives of Scott Kazmir.

Pirates are discussing Moreland trade with Rangers. Rangers said to want a back end starting pitcher.

Rangers are interested in catcher Elias Diaz.

     So yeah, some intriguing stuff, still. I have little doubt the Pirates will come out of the meetings empty-handed. Actually, I think the Pirates could be pretty big players at these meetings. They have the pieces and the payroll flexibility to make some things happen. Neal Huntington and company will do what they can to put the best they can on the field in 2016. Count on that. 

Pirates Winter Meetings preview

     Baseball is never dull; not even in December. The Winter Meetings are just about upon us, starting on Monday, December 7th in Nashville, Tennessee. Winter Meetings are a popular time for trades and signings and shaping teams rosters because everyone is convened in one place which escalates talks more so than at any other time. It is a beautiful time of the year if you love seeing the landscape and the rosters in baseball change. It is like an early Christmas for MLB teams and their fans. With all that being said, I am going to preview what the Pirates "wishlist" is for the meetings.

1) First base must be addressed: Honestly, I thought that non-tendering Alvarez was a mistake. It is really difficult to replace his production on the offensive side, especially for $8M or less. This now leaves the position, at least right now, in the hands of Michael Morse. I like Morse, but he is no longer a guy that should start everyday. He is a good platoon partner, though. I wouldn't be shocked if the Pirates found a left-handed 1B that is only under contract for a year or they sign one for just a year. This will give the Pirates a low-risk, high-reward scenario while also not having to rush Josh Bell unless they absolutely have to. That is the likely route the Pirates will take.

2) Trade Walker and/or Melancon: Both these guys are going to be due big money in arbitration, and I do not believe the Pirates should pay either of them that money. If I had to pay one, it'd be Walker. A closer, no matter how good he is, shouldn't make $10M+. Pirates payroll can afford Melancon, but at the cost of not being able to make the overall team better. Getting Melancon or Walker off the payroll would take off 10% of the payroll that could be used in other areas while also probably fetching at least a decent return. Besides, the Pirates have guys that can replace both those guys, and at a cheaper rate that makes sense for them. At least one of them will have to go in order to free up some payroll.

3) Sign a middle-rotation pitcher: With the retirement of Burnett and Happ signing with Toronto, the Pirates rotation is weak outside of Cole and Liriano. Locke and Morton could  fill out the 5th spot but nothing more, and Webster is an unknown. I would only trust 1 of those 3 guys in the rotation. This actually leaves 2 open spots in the rotation until Glasnow and/or Taillon/Kingham are ready, which we don't know. Just like with Bell, getting starting pitching, so we don't have to rush Glasnow or others, would be a good idea.

     Now, I think we can't just keep scurrying by with reclamation projects, especially with Benedict gone. One is fine, but can't rely on them as the Pirates seem to do. I think this is the year the Pirates must pull the trigger on a proven guy. Guys like Leake, Kazmir, Gallardo, Iwakuma etc. could make a lot of sense. If they go the injured/reclamation route, Fister, Henderson Alvarez are likely the top choices.

     There is also the possibility of trading for a proven guy. This might be the route the Pirates go, especially since they have Melancon and Walker as trade chips. They also have the deep farm system to get a pretty good pitcher, without even giving up guys like Glasnow, Bell, or Meadows. Willy Garcia, Harold Ramirez, Taillon/Kingham, Diaz, McGuire, and others would be fair game for trades and could fetch the Pirates a solid pitcher to fill the middle of the rotation. Huntington smartly traded JaCoby Jones at the deadline this past July to acquire Soria. Since, Jones has been suspended. The reason this is significant is because it means that anything can happen to prospects. They could have a ton of value one day and none the next. Pick and choose the ones you cherish to the highest degree wisely. Use some of the second-tier ones as trade bait, especially when you got a deep system.

4) Get bullpen help: The Pirates bullpen is always something that could use some work, no matter how good it is. This offseason is no different. The Pirates likely won't retain Blanton and Soria, they'll likely trade Melancon, and the future for the Pirates and Bastardo is in doubt. All this means that the bullpen has to be rebuilt in a sense. Huntington has done great at building bullpens, and there is little doubt he will do it again. However, just like with starters, it cannot be done with just reclamation guys. Some proven guys have to come in and help. I think the Pirates showed they are willing to do that after getting Soria in July. I think they will either trade or sign a quality bullpen guy or 2 then fill in the rest of the bullpen with some cheaper options like a lot of teams do.

     I am not expecting the Pirates to break the bank at the meetings or this offseason, and they don't have to. However, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to expand the payroll similarly to how they did at trade deadline time. Also, if they get rid of Melancon and/or Walker's contract in a trade, plenty of money will free up for them to do big things. Also, there has been a lot of money coming off the table this offseason when you consider Alvarez, Hart, Ramirez, Burnett, Soria, Happ, Blanton, Rodriguez, and others' contracts are all not part of the payroll anymore. When you look at the total that those guys made, that took up A LOT of payroll, combined that of course with Walker and/or Melancon, and the Pirates definitely should have the necessary money to put a pretty good-looking team on the field on 2016. They SHOULD be able to make at least one pretty good splash in the offseason, as early as this week in Nashville. If they don't pull the trigger this offseason and stick to small tweaks this offseason, it would be a huge mistake. This team is very raw and uninspiring outside of the core guys. Pirates can't possibly waste this much talent by having another small offseason. I think it is time to do something big to avoid having another one-and-done playoff year again. If Pirates want to get to the next level, they have to do something big, and again that doesn't mean you need to sign someone for $100M+.

     Pirates will be active at the meetings for sure. The only question is: How much and how big of moves are they trying to make. This week will definitely be one that will have me checking what teams, especially the Pirates, are doing as much as possible. Who said baseball can't be fun in December anyways?