Right here’s a sentence that you just in all probability didn’t count on to see a couple of years in the past: The Pittsburgh Pirates had been one of the thrilling groups of 2024. They’d the Rookie of the Yr and an immediate contender for greatest pitcher in baseball in Paul Skenes. Jared Jones was electrical. They’re chock stuffed with younger hitting prospects. And let’s reiterate: Paul Skenes!
As you may count on, the Pirates hit this offseason with some momentum. It’s arduous to search out superstars, however Skenes is among the greatest 5 pitchers on the planet, and truthfully, I feel he may be one of the best, interval. That is the kind of winter that lends itself to going for it. The hype will possible by no means be larger. Add a star or two round Skenes, fill out the underside of the lineup, and this crew might win a weak NL Central. Come playoff time, nobody on the earth would wish to face the Pirates. So it’s with some regret that I announce their newest signings. On Monday, lefty reliever Tim Mayza agreed to a one-year, $1.15 million contract; on Tuesday, utilityman Adam Frazier adopted go well with with a one-year, $1.525 million pact.
Frazier was a enjoyable story the final time he was on the Pirates. Within the depths of their despair, he was a uncommon burst of power, Luis Arraez earlier than Arraez hit the large time. He not often struck out, not often hit homers, and brought on chaos by placing the ball in play even with out blazing pace. Heck, he even drew a pleasant commerce return when the Pirates despatched him to the Padres forward of the 2021 deadline, headlined by Jack Suwinski and Tucupita Marcano, each of whom have made contributions to the large league membership.
If the Pirates had an Adam Frazier day, I’d be into it. He and once-and-current teammate Bryan Reynolds had been two of the one enjoyable gamers on these bleak Pirates groups; they even began the 2021 All-Star Sport collectively. (Shout out to Josh Bell and Starling Marte, you guys had been enjoyable too.) Possibly he might slap the ceremonial first pitch the opposite means after which take off operating to the roar of the gang. A man with Frazier’s bodily instruments carving out an eight-year main league profession and incomes $25 million? It completely deserves recognition.
He’s not at his peak anymore, to be clear. The years since Frazier left Pittsburgh haven’t gone in addition to his time within the Metropolis of Bridges. He disenchanted in that San Diego cameo. Then the Padres flipped him to the Mariners in an offseason commerce, and he racked up an 82 wRC+ with them in 2022. The Orioles had been the subsequent to come back calling, however he struggled in Baltimore and misplaced his starter’s job by the tip of 2023. In 2024, he decamped to Kansas Metropolis and slumped to a 63 wRC+; he began the 12 months because the leadoff hitter and ended the 12 months as a backup.
Possibly that final half sounds a bit harsh, however it shouldn’t diminish what has in any other case been a powerful profession, one that could be a monumental credit score to his skillset and work ethic. The person is 33 now, squarely into the draw back of his profession. It shouldn’t be shocking that he’s transitioned from stable starter to a bench position. When he retires, he’ll be a has-been, however it will have been extraordinarily straightforward for him to be a never-was. His five-year run with the Pirates was nice, and his capacity to play a number of positions obtained him to the playoffs on three separate groups within the three full seasons since he left. Hats off to him.
He’s useful even immediately due to his spectacular versatility. Lefty-hitting platoon second basemen don’t develop on timber. Platoon second basemen who can deal with the outfield corners are even rarer. The explanation playoff hopefuls maintain buying Frazier is that he provides them choices. Unsure whether or not proper subject or second base would be the spot the place you’ll must run a platoon? Signal Adam Frazier, and also you’ll have both coated. The Royals instance is ideal; he began the 12 months as the large half of a second base platoon and ended it alternating with Hunter Renfroe in proper. Even then, he additionally combined in time at third, left, and first.
From that perspective, he’s a very affordable addition to a 2025 roster. If his 2024 season was reflection of his present true expertise, he’s in all probability not lengthy for the majors. However he doesn’t must bounce again by a lot to contribute. Incumbent second baseman Nick Gonzales has struggled in opposition to righties to this point in his younger profession. Would it not shock you if Frazier takes over there for no less than a stretch of the season? The value is correct too; even when Frazier solely turns right into a significant contributor 1 / 4 of the time, Pittsburgh would fortunately make that wager.
The identical could possibly be mentioned about Mayza. Nicely, not the fun-Pirate-on-a-bad-Pirates-team half, clearly, however Mayza’s deal can also be a stable one in a vacuum. Is he an elite reliever? No. Is he a adequate reliever to determine in a playoff bullpen? The indicators certain level to sure; he’s pitched in every of the final three postseasons.
Mayza’s specific ability is shutting down lefties. In his profession, he’s allowed a .252 wOBA when dealing with same-handed batters, an absurd mark. That ranks eighth amongst pitchers who’ve confronted 500 lefties over the span of his profession. Now, can he deal with righties? He can not. However for $1.15 million, and at age 33? I’d be very comfortable to offer Mayza a one-year shot. The Pirates bullpen is gentle on lefties – fellow new signee Caleb Ferguson is one of the best of them, and he’s not precisely a mainstay – and seeing Mayza as the highest choice for that position by 12 months’s finish could be completely unsurprising.
Even higher, this roster affords Pittsburgh some flexibility within the bullpen. Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas, and Colin Holderman all have choices remaining, although Holderman’s choices are unlikely to be exercised given his setup position. The final spot within the pen, presently occupied by Joey Wentz, provides extra flexibility, and he possible gained’t be the one waiver declare to characteristic on this group all year long. With that many gamers to maneuver round, I don’t assume the Pirates will really feel blocked by Mayza’s presence on the roster. Way more possible is that he simply doesn’t have it anymore – however I wouldn’t put the chances of that above 50%. For the value, I feel it is a nice signing.
Let’s evaluation: I like every of those signings on their very own. I feel each gamers have an affordable probability of contributing as back-of-the-roster position gamers in 2025, and for lower than $3 million mixed, that’s simply good enterprise. Now, let’s get to the larger image: I completely hate what the Pirates are doing this offseason, these signings included.
Skenes is a franchise-altering participant. The Pirates are going to be paying top-of-the-line gamers in baseball peanuts for the subsequent 5 years. Alternatives like that don’t come round typically. We’re speaking Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Joe Mauer, David Value, and Adley Rutschman. While you draft a participant this good, you must construct a crew round him.
The Pirates are constructing a crew – it’s simply not a contending crew. They took a crew that gained 76 video games final 12 months, traded for Spencer Horwitz, wiped their palms collectively, and mentioned “job’s completed!” They’re on monitor to spend much less cash on payroll this 12 months than they did in 2024. They’ve the third-lowest luxurious tax payroll in baseball because it stands proper now, and it’s January 29, so I doubt they’re simply ready to make 5 enormous signings and flip the narrative.
You’ll be able to’t clarify this away with some weak attraction to small versus giant markets. I feel that’s a drained grievance within the first place, however it’s even much less relevant right here. The Pirates ran bigger payrolls than their 2025 projection in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. League-wide income is up greater than 20% from that period. Inflation is up. Whole payroll is up. The Pirates obtained forward of the gang in avoiding messy RSN bankruptcies; their video games are broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh, a community they personal a stake in, so that they don’t have to fret about getting unceremoniously dropped in courtroom.
In the meantime, the Pirates are operating a comically lean operation. They’ve solely three gamers with assured contracts that final previous 2025: Reynolds, Mitch Keller, and Ke’Bryan Hayes. They don’t have any enormous arbitration paydays looming; David Bednar is the one Pirate projected to make greater than $2.5 million this 12 months in arb.
A basic excuse for not spending: “We like our present gamers greater than the blokes out there.” That’s defensible for some groups, however definitely not for this one. The Pirates have Bailey Falter (profession: 4.62 ERA, 4.56 FIP) and Johan Oviedo (profession: 4.32 ERA, 4.57 FIP) of their season-opening rotation, and Oviedo is coming off a missed season. We’re projecting them to bat Isiah Kiner-Falefa (profession line: .262/.313/.351, 83 wRC+) leadoff. 5 of the Pirates’ beginning 9 are projected for a below-average batting line, in keeping with Steamer. If the Pirates can’t discover free brokers that might begin in Pittsburgh in 2025, they aren’t wanting arduous sufficient.
That’s a bummer for Frazier and Mayza, who’re sure to get unfairly equated to the crew’s total spendthrift nature. It’s not their fault Pittsburgh is selecting to take a seat out free company nearly completely; they simply signed with a crew that had taking part in time for them. They’re each affordable gamers who’ve constantly contributed plate appearances and innings pitched to playoff groups. Frazier may’ve anticipated to finish up on a contending crew, however if you happen to had been to ask him if he thought he’d be one of many huge additions to a playoff hopeful this winter, he’d snicker proper together with you. It’s absurd on its face! He’s a job participant who signed the 83rd-biggest contract of the offseason.
Possibly the Pirates will make the playoffs in 2025. Skenes will pitch a full 12 months within the huge leagues, Oneil Cruz may lastly click on, Horwitz is a private favourite, and I plan on celebrating Jared Jones Day each time he pitches. However whether or not by entrance workplace selection or proprietor mandate, the Pirates aren’t supporting their younger core. After this 12 months, a full third of Skenes’s team-controlled time on the Pirates shall be over. Let’s be actual – he’s in all probability not staying there after six years. Do one thing with that point! No offense to Frazier or Mayza – however this isn’t sufficient.