Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images
You know what the funny thing about this picture of Erik Bedard is? He's not moving his arm.
Brian Kenny's praise for the Clint Barmes signing makes me think: How can we rank the Pirates' offseason acquisitions? I'm going to put my very hasty and ill-considered list up after the jump, and I invite you to do the same in comments.
Ground rules: Consider the contract and players given up in trade (if any) in your rankings. You don't have to rank non-roster invitations, but you can. I'm not counting decisions not to keep players, but you can do that too, because honestly at this point a big argument about Paul Maholm would be more appealing than another A.J. Burnett discussion.
My rankings:
1. Erik Bedard
2. Clint Barmes
4. Rod Barajas
6. Jose Morales
7. Juan Cruz
8. Nick Evans
9. Nate McLouth
12. Gustavo Nunez
0 recs | 34 comments
Erik Bedard certainly ranks No. 1 for Game Face.
Charlie Wilmoth - February 14, 2012
Is the 12. for Gustavo Nunez deliberate? Ha.
Charlie Wilmoth - February 14, 2012
it is indeed
WHYG Zane Smith - February 14, 2012
I'll go with..
1. Clint Barmes
2. Erik Bedard
3. everyone else, blah, blah, etc, etc…
FusilliJerry88 - February 14, 2012
I geuss he still has time..
Burnett. Get it done. Do not include Kingham. Do not include Von Rosenburg. Take on 12 mil. Give them Latimore. Give them Holt. And watch Burnett put up some seriously good numbers.
FusilliJerry88 - February 14, 2012
Nothing personal, but I made this thread specifically as a Burnett-free zone.
WHYG Zane Smith - February 14, 2012
an "Offseason acquisitons" thread
without that particular player coming up?
A bit of wishful thinking there.
BlindSquirrel - February 15, 2012
*acquisitions
BlindSquirrel - February 15, 2012
I thin that top 5 is pretty accurate.
Scranton - February 14, 2012
Pretty accurate
Although I think I’d put McGehee ahead of Barajas. I think that even if there isn’t a huge likelihood of returning to his 09-10 form, there’s enough of a shot that it was a worthewhile move.
biggyv - February 14, 2012
Agreed
on McGehee. I’m still pumped we got him.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - February 14, 2012
I think Casey was a great pickup for the cost we gave up, trading a good but not great reliever that we might have non-tendered for a 3rd baseman that has a chance for 20+ homers and has arbitration years left is a stellar pickup. While Bedard is a bargain if he throws as many innings as he did last year, that is far from certain. Clint Barmes while he is a good pickup for the need we have is nether a bargain nor a ripoff.
Yung-Han - February 14, 2012
1. Bedard
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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2. Barmes
3. Evans
4. McLouth (if only to rub the Smiziots’ faces in the foolishness of continuing to blast the Braves trade)
5. Morales
6. Navarro
7. McGehee
8. Fox
9. Cruz
10. Barajas
11. Nunez
I’m not ranking these guys in order of talent. I’m trying to rank them relative to the role they were acquired to play, i.e., how good they’ll be at that role. So I’m judging the three Bs as regulars, and Evans and Fox as depth/bench signings, for instance.
WTM - February 14, 2012
relative to his role, I'd rank Nunez higher
I think he’ll really fill the Pedro Ciriaco “Is this guy still here?” role.
WHYG Zane Smith - February 15, 2012
Heh
WTM - February 15, 2012
1. Navarro
2. McGehee
3. Evans
4. Bedard
nycbucsfan - February 14, 2012
this might be out of bounds but
I think the re up of grilli is a nice move which makes mcgehee for versa an easy trade to make and cruz will be solid to so here goes
1 gussy nunes (only cuz Noones giving him love)
2bedard
3barmes
4/5 grilli cruz
6 mcgehee
7navarro
8 nick evans
Actually typing this makes me feel it wasn’t a bad offseason considering how many players might contribute
tbote123 - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Versa = veras auto corrected
tbote123 - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Maholm, E-Jax, Burnett, Rizzo, blah blah blah
Why is no one mentioning the real Pirates loss this season: PEDRO CIRIACO?!?!?!?!?!?!?
SuperBaes - February 15, 2012
A little different
1. Bedard
2. Barajas
3. McGehee
4. Navarro
5. Morales
6. Barmes
7. Cruz
8. Evans
9. Nunez
12. McLouth
I guess I fell a little like with what we had at short and what we are paying for Barmes makes him a bit less. I am counting decisions not to keep players. Barmes is not that big of an upgrade. I am also excited about McGehee because I have no faith in Jones. Also it has been a long time since the Pirates had any pinch hitting power threat. And McLouth is a giant waste of money if we cannot trade him before the deadline. I would have rather resigned Brian Bixler and given him a shot in the outfield. And I am only half joking.
SojourningPirate - February 15, 2012
Opposite
Favorite things we didn’t do..
1.Resign Cedeno
2. Sign Edwin Jackson to a 3 year overpaid contract.
3.Sign Maholm or pick up his option. He was overrated and might have been overpaid had we kept him.
But my list.
1.Bedard
2. Barmes
3. Barajas (tied at 2 if we get Burnett i like the fact they were together before)
4. McGahee (if we dont get Burnett. #3 over Barajas)
After that i like the Juan Cruz signing and the Nate McClouth signing. So far i see comments on here putting him (McClouth) way too low. IMO obviously.
Chug on 3... - February 15, 2012
i'm your huckleberry too
1. Erik (the viking) Bedard with the berserker face
2. Rod (is god) Barajas – will dust off the Woodson signs with effect on staff
3. Clint (Hurdle) Barmes – or Clint Jr – funny how some people now ‘like’ the signing
4. Nick Evans – the new Schneider?
5. Juan (Jose Veras) Cruz – should get alot of work
6. Casey Mcgehee – hope he doesnt get alot of work but nice to have
7. Yamaico Navarro – will make us forget the legend
8. Nate ‘The o.k.’ Mcclouth – will make us forget Nate Mclouth
9. Shairon Martis – could surpass Owens/Locke as the next ‘great’ lefty on the farm
10. Jose Morales – because if last year taught us anything..
patient pirate - February 15, 2012
I forgot Martis
He’s definitely a decent pickup for his role as AAA depth, which sounds like a really backhanded compliment but isn’t meant to be.
WHYG Zane Smith - February 15, 2012
My list
I considered this season, and seasons in the future. That is the only reason that Bedard isn’t #1 on the list.
Clint Barmes-huge hole, solid 2 year guy
Nick Evans-young RH bat with 5-6 years to show his worth
Erik Bedard
Rod Barajas-solid receiver with a better injury record than Doumit or Snyder.
Casey McGehee-bounce back candidate
Yamaico Navarro-long term guy with offensive upside
Juan Cruz
Nate McLouth
Sharon Martis
Aaron Poveda
Jose Morales
Jake Fox
ballparkfranks - February 15, 2012
1. Bedard
2. Barmes
3. through 27. Empty space. Tumbleweeds.
28. All the other acquisitions.
Aphthakid - February 15, 2012
1. Bedard
2. Barmes
3. Barajas
4. BmcGehee
gonfalon - February 15, 2012
sorry, I got a little carried away there at the end
gonfalon - February 15, 2012
I'll jump in
1. Erik Bedard — $4.5MM is a very reasonable price and if he can give us 100 innings, I’ll be happy. Anything more is pure gravy.
2. Clint Barmes — was a bigger fan than most of this signing and still am. Gives the kind of glove at SS the Bucs have been in desperate need of for a looooonnnggg time.
3. Casey McGehee – People are underrating this acquisiton bigtime. If he can bounce back to his 2009 (or even 2010) form, he’ll be the starting everyday 1B (or 3B if Pedro tanks NO JINX NO JINX NO JINX). To get a guy like him for a good-not-great reliever in Jose Veras is a steal. If McGehee bounces back, it could end up being the trade of the off-season in terms of return vs. price.
And if he doesn’t bounce back, well….all you’ve given up is a reliever & some $$$. Easily replaceable and a worthy gamble.
4. Rod Barajas — Other than Ramon Hernandez, this was by far the best the Bucs could do to fill a terrifyingly thin position. Barajas isn’t exciting in & of himself, but when you consider the alternatives were injured/overpaid Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit or Mike McKenry catching 110 games….I’ll take Mr. Barajas all day every day.
5. Yamaico Navarro — Still has some upside and only gave up spare parts to get him
6. Nate Mclouth — He’ll be better than Xavier Paul as 4th outfielder. Good enough for me.
7. Everyone else. zzzzzzzz.
Raybin - February 15, 2012
Thanks for 90 seconds of non-Burnett news WHYGZS
1. Bedard-I can’t tell you why and I have no actual evidence to back this up, but I think he makes 25 starts this year. With his numbers, that is HUGE!
2. Barmes-Very good defensive SS and at least middle-of-the-pack enough offensively to not cripple you at the position. Plus, he won’t bunt w/2 outs and the bases loaded…
3. McGehee-As a 3B insurance policy, I like him. As a platoon partner for GFJ, I like him. If he returns to ‘09-’10 form then he’s a frickin’ steal!
4. Barajas-I like him more because after him, the catching market fell of a cliff. Hernandez was a Type A free agent, Doumit was apparently not coming back so it was Barajas or…exactly. Not a great player but a decent 1-year guy.
5. McLouth-he’s not going to start and XP was what, 1-35 as a pinch hitter last year? Again, he’s not great but he can be a functional major league reserve OF.
6. Cruz-we traded Jose Veras and then went out and signed Jose Veras…kinda. Never bad having a reliver with double digit K/9.
7. Navarro-because there’s still some upside there
8. Morales-because Jason Jaramillo, Wyatt Torregas, Matt Pagnozzi, Dusty Brown, Eric Fryer and Kris Watts (I think) all played catcher for us last year.
9. Evans-I would like this more except I really don’t see him making the team. He’s a decent player but I just don’t the Pirates keeping him, GFJ and McGehee
10. Martis-Has upside but I don’t think he ever reaches it.
11. Nunez-He was a stupid Rule V pick and I’m going to be annoyed if he makes the opening day roster as Ciriaco 2.0 then gets dumped after 6 weeks of wasting a roster spot.
12. Fox-he’s at the bottom of the list because he’s going to hit 17 HR’s in Spring Training and have people clamoring for him to start at C on opening day or something. I just don’t want to hear that crap…
KentuckyPirate - February 15, 2012
1. Bedard
2. Barmes
3. Navarro
4. McGehee
5. Evans
6. Morales
7. Fox
8. Barajas
9. Cruz
10. McLouth
11. Nunez
Kosstic518 - February 15, 2012
feel like my list is similar to a lot of peeps but
1. Bedard
2. Nick Evans (still hope GFJ gets traded because Nick Fn Evans is better)
3. Barmes
4. Morales (this is underrated IMO – he should prolly be our backup opening day as opposed to the Fort)
5. McGehee – loved as insurance to Pedro and only traded scrap pile pickup reliever for him
6. Barajas – was thinking about how it would make sense to bat him 8th. struggles to get on base but when he does it’s usually for extra bases. Get everyone off the bases in front of him and then hopefully pitcher comes up with no one on and 2 outs etc. I dunno it made sense in my head. 20 HRs from your 8 spot could be really good in a way
6.5 Navarro – i’d prefer him to get every day playing time in AAA. has things to work on, could be useful player
7. Mathis
7.5 Fox – have always loved Fox’s numbers in minors. Would def not mind him making team either solely as PH type role. This would happen perhaps if GFJ does get traded
8. Cruz
9. McLouth – maybe would’ve liked to see someone with more upside but possibility he recovers and we trade him AGAIN haha
10. Nunez – not pumped at all
Mingy - February 15, 2012
based on the value i think they will end up providing
(due to injuries or whatever, as well as based on expectation)
McGehee
Barmes
Bedard
Morales
Evans
Barajas
Martis
Navarro
……
……
……
……
……
Nunez
McLouth
BurgherKing - February 15, 2012
1- Bedard
2-
3-
4- Barmes (Couldn’t place him or Barajas in top 3)
5- Barajas
6- McGeeeeheeeheeeheee
7- Navarro
8- Evans
9- Morales
10- Cruz
11- Nunez
And I’ll put McLouth at a negative 10.
Why? Why? Whyyyyyy? Did we give McLouth a major league deal? And WHYYY for more than 1 million dollars? That seems like a mistake, given that he bashed the team just a few years ago.
H2O - February 15, 2012
Rankings
1. Bedard – Only lefty starter. Solid when healthy.
2. Barnes – Other SS options stink.
3. Barajas – Decent all-around catcher. Should play the majority of the games there.
4. McGehee – Provides options at both 1B and 3B. Can he get close to his 2010 form?
5. McLouth – 5th OF unless he returns to his pre-trade form.
6. Evans – Decent bat. Could stick as a bench player.
7. All others – Not expecting much if anything from them.
MazHOF - February 15, 2012
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