Power Pros Forum

Ever since we traded Sanchez, this has been a big need. With him batting behind Mccutchen and Garrett Jones behind him, we'll have a strong heart of the lineup. Pedro Alvarez, our best prospect, is on the fast track to the Majors, and with Andy LaRoche behind that, we could have a great lineup. I'm glad to see the Pirates moving in a new direction, getting good players instead of getting rid of them. But, we'll have to see about that knee...

Sorry about the double post, but I was just browsing the 2009 MLB Season topic, and this was already mentioned. Now what?

I heard about that trade, last night.

Just don't post on this topic.

I wonder how many more trades that The Rays can make.

They still have some moveable parts. Willy Aybar, Reid Brignac or Jason Bartlett, and even Carl Crawford have all been mentioned as potential trade pieces.

Also, hats off to the Pirates for turning Jesse Chavez (a dime-a-dozen reliever) into Akinori Iwamura. No, he won't carry the Pirates to the playoffs, but he will generate more than enough revenue to offset his salary, he's an upgrade over Freddy Sanchez, and the Pirates can always move him at the deadline for something more valuable than the reliever they gave up to acquire him in the first place.

Pirates are getting smart.

Odd that they commit to paying a player over the MLB limit though. With their massive sell-off last year, it was pretty disheartening to anyone attached to their team. They're definitely aiming for full rebuild mode...which makes you wonder, why Aki now?

Maybe this is the first of several moves - where the Pirates complement their new core (McCutchen, Jones, LaRoche #2, Doumit, and uh...uh....uh....Alvarez?) with seasoned veterans, and make an astounding run at the NL central?

Either way, their new GM and Front Office is smart.

Someone mentioned on an MLBTradeRumors.com chat that the Pirates and Rays should explore a Doumit-Brignac swap. I think that is a pretty good idea. Maybe they can even try to make it into a three way deal so they can send off Neil Walker somewhere and get another catcher back? Doumit is a good hitter but a horrible catcher. Defense is waaaaaaay more important at catcher.

Actually, that was the big knock on Doumit as he came through the minors. Everybody knew about his bat, but everbody knew he had awful defense. But, Doumit has became a very good defensive catcher. Besides Yadier Molina, I can't think of anybody better behind the plate. He handles our pitching staff amazingly and blocks more balls in the dirt than anybody. Plus, after his wrist injury last year he hit .220. His skills have been opposite. Now he is good behind the plate, and slumping at it.

This is getting interesting. I'd love to see the Pirates win the NL Central then lose to the NL Wild Card Cubs in the NLCS. What? You didn't think I'd pick the Pirates over the Cubs, did you?

Hey, if we want the Pirates to win the NL Central we need to ask jacobye for some advice.

That's true! Jacobye46: The new Pittsburgh Pirates general manager!

I can name 40 catchers off the top of my head who are better than Doumit, defensively speaking. And with a little research, I could probably come up with another 10. He's not terrible, but he is not good.

There is a 0% chance the Rays will trade Brignac for Doumit. SS is the thinnest position in baseball right now, and Brignac is one of the top prospects at the position, not to mention younger, cheaper, and under club control for a lot longer than Doumit.

All this trades should be talked about in the Hot stove.

I never said Doumit was "good". I was trying to make a point that he's come a long way. Now, theres probably 10 or 11 catchers in the National league better than Doumit. But 40? That's a pretty wide margin. That's saying 8 back-ups are better than Doumit, defenseively speaking. Ryan Doumit isn't going to win any Gold Gloves, but my point was he is solid. What I meant was I cannot think of a catcher in the National League I'd take over Doumit for defense. The only guy besides Yadier Molina that really stand out to me is the D-Backs Chris Snyder.