After this trade has taken place 3 days later, The Pittsburgh Pirates made another ballsy trade on January 16,2018. this trade had former 2013 MVP center-fielder Andrew Mccutchen going to the SanFrancisco Giants. In return, the Pirates got RHP Kyle Crick and Out-field prospect Bryan Reynolds along with 500k worth of international pool space. According to http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com, the article states,
Pittsburgh Pirates 2018 Season Preview
February 15, 2018
Well, its that time if year again. The part of the year that tells me summer is just right around the corner. What is it you may ask? Baseball. America’s national pastime since 1839. This article in particular is based around the 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates. Analyzing every trade, signing,and let go this past winter, the Pittsburgh Pirate’s off-season has not been a good one.
OFF-SEASON 2017-2018
To start, January 13, 2018 the Pittsburgh Pirates traded starting and ace pitcher RHP Gettit Cole to the Huston Astros. In return, the Pirates got RHP Joe Musgrove and infielder Colin Moran. This got the city of Pittsburgh in an uproar, and if that trade wasnt enough to get you heated, keep reading. According to https://www.sbnation.com Neil Hunington, Pirates general manager states,”Trading Gerrit Cole was not an easy decision,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement released by the team. “We are very appreciative for what Gerrit has done for our team and organization, especially his important role on the 2013-15 playoff teams.
“Acquiring these four quality young players, three of whom we project to be an important part of our 2018 team, with many years of potential contribution, is an important step for us as we work toward bringing playoff baseball back to our fans.
“We respect and honor our fans emotions and they have been running high and for good reason. Andrew McCutchen will go down as one of the greatest all-time Pittsburgh Pirates,” said Coonelly.
While it is painful for the fans and organization, Coonelly says it was a necessary.
“I want the fans to know that the decision was made for all of the right reasons and it was made in order to build a winner for them,” said Coonelly.
While Coonelly understands the anger and frustration fans have, he says the personal attacks on Nutting are wrong.
“This decision was made by our baseball operations team. In fact, Bob [Nutting] was the last one to get on board because he knows what Andrew McCutchen means to the city of Pittsburgh and to our great fans,” said Huntington. “But he came on board because he was being told by myself, [General Manager] Neal Huntington and the baseball team that, as great as [McCutchen] is, we need to get better and this is one of the avenues that we can get better.”
THE PIRATES BOYCOTT
This got the Pirates fans very angry, myself included. How could Bob Nutting, Pirates owner, trade his best 2 players within the same week and practically get nothing out of it? This led one angry Pirates fan to make a petition on www.change.org in order to FIRE the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Nutting. At the time of this writing, there are a little over 60,000 angry Pirates fans that had signed the petition, myself included.
SPRING TRAINING 2018
At the time of me writing this, yesterday , February 14, 2018 pitchers and catchers reported for the first spring workout for the 2018 season. I find it ironic that it start on Valentines Day this year because if they are trying to win over my heart this year, its not happening. The trades the Pirates have made has been far from spectacular. both McCutchen and Cole both gone, the Pirates have lost there 2 most popular players. At the time of this writing, on February 23, the Pirates first spring training game is today vs the Rays at 1:05 p.m. eastern time. Even though spring training games do not count, it is a good time to watch America’s national pastime
COREY DICKERSON ACQUIRED
Yesterday, February 22, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired OF Corey Dickerson from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right hand reliever Daniel Hudson, minor league infielder Tristan Gray,and cash considerations. Viewed on http://www.espn.com, Neil Hunington says, “Corey Dickerson adds a quality power threat to our lineup as evidenced by his 60-plus extra-base hits and 20-plus home runs each of the past two seasons,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. “Corey is a driven player who will also add a quality presence to our clubhouse
MY PREDICTIONS
My predictions this year for the 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates, I believe they will be placed in third with a 85-77 record behind the second place St. Louis Cardinals and the first place Chicago Cubs. The Pirates WILL NOT make the playoffs for a third consecutive year in a row. Although I very well could be wrong, I am just basing my predictions off of years past.
In the comment section below the article, please give me your perspective on the Pittsburgh Pirates this year.