Bernie on the Scene: Pirates Take the Fast Track to 'Meh'

With a team firmly placed on a train to nowhere, the Pirates have decided to jump out the rear door in the dining car and walk slowly to their next destination. They have now left the world of hopeless to enter the universe of extreme "meh."

They subtracted some solid major league quality players and added numbers for their roster. The additions in a word? Meh!

General manager Ben Cherington had probably seen enough. He has decided to abandon a horrid trajectory and try to get his Pirates team back on sturdier rails. Nice try. No blue ribbon for effort from this old scout.

Part of his plan was to jettison first baseman Josh Bell, a decision that will breathe new life into Bell's career. He was sent packing to Washington. I really like Josh Bell's future.

Also gone are pitchers Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove and Nik Turley. 

While it may seem drastic to trade solid major league talent, Cherington has acquired some potentially talented, young, controllable players for a franchise that has stapled shut their bank books for years and years. Now Mr. Chrington is running the new railroad. But really, is dumping salary and betting on marginal prospects the right way to run that railroad? We'll see.

The fans of Pittsburgh deserve more than a beautiful ball park. They deserve a competitive team. Maybe, just maybe, the players acquired in Cherington's house cleaning can change the dynamics, culture and environment of what is now a losing franchise. We'll see.

Who did Cherington acquire to help his team perform a baseball about-face? Let's check it out.

Wil Crowe
Right-handed pitcher
6-2, 228 
Age 26
2017 second-round draft pick from University of South Carolina 
Acquired in the Josh Bell trade with Nationals

Crowe made three starts for the Nationals in the short 2020 season. He yielded 14 hits in 8.1 innings. He walked eight, struck out eight and yielded five home runs. Oh my!

Crowe had Tommy John surgery in 2015 and missed the 2016 season. He throws a fastball 92-94 mph, a sinker, a curve, a slider and a wicked changeup. It is his changeup that could make his career.

Known for getting a great deal of spin on his pitches, Crowe impresses scouts with his "stuff." There is effort in his delivery, and that causes concern for his repaired elbow ligament.

Conclusions: A top-10 Nationals prospect, Crowe was attractive to the Pirates because of his upside. He is getting along in baseball life, so he has to show more than he did last season. I'm not as bullish on him due to the amount of breaking balls he relies on with a repaired elbow. GRADE: 45

Eddy Yean
Right-handed pitcher
6-1, 180
Age 19
International free agent from Dominican Republic
Acquired in the Josh Bell trade with Nationals

Yean was signed for $100,000 and has increased his velocity since signing with the Nationals to a high of 97 mph.  

He is described as having the type of frame that can handle ever-increasing velocity. He is strong and healthy. Yean throws a fastball, slider and changeup, and he has good command of each of those pitches.

Conclusions: I think Yean has better stuff and may have a brighter future than Crowe,. However, Yean is still young and is not as far along in his career. But I think the Pirates have a solid pitching prospect they may be able to develop into a quality starter.  GRADE: 50

Hudson Head
Outfielder
Bats left
6-1, 180
Age 19
2019 third-round draft pick out of high school
Acquired from Padres through Mets

Of the many players the Pirates received in trade this winter, Head may have the best chance of impacting the Pirates' future. He was the main component of the deal that sent Joe Musgrove to the Padres.

A lean and wiry athlete, Head has good plate discipline, knows the strike zone and puts the bat on the ball. He is a prototypical center fielder with solid enough speed and good baseball instincts.

Still young, if Head can add some depth to his frame, power may come as well. For now, however, he can be viewed as a solid prospect with gap power, speed enough to steal bases and a good feel for the game.

The Padres gave Head a $3M signing bonus, which says all we need to know about his upside. But … they traded him in a package with the Mets and Padres.

Conclusions: This trade cost the Pirates Joe Musgrove. I'm not sure the return was enough, but Head could be the team's center fielder when his development is complete. I'm not sure that fifth tool (power) will emerge, but if it does, he could be fantasy worthy. For now, I see him as a target in keeper leagues. GRADE: 50

Miguel Yajure
Right-handed pitcher
6-1, 175
Age 22
International free agent from Venezuela
Acquired from Yankees for Jameson Taillon

There are people who feel Yajure is going to be an excellent starting pitcher. He was well worth the $30,000 bonus it cost New York to sign him.

Last season, he appeared in three games for the Yankees, all in relief. He yielded only three hits in his seven innings, walking five and striking out eight.

He has a cross-fire delivery that can be deceptive.  While he throws his fastball up to 97, he generally sits at 93-94 mph, which is fine. He also throws a changeup and curve, both of which need refinement.

While he could be a No. 4 starter, he can also find his future in the bullpen, which is where I think his limited repertoire projects.

The key to Yajure is good command and control. He has the ability to throw strikes, which is why I like him in the pen.

Conclusions: I don't see much upside in this pitcher, other than the command and good pitching mechanics in his delivery. But he's deceptive and knows how to pitch. GRADE: 45

Roansy Contreras
Right-handed pitcher
6-0, 175
Age 21
Free Agent from Dominican Republic
Acquired from Yankees for Jameson Taillon

Contreras was signed by the Yankees in 2016 for $250,000. He is athletic with a good feel for pitching, solid mechanics and is probably a bit advanced for his age. 

While he doesn't get much movement on his fastball, he commands the pitch well as the focal point of his repertoire. He also features a better than average changeup, and a curve. He projects as a No. 4 starter.

Contreras is the type of pitcher who uses the entire strike zone, moving the ball around and changing speeds to deceive hitters. He isn't overpowering, but he's credible.

Conclusions: Contreras appears to be a guy who can compete for a role in the rotation, but he won't be bringing anything special. He can give the Pirates quality pitching from a good mechanical base. GRADE: 45

Omar Cruz
Left-handed pitcher
6-0, 200
Age 22
Signed by Padres out of Mexico
Acquired from Padres in the deal for Joe Musgrove

The Padres signed Cruz out of Mexico for $100,000 in 2017. He came to the Padres in the same international free agent class as Roansy Contreras.

Cruz uses a rather low arm slot, but he has improving command and control of his 90-92 mph fastball. He should be able to add velocity with maturation.

His curve is seen as average, but he has time to improve that secondary pitch.  He could develop a changeup, which would help with his low arm slot.

Cruz keeps the ball down in the zone, and that may have a negative impact with the upper-cut swings of today's hitters

Conclusions: Cruz looked good in parts of two minor league seasons for San Diego  He has started 23 games, and was used exclusively in that role.  Cruz has struck out an average of 12.4 hitters per nine innings in his 98.1 innings. He has walked 3.8 per nine. GRADE: 45
 

OVERALL: I would have to say the Pirates managed to dump future high salaries while taking a flier on several young prospects with little track record. They traded for hope. I don't see any of their new players having a major impact on the franchise.

I think they'll miss Bell. And Musgrove has upside. Taillon could help the Yankees. 

The Pirates are no closer to gaining prominence in the National League Central than they were before dumping salaries and losing quality pitchers.

I don't see any of the players they obtained for Bell, Taillon or Musgrove worthy of fantasy consideration. The best may be Hudson Head, but most teams have several of that type athlete on their roster.

Yean, Yajure, Contreras and Cruz will compete against each other for rotation spots from this day forward. Maybe one will emerge. Maybe two. Probably not all four.

I give Mr. Cherington credit for trying to find a diamond among a group of glass "faux" stones. I give him credit for trying to put a new train on the tracks. But ... instead of the promised land of a championship, I think he's headed for Meh! For the sake of Pirates fans, I hope I'm wrong.

HEADING HOME

Colorado baseball fans will get a nice entertainment center to head to before and after going to games at Coors Field. The Rockies Baseball Club is building the McGregor Center across from Coors. It is a huge complex with retail, housing, office space and underground parking. 

I find it interesting there is money for that complex from Rockies owners, but they have sewn their pockets shut when it comes to player salaries.

Nolan Arenado now departs Coors for Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He immediately makes the Cardinals the clear favorite in the weak National League Central.

Arenado now trades hitter-haven Coors for a tougher home run park in St. Louis. He also loses the launching pad known as Chase Field in Phoenix. But — and this is important for those of us playing fantasy baseball — he picks up Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. That will help. Pittsburgh's PNC Park could really help his batting average. By the way, Busch Stadium ranks among the lowest for slugging percentage and is No. 26 in home runs.

• As an Indians fan, I'm thrilled that their front office was able to melt the pants pocket of ownership during a freezing winter on the shores of Lake Erie. They found a wallet with some money. After trading Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco, saving $32M, they found enough money hidden deep in Mr. Dolan's pocket to spend $5M on Cesar Hernandez and $8M on Eddie Rosario. Both will help the Indians. Rosario strengthens a pitiful outfield and Hernandez gives them a solid leadoff hitter and good defensive second baseman.

By the way, I think adding Rosario moves Josh Naylor to first base, and that's a good move.

• It really seems as though that Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway may be the reason the Angels aren't in on Trevor Bauer. Bauer wants to use his own training methods. He also wants to pitch on short rest. Bauer and Callaway did not get along in Cleveland, when Callaway was Bauer's pitching coach. I don't think they want a reprieve of that act.

I look for either the Blue Jays or Mets to sign Bauer. I may be wrong.

• Not having the designated hitter in the National League (yet) is hurting the free-agent markets for both Marcell Ozuna and Nelson Cruz. MLB and the Player's Association have not agreed to extend the designated hitter permanently to both leagues. 

• Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and read my baseball articles  at  Forbes.com. 

Have a great week. Stay safe. Stay well. And don't forget to thank someone who makes your life better.