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Date | Question | Answer |
2018-04-19 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What are Cole Tucker and Lolo Sanchez's upside? (Jimbo from Utah) | I think Tucker's a good fit for the Pirates. Mercer's going to walk. Tucker, I think, will provide more bat and less glove than Mercer. But given the way the game's evolving--more balls in the air, more shifting of infielders (or at least not *less* shifting), the importance of a really strong glove at short is diminishing. Think Seager and Correa--not that they're slouches, but they're not phenomenal with the glove. They don't have to be! I think Tucker will be a net upgrade.
Sanchez is 18, so my Shane Baz racehorse analogy applies. He's only 18, but so far he's shown good speed and a good glove but nothing exceptional with the bat. Upside would be Starling Marte but I'm guessing he falls short offensively, which will limit him. But he's only 18! He can change! (Rob Mains) |
2017-08-21 13:00:00 (link to chat) | As the latest reports make as clear as ever, it sounds like the Pirates have given up hope that Jung Ho Kang will be able to return to the U.S. and play out his contract in Pittsburgh. If I'm reading the information correctly, that contract calls for the Pirates to pay him $3 million this year and has a team option for $5.5 million ($250k buyout) next year.
First, do you know whether the Pirates have paid him any of the $3 million for this year?
Second, if you're Neal Huntington and you think Kang is a lost cause, can you avoid paying even the buyout for next year, or is your move to exercise the option, on the theory that you'd want Kang if his immigration circumstances change, but that you won't have to pay him the $5.5 million if he cannot return?
Third, if Kang returns to the U.S. in 2019 as a free agent, what kind of offers, if any, do you think he will receive from teams?
Fourth, I will gin up a wine question to atone for a three-part question about a guy who hasn't played all year and may never play in the majors again. (Alec Denton from Atlanta) | Alec, I will try to give you an answer as long as your question. Even longer! And thanks for asking me this one in advance--I needed to a little legwork. For those of you just tuning in, you can submit questions for BP chats in advance by just clicking on the chat at any time once it appears on the homepage. Getting your questions in early gives guys like me more time to ponder them...
Kang is on the restricted list. Players on the restricted list don't draw a salary. So no, they aren't paying him this year. I'm not sure whether his presence on the restricted list voids the buyout next year, but $250K is chump change even to Pittsburgh.
Next year and 2019 are both interesting issues. As I assume everyone reading this knows, Kang is not playing this year because he couldn't get a visa due to his legal problems. Basically, South Korea didn't want him to let him go, and the U.S. didn't want to let him in. Heck of a guy! But here's the thing: He's a good player. In 2015, he was second on the team in TAv and fourth on the team in WARP despite only 457 PAs. Last year, in fewer PAs (370) he was first in TAv and second in WARP. If he were with the Bucs, he'd play shortstop (Mercer's arb eligible next year and will a FA after the season) ane third base (Freese is a FA after next season too, unless the team picks up his $6M option). And next year Mercer will turn 32, Freese will be 35, and Kang will be 31. So there's plenty of reason for the team to want him back, if he can get a visa.
But I'll be they'll pass. I'd guess that a future with Harrison (and eventually Ke'Bryan Hayes) at third, and Kevin Newman or Cole Tucker at short is more likely to one with Kang.
So if he were to return as a 2019 FA, I think he'd get a lowball contract--a million or two?--provided he has at least some KBO or MiLB experience to back it up. As for a landing spot, who's the Oakland Raiders of MLB? The Rays? The A's? (Rob Mains) |
2017-07-06 12:00:00 (link to chat) | What other prospects in the Pirates Org are worth getting excited about other than Keller and Meadows? (Tim from Illinois) | We like Cole Tucker. I think I am more neutral on Hayes, but he definitely has his fans here as well. The Newman reports I got this year have been...less exciting (Jeffrey Paternostro) |
2017-05-18 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What are your thoughts on Cole Tucker and Ke'Bryan Hayes? What are their upsides? (Justin from Iowa City, Iowa) | I will direct you to Javier's quite thorough eyewitness reports on that went up this morning. (Jeffrey Paternostro) |
2016-06-20 16:00:00 (link to chat) | What are your thoughts on Cole Tucker? (Justin from Des Moines) | My thoughts on Cole Tucker is that he is being pushed very aggressively given he missed a full season to a shoulder injury. Unfortunately Bradenton doesn't come up to my area (Lakeland and Tampa) again this season so I might have to make a special trip to catch them again. (Steve Givarz) |
2015-02-04 19:00:00 (link to chat) | Its too bad the MWL doesn't have any high ceiling SS prospects for you to watch this year. Just a bunch of scrubs like Barreto, Gordon, Albies, Tucker, and Torres. But seriously, Are you pumped for the talent at the position this year? Who are you most excited to see? (username49 from ohio) | Sadly, Albies and I think you mean Cole Tucker, are going to be in the SAL. There's no guarantee Torres is in South Bend, but yes, I'm excited for all of those guys and Francisco Mejia. (Jordan Gorosh) |
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