Comical listening to some Yinzer railing at the "trade" last night. Hey, we need to sign a couple great free agent pitchers!!!I don't know why this is so surprising for people. I don't know why this draws scorn and outrage. Frazier would be leaving after next year anyways, he is a good player, but not a difference maker. People say "well Nutting should sign him", but the thing is...even if there was a salary cap, you have to make decisions on who to sign and who to let go. That is why you hope to have a farm system to develop and replenish.
I mean, until MLB has a cap/floor/revenue sharing like the other leagues, this cycle of trying to build up for 3 year run then burn it down like most teams within our market range is modus operandi. The issue with Nutting, the legit complaint IMO, is not the "burning it down" but when you are in that 3 year window, you max your ability to win a title. That is when you spend outside of your comfort zone. That's when you make a trade for an Adam Frazier or god forbid, a Chris Archer in his prime....
OMG, people are so uninformed and down right stupid.
Even if Nutting spent like Steinbrenner, you can't just buy a pennant. A team like the Pirates has to be smart and somewhat cunning. Yes, there comes a time when you have to spend some $$, but this ain't it.
They are grabbing as much young talent with both hands as they can right now when the stars align for them to do so.
Hopefully in 3 or 4 years it starts paying off in PIttsburgh. It is the ONLY way for a small market team to be relevant.
For now, we'll have to be content following these diamonds in the rough and hoping they bloom as bonafide ML players.
Time will tell, but signing Adam Frazier, or anyone else in his position right now would do absolutely NOTHING to help the prospects of the PIrates finishing anything but last.