Sweep aside, Pirates still deadline sellers
.396 with 3 doubles, 4 home runs and 10 RBIs. He drove in the Pirates’ third run with a two-out single Sunday. Polanco has hit safely in 15 of 18 games with a .313 average, seven home runs and 17 RBIs. He started the 10th-inning rally Sunday with a single. Even Josh Bell, who has been a major disappointment with just five home runs after hitting 26 last season, is showing good signs. His single in the ninth inning Sunday was big and his two-out double in the 10th won the game. He has been clutch, hitting .330 with runners in scoring position.
Of greater significance, the Pirates pitching has had a terrific run. Since giving up 17 runs against Philadelphia July 6 for the second time in four games, the staff’s ERA has been 2.47. It’s no wonder the team went 8-2 in those games. Chad Kuhl is out with arm problems so Clayton Holmes stepped up and pitched six scoreless innings in Game 2 Saturday. That was encouraging.
Felipe Vazquez, who saved both games in the doubleheader, is pitching like Felipe Rivero. The entire bullpen has been much improved. Kyle Crick has settled in as the eighth-inning man. I like Richard Rodriguez. I no longer cringe when Edgar Santana comes into a game.
“It reminded us of what we did the first seven or eight weeks of the season when we climbed to nine games over,” Huntington said of the hot streak. “That we can be an interesting team, that we can be a team that pitches well, that plays defense well, that runs the bases well, that can hit and hit with some power. It reminds us that’s what we can be.”
But Huntington was evasive when asked if his team could make him a buyer before the deadline. My interpretation was he said no. Check out his quotes and you decide.
“We are built around young players. We’re built around guys that have the ability to be here beyond this year. That’s a good thing. We want to win this year. We want to win next year. We’ll continue to look to do what we believe is the right thing for this organization.”
Does that sound like a man who is willing to give up any of his young pitchers — Jameson Taillon? — or his prospects? I don’t think so.
It’s still much more likely that veterans will be moved. Jordy Mercer, who will be a free agent after the season. Francisco Cervelli, who is due to make $11.5 million next season, although his status is complicated by repeated concussions to the point that it’s fair to wonder if he’s done as a catcher. Josh Harrison, who will make $10.5 million. Ivan Nova, who will make $9.16 million. David Freese, who will make $6 million. Corey Dickerson, who will get a sizable raise in arbitration after making $5.95 million this season. Maybe even Vazquez, who, would bring, far and away, the most value back. Does a rebuilding team really need a lights-out closer?
I don’t see the other guys bringing much in return, although all could help a contending club. What the Pirates would gain by losing the salaries is more financial flexibility. Don’t you just love that term? I would like to see what the Pirates might look like next season if they used that savings to add veteran players in the offseason to the young players Huntington mentioned. I know. I am dreaming. That doesn’t change the point, though. It still makes sense for Huntington to be a seller, not a buyer.