Pirates acquire Justin Morneau

[Redondo]

Good move for the Bucs?

 

The Pirates gave up outfielder Alex Presley and a player to be named or cash considerations in the deal.

 

• Link

[mancini79]

Absolutely. They are in a position to win now. They need offense and got it without giving up their pitching.

[jshep]

Ya, I like this for the Pirates.

 

He's not the same player he was pre-concussion, and he's shown a huge platoon split this year(.536 OPS against lefties), but at the very least he's still capable of doing damage against righties. And they have Gaby Sanchez doing well against lefties, if they want to work some sort of platoon.

 

Sounds like they're taking on the money he has left, but Alex Presley is probably a pretty generic 4th OF going forward, and the PTBNL probably isn't anyone great since it's "or cash". Even if Morneau underwhelms, they're only out some cash for the rest of the season and players they aren't likely to miss.

[Catching Trout]

The pirates are so deep right now

[Homebrewer]

NICE!
He should like the NL where pitchers don't know him.

Great pick-up.

[tennischmp]

Too bad they didn't want Trumbo instead

[nate]

Wow, Pirates going all in.

[mancini79]

Too bad they didn't want Trumbo instead

 

Trumbo for Alex Presley???

 

No thank you!!

[Ray McKigney]

Pirates will still choke down the stretch.

[tennischmp]

Trumbo for Alex Presley???

 

No thank you!!

Trumbo is cheaper and younger. Pretty sure the Pirates would have given us something better had they wanted Trumbo.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Trumbo is cheaper and younger. Pretty sure the Pirates would have given us something better had they wanted Trumbo.

True. Also, Justin M will be a free agent at the end if the year, so he'll only be a one month rental.

[gotbeer]

Like the deal for the Bucs.  Presley looks like a mid .700 ops outfielder.  Morneu helps the Bucs for the playoffs.

[Sciosciapath]

This is going to be the "Marco Scutaro trade" of this season.

 

Morneau is going to catch fire and lead the Pirates deep in the playoffs with clutch hitting ala 2012 Marco Scutaro.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

8:49pm: The PTBNL is pitcher Duke Welker, major league sources tell Tom Singer of MLB.com.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/welkedu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.typepad.com

[Docwaukee]

I could see the halos getting Welker from the twins in the offseason for someone in A ball. 

[gotbeer]

Decent minor league number on Welker.  But a pure reliever.  Couldn't cut it as a starter.

 

http://thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Duke-Welker

[Jay]

I love the city of Pittsburgh, I hope they do well.

[tdawg87]

I'll "root" for Pittsburgh because I was friends with Jeff Locke. Also the fans who have stuck around for the past 20 some-odd years deserve to see their team in the playoffs again.

[ukyah]

it's a little late for the pirates to "choke."

[2002_halos_II]

Lifelong twinner? Surprising.

No wonder Trumbo's ears are red. He is mentioned in every thread as a trade piece.

[Tank]

Moreau is the Canadian Jason Giambi.

Could be a really good move by the Bucs.

[SoWhat]

.740-.770 OPS the past 2 years, Gaby Sanchez has .750 OPS this year. I really don't see how this is gonna make that much of an impact?

[Homebrewer]

.740-.770 OPS the past 2 years, Gaby Sanchez has .750 OPS this year. I really don't see how this is gonna make that much of an impact?

Experience. Not that long ago the twinkies were good. Gardy is a good manager who gets a lot out of his players, like Kelly before him.

They are a lot like the Angels used to be, compete for a year or two, and then rebuild for 3 years, and repeat...

As Scioscia always said (one of the few things I agree with) is that certain players bring "intangibles"

JM might just bring that.