Rumors for Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates manager John Russell and GM Neal Huntington close to being fired?
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are 44-89 and they are on pace to lose 109 games. The worst part about another losing season for the PIrates is that this will also be the 18th consecutive losing season for the organization. What does this mean for Pirates general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell? It probably means the Pirates will be looking for a new manager and GM, if President Frank Coonlley’s comments shed any light on the situation.
“I have been extremely disappointed in the team’s performance,” Coonelly told the Daily Pitch in an e-mail responding to whether Huntington and Russell would be retained. “We are evaluating every aspect of our operation in order to determine how we can get the club moving in the right direction immediately. “While we have made tremendous progress executing a sound plan to overhaul a broken system and return this once-proud franchise to its tradition of winning baseball, we have only one benchmark by which we measure ourselves and that is wins and losses at the Major League level. By that benchmark, we have badly underachieved.”
Huntington did take a few positive steps this season as he signed 16 year old pitching prospect Luis Heredia. They also shelled out $6.5 mm on Jameson Taillon who was the second pick of this years 2010.
The positive steps that have been taken this season may not be enough to save Huntington and Russell’s job. Both are signed through 2011 but could be looking for a new job after this season.
Information in this article was obtained from Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
List of six GM candidates for Arizona Diamondbacks is taking shape
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FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says the Arizona Diamondbacks’ list of potential general manager candidates is starting to take shape. According to sources close to Morosi, the Diamondbacks plan to speak with the following six people:
- Jerry Dipoto, Diamondbacks interim GM
- Peter Woodfork, Diamondbacks assistant GM
- Kevin Towers, former Padres GM and current Yankees adviser
- Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees vice president of amateur scouting
- De Jon Watson, Dodgers assistant GM for player development
- Logan White, Dodgers assistant GM for amateur and international scouting
Sources says that the Diamondbacks’ superiors were happy with the job that Dipoto did at the July 31st trade deadline. Among Dipoto’s accomplishments this season are: Dan Haren trade with the Los Angeles Angels, Edwin Jackson trade with the Chicago White Sox, Chad Qualls trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chris Snyder trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
VIDEO: Line drive striking LHP Tom Gorzelanny in his throwing hand
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a scary video of a line drive coming straight back at Chicago Cubs’ left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny off the bat of Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielder Jose Tabata. Luckily it didn’t strike Gorzelanny in the head, but unfortunately it hit him on his throwing hand.
VIDEO: Minor League manager ejected – autographs first base and gives it to fan
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out this video of manager Gary Robinson of the State College Spikes (a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate) getting ejected then taking a page out of the Terrell Owens handbook of autographing game-used equipment.
Instant classic!
Insurance carrier to blame for exposing MLB team’s finances?
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According to two Major League Baseball sources, close to Christian Red and Nathaniel Vinton of the New York Daily News, an insurance carrier associated with several baseball teams may be responsible for leaking sensitive financial documents.
Deadspin.com and the Associated Press published a series of confidential financial reports for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers.
The reports show how small market teams such as the Pirates make millions in profits despite poor on-field performances.
“It was beneficial, some of the information,” said one of the sources. “I think a lot of people were glad to see that the receipts were higher” but not happy to see some “transfer of equity was not going toward players and player development.”
Inside the Pittsburgh Pirates finances from 2007-2009
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Despite this year being the team’s 18th consecutive losing season, a story by the Associated Press indicates the team has been profitable. 40 pages of financial documents were obtained by the Associated Press, and they indicate the Pirates profited nearly $29.4 million in 2007 and 2008, and the owners took a distribution of $20.4 million in 2008.
The Pirates were able to get slightly less than half of it’s income (about $70 million) from MLB sources – including revenue sharing, network TV, Major League merchandise sales and MLB’s website.
Economist Roger Noll, a Stanford University economist, said: “Probably the Pirates would be less profitable if they tried to improve the team substantially.”
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette breaks down the financials further from information gathered at a meeting with four media outlets at PNC Park and attended by owner Bob Nutting and team president Frank Coonelly:
- The profit for 2007 was $15,008032.
- The profit for 2008 was $14,408,249.
- The profit for 2009 was $5,409,087.
- Nutting took no salary or management fee, but the 2008 books indicate that the $20.4 million distribution was made to general ownership (mostly for individuals to pay taxes on team profits).
- No payments were made to the owners to cover taxes for 2008 or 2009 (the tax liability was the responsibility of the individual).
- Nutting wanted to keep as much of the capital as possible inside the organization.
- The club continues to invest in the club via capital expenditures. The expenditures included a $5 million baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, $2 million in improvement to the Pirate City spring and rookie training facility in Bradenton, FL and $2 million to purchase the new Class-A Bradenton Marauders.
- The team is not for sale.
Pittsburgh Pirates to not address needs through high-priced free agents
Posted by: | CommentsPittsburgh Pirates Neal Huntington reiterated that the team will not address immediate needs through high priced free agents, according to Dejan Kovacevic of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“We’re not going to add a No. 1 starter in free agency,” Huntington said at the PNC Park news conference to introduce top draft pick Jameson Taillon. “We’re not going to add a true, major-league power bat in free-agency.”
However, team president Frank Coonelly said last month the team will be “aggressive” this winter when looking at free agents, but this doesn’t mean they will make a strong attempt at the Cliff Lee-types that will be available.
The team has been working hard at signing young players this year. They signed 16-year-old prospect Luis Heredia of Mexico yesterday for a $2.6 million bonus, and two draft picks – Jameson Taillon ($6.5 million) and Stetson Allie ($2.25 million) were signed earlier this month.
The Pirates currently rank last of the 30 Major Leagues teams in regards to 2010 payroll – $34,933,000. Chris Snyder is their highest paid player on their roster at $5.25 million.
Pittsburgh Pirates agree to terms with 16 y.o. RHP Luis Heredia
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with 16-year-old pitching prospect, Luis Heredia of Mexico on a $2.6 million bonus, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Heredia’s Mexican club, Veracruz, will keep 75 percent of the bonus, and the remainder will go to the player. Heredia has passed his physical, and a formal signing ceremony will take place next week.
Heredia, a 6-foot-6, 185 pound is considered one of the best pitching prospects his country has produced in years. His fastball is in the 92-93 mph range, and he throws four other pitches. All but the slider currently are seen as above-average.
16 y.o. Luis Heredia expected to agree with Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday
Posted by: | CommentsDejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates are “really strong” favorites to land 16-year-old right-handed pitcher Luis Heredia of the Mexican Baseball League.
Kovacevic adds, “barring some drastic change, it is expected that there will be an agreement executed rather quickly between the Pirates, Veracruz and the player. And that agreement most likely will be completed today (Thursday).”
Other teams believed to be interested in Heredia included the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves.
On Tuesday, Kovacevic added that Heredia’s bonus could be in the $2 million – $2.8 million range.
Pittsburgh Pirates are strong favorites to land 16 y.o. Luis Heredia
Posted by: | CommentsDejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates are a strong favorite to land Mexican 16-year-old right-hander Luis Heredia.
No formal offers can be entertained by Heredia’s Veracruz team until Thursday per the declaration by the Mexican Baseball League. The Pirates likely won’t be alone in the pursuit of the right-hander. Kovacevic says the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves all scouted Heredia pitching in a tournament for players age 15-16 last week in Mazatlan, Mexico. It won’t be cheap for any of the teams. Some reports have Heredia’s bonus value in the $2 million – $2.8 million range.
Kovacevic points out that the Pirates are heavily invested in the youngster:
- The team has been scouting him since he was 13 years old.
- The team’s Mexican scouting supervisor, Jesus Valdez has known Heredia since he was give and has become a father figure in Heredia’s life.
- The Pirates have close ties to Heredia’s club, Veracruz. Kovacevic says, “In Mexico, a professional team selling a player’s rights keeps 75 percent of the bonus, with the other 25 percent going to the player.”
