SAN DIEGO — Greetings from the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the epicenter of four days’ worth of rumors. The Pirates enter the Meetings with a clear need – starting pitching – and other areas that could use an upgrade, like grabbing another lefty reliever or finding a right-handed complement to Pedro Alvarez at first. Before they can really go after a starter, the market has to clarify, and Jon Lester is the key to that process.
Lester is the jewel of the pitching market – not attached to draft pick compensation because he was traded in season and couldn’t receive a qualifying offer. He could command a six-year contract worth $20 million or more per year. Lester’s final destination should clarify the destinations of Max Scherzer and James Shields, and then we get to Brandon McCarthy, Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez, Justin Masterson and the rest.
The wrinkle is the number of pitchers entering their walk years who could be traded, or reach free agency after 2015. Jeff Samardzija, Zack Greinke (who can opt out), Johnny Cueto, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Rick Porcello, David Price, all close to free agency and possible trade candidates. Cole Hamels has years left on his contract but is the best trade chip the rebuilding Phillies have.
The Giants, Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers are reportedly interested in signing Lester. The market for the rest is unclear, but expect whichever of those teams that does not sign Lester to be interested. The rest of the market will clarify as the top three sign. Agents are saying that there is little action on starters right now, and some might be holding their clients back from negotiations to wait and see what the market will bear.
The speed with which teams grabbed available bats this offseason and the relatively slow action on the market for starters indicates the industry’s perception of starting pitching availability.
The idea of the Winter Meetings, with executives from each team (the Pirates’ traveling party has more than 40 members), agents and scouts congregating in the lobby and the annual scrum surrounding Scott Boras, conjures a sense of action, as do the TV networks’ round-the-clock coverage. But the Pirates don’t see them that way. They are not out to make noise for the sake of making noise during “hot stove” season, according to what their front office has said in the past.
Stephen Nesbitt and I will bring you coverage all week. We will speak to Neal Huntington each day and Clint Hurdle Wednesday, in addition to the other managers over the next few days. Be sure to check the blog frequently for breaking news and updates, or follow Stephen and myself on Twitter.
First Published: March 24, 2016, 5:06 p.m.
