Rios's contract ends in 2014. 2015 is a team option.
Ok. Then I'll consider it a one year deal.
What do you think of my claim that Rios is superior in the field and on the bases?
I don't know if he is superior on the bases, but Tabata is no slouch when he's in shape. I'm sure he's a much better fielder BUT right field in PNC is not very difficult at all. Also, if one reason for the Tigers not upgrading their hitting is because they already have enough runs - why deal a legit prospect + pay that money (Rios would be the highest paid player on the team, I think - at least by what the Bucs would be paying him, as Yanks/Stros pay some of Burnett/WRod) to upgrade the best defense in MLB?
Statistically, he's far superior on the bases and in the field, but the difference with the bat is minimal.
You schooled me on the PNC issue. It's rated as extremely extreme. At least this year. The numbers vary each year by more than I would have expected, making me wonder about a single year-data point. Do you have the series for PNC going back a few years?
I'm sure a Google search would turn it up - I don't quite feel like it at the moment. It may not have been as extreme, but it's pretty much always a pitchers park, especially for righties. I don't think it's that much of a coincidence that all of these Pirate pitchers are rejuvenating their careers with a big left field and two top-notch center field defenders back there in Marte and Cutch. PNC ate Matt Holliday alive. The A's, however, with Cespedes and Crisp, covered the entire outfield and beat the Bucs at their own game.
Here's an example of PNCs vastness in left field - a good number of Miguel Cabrera's 400-foot blasts would barely clear the wall or even hit off of it at PNC:
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And you can also see how little ground the RF has to cover next to McCutchen. I know half of the games are played away from there, and Garrett Jones is a butcher, but being next to Cutch seems to help cover up a lot of their deficiencies. Main point being I think the bat is more important than the glove here.
I don't think hitters decline all that much at age 32. Jones is a single case. And Rios still seems to have his legs, and be in good health.
But they do, generally from 31 up. Albert Pujols is 33. Josh Hamilton is 32. ARod regressed pretty big at 32/33. Without PEDs, hitters start to lose bat speed at this age.
It would be a 'win now' move. They could indeed trade him. Or he could be the fourth outfielder.
It's a barely upgrade now move that I don't think is even close to worth it. They need a lefty bat in RF much more than a righty bat. That's why I was thinking Schierholtz if anything but who knows what the Cubs wanted for him after they got that huge return for Garza.
As above, Rios is only under contract for 1 year and two months. $12.5m per year, plus $1m buyout for 2015 if he's traded.
It's ambitious to think of the Pirates landing Stanton. Lots of competition. And will he want to sign long term if PNC is hell on RH hitters? That doesn't make Polanco any less valuable though. Is he ready for the majors next season?
Stanton is arbitration eligible after this year. So he's got three years of team control no matter what he wants. As a fan, I'd love to see him go to Coors or Boston and just hit 80 dingers. Polanco is anybody's guess, he could be next June or he could be 2015. There's also a guy named Andrew Lambo in the minors who is just raking - lefty bat in RF, was once a top prospect with the Dodgers, looked like a bust, but came back strong this year. I look for him soon and would rather take my chances with him than trade for Rios.
All very reasonable, especially if the team won't be able to raise the payroll all that much despite having at minimum a very good season. Is attendance way up now that the Pirates are playing well?
Attendance is about on par with last season, as the Bucs were very good last year before mid-August. It's a small park (33,000 or so capacity) so it's tough to gauge based on that. But I think people realize that this team is much better than last year's team and Bucs fever is at a new high.
