in large part driven - I would suspect - by Diaz's shoulder injury (which will likely cost him a large part of this developmental season in AAA) and recent news about some arm injury concerns for Reese McGuire
3 year, $30 mill extension for Cervelli.
If he maintains at anywhere near the level of play he has had since coming to Pittsburgh (and you always worry about injury potential for Catchers)....this is an outstanding move
Assuming Bell is the "First Baseman of the Future" (and he has given no indications that he won't be up for that role), the Buccos now have long term stability at all 8 positions:
Beginning in 2017:
Cervelli - 3 for $30 total
Bell - 3 years at league minimum, once he is called up
Harrison - 2 for $18 total (plus two team options)
Mercer - 2 years at $12 total (estimated based on last two years of arbitration)
Kang - 2 years at $6 total (plus a team option)
Marte - 3 years at $23 total (plus 2 team options)
Cutch - 2 years at $29 total
Polanco - 5 years at $32 total (plus 2 team options)
Cole - 3 years of Arbitration....if exercised could total $30+ or so, depending on how well he pitches from here on out
Liriano - 1 year at $14
Niese - 2 club options at $10 per.....unlikely to be exercised given the way he has pitched thus far
Locke - 2 arbitration years, total would likely be about $12 for the two years - if club decides to offer
Nicasio - 1 arbitration year, probably about $5-6, if club decides to offer
Taillon, Glasnow, Kuhl (threw another 1-hitter last night) all likely to be ready this year or next....all likely to be AT LEAST middle of the rotations possibilities.
In AAA this year:
Taillon 2-2 2.08 ERA 43.1 IP 30 Hits 5 Walks 43 Strikeouts 0.81 WHIP
Kuhl 3-0 0.91 ERA 39.2 IP 22 Hits 9 Walks 30 Strikeouts 0.78 WHIP
Glasnow 2-1 2.13 ERA 38.0 IP 27 Hits 18 Walks 49 Strikeouts 1.18 WHIP
Kingham, if he rebounds well from Tommny John (he should be oitching in AAA again by later this summer) is at least a "back of the rotation" option, and maybe a bit higher ceiling than that...and Brault (currently in AAA) Waddell (AA) and a few others are other legit options for as soon as 2017/2018
Assuming 3 of the starting 5 in the rotation will be from the "young guys" (who will all be league minimum salaries)....that would/could lock up a very legit starting 8 + a 5 man rotation for an average of $75-80 million per year
Leaving $30-40 million or more to keep/acquire a couple decent bench bats and a bullpen.
(FWIW, this year - even with Melancon pulling down $10 Mill - the entire cost for the bullpen and bench is about $31 Mill)
Pretty damn impressive......the future looks awfully bright.
Strange things can happen.....but gotta' give credit where it is due - the Bucco front-office has done a WONDERFUL job of managing the salary limits in structuring a stable, competitive club without taking on any potentially crippling salaries.
3 year, $30 mill extension for Cervelli.
If he maintains at anywhere near the level of play he has had since coming to Pittsburgh (and you always worry about injury potential for Catchers)....this is an outstanding move
Assuming Bell is the "First Baseman of the Future" (and he has given no indications that he won't be up for that role), the Buccos now have long term stability at all 8 positions:
Beginning in 2017:
Cervelli - 3 for $30 total
Bell - 3 years at league minimum, once he is called up
Harrison - 2 for $18 total (plus two team options)
Mercer - 2 years at $12 total (estimated based on last two years of arbitration)
Kang - 2 years at $6 total (plus a team option)
Marte - 3 years at $23 total (plus 2 team options)
Cutch - 2 years at $29 total
Polanco - 5 years at $32 total (plus 2 team options)
Cole - 3 years of Arbitration....if exercised could total $30+ or so, depending on how well he pitches from here on out
Liriano - 1 year at $14
Niese - 2 club options at $10 per.....unlikely to be exercised given the way he has pitched thus far
Locke - 2 arbitration years, total would likely be about $12 for the two years - if club decides to offer
Nicasio - 1 arbitration year, probably about $5-6, if club decides to offer
Taillon, Glasnow, Kuhl (threw another 1-hitter last night) all likely to be ready this year or next....all likely to be AT LEAST middle of the rotations possibilities.
In AAA this year:
Taillon 2-2 2.08 ERA 43.1 IP 30 Hits 5 Walks 43 Strikeouts 0.81 WHIP
Kuhl 3-0 0.91 ERA 39.2 IP 22 Hits 9 Walks 30 Strikeouts 0.78 WHIP
Glasnow 2-1 2.13 ERA 38.0 IP 27 Hits 18 Walks 49 Strikeouts 1.18 WHIP
Kingham, if he rebounds well from Tommny John (he should be oitching in AAA again by later this summer) is at least a "back of the rotation" option, and maybe a bit higher ceiling than that...and Brault (currently in AAA) Waddell (AA) and a few others are other legit options for as soon as 2017/2018
Assuming 3 of the starting 5 in the rotation will be from the "young guys" (who will all be league minimum salaries)....that would/could lock up a very legit starting 8 + a 5 man rotation for an average of $75-80 million per year
Leaving $30-40 million or more to keep/acquire a couple decent bench bats and a bullpen.
(FWIW, this year - even with Melancon pulling down $10 Mill - the entire cost for the bullpen and bench is about $31 Mill)
Pretty damn impressive......the future looks awfully bright.
Strange things can happen.....but gotta' give credit where it is due - the Bucco front-office has done a WONDERFUL job of managing the salary limits in structuring a stable, competitive club without taking on any potentially crippling salaries.
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