The Pirates' management changes will naturally attract most of the headlines on Thursday, but in addition to letting go of Derek Shelton, the Bucs also started with another coaching staff member. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Pittsburgh split the way with Radley Haddad, who has been the team’s game planning and strategy coach since November 2021.
Haddad (35 tomorrow) is a former minor league player for the Yankees who ended his career in the 2016 season. He then took on the Yankees’ new role as a major league bullpen catcher and coaching assistant. Haddad worked in this capacity until he was hired by pirates after the 2021 campaign ended.
Between the departure of Haddad Don KellyFrom substitute coaching to manager promotion, Pirates now have two vacancies to fill the staff. It's not clear if there are other coaching changes that may still be on the offense as the Bucs continue to figure out how to make flight adjustments in a disappointing season. Kelly's management debut was at least successful, as last night, Buccos ended Pittsburgh's seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 win over the Blaves, although the club still had a 13-26 record.
Pirate boss Robert Nutting told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Office Gazette that the massive change does not appear to have happened in at least the near future. “I think if we had a broad, real reorganization of the organization now, we would not be improving the team in 2025 now. I don't think this will make us BetteR,” Nutting said.I'm not willing to give up on our expectations, which is much better than you see. I believe we can do this. I don't think blowing 38 games into 38 games won't help us do that. I think it will be a distraction. I think that will get us off track. My focus has to be on fixing this issue and fixing it as quickly as possible. ”
If the Pirates didn’t start playing better baseball, Nutting might explore the possibility of a wider “reorganization” on the road. Cherington was hired in November 2019 to oversee the reconstruction process, which brought some senior talent to the lineup, but Bucs had over five years in charge of baseball business at Cherington and didn’t offer a single-game winning season.
This situation has caused the Pittsburgh fan base to be publicly frustrated, and it is clear that both Nut and Cherington are sharing in these frustrations. Cherington took the responsibility while talking to reporters Thursday, including Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune.I'm more responsible than anyone” Struggle for the pirates.
“Of course, part of my responsibility system, if I had done five years of perfect work, I probably wouldn't meet you today,” Cherington said.This is certainly possible. I have it completely. It's not all on the snowflakes. And I believe it is clear to me that this is a choice we need to make, no matter how difficult it is. Of course I feel responsible. ”
Cherington also reiterated that he believes he is still the one who leads the front office. Similarly, Nutting defended his ongoing ownership of the franchise, noting that he felt the team could win again under his management and felt that he could improve the Pirates’ position throughout the sport.
“Given all the challenges of all the challenges in baseball, there is a lot of discussion about the economic differences in the game. We will never use this as an excuse. Never. Never. But I think I'm especially good now and can help change in gaming economics,” Martin said.It has been around for 20 years, has a very strong relationship with the Office of the Commissioner, has been attending the owners' meetings for a longer time, and I believe I am very capable of making a bigger noise for Pittsburgh as we will go to the next [collective bargaining agreement]. I want to make sure we don't lose this position. I don't think the new owners in Pittsburgh will have the same status or ability to advocate for the changes we need. ”
Understandably, Pirates fans can raise some suspicion in Nutting’s speech, and Mackey did express the opposite of Nutting’s interview in the subsequent column. Since purchasing the team in 2007, owners have often been criticized for lack of spending. Except for the three seasons that Nutting had, the Pirates ranked fifth in the opening day salary, and the high salary was still the Bucs’ 99.9mm salary, which started the 2016 season (20 out of 30 teams). While Martin feels his team is financially disadvantaged to the baseball big market, the Pirates’ resistance to even moderate spending is clearly a barrier to their desire to become more competitive. McGee
In some live news on Friday, the Pirates placed the infielder Enmanuel Valdez List of 10-day injuries due to inflammation of the left shoulder and recalled infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae From Triple-A in the corresponding move. There is no timetable given to Valdez, or whether he is expected to miss at least 10 days or more.
Valdez scored .209/.294/.363 in a December trade with the Red Sox hit .209/.294/.363 in Buccos' 102 set appearance this season. Valdez is primarily a midfielder for Sox, but his 26 appearances in the Buccaneers' first base game represent a significant change in his usage, as Valdez's previous experiences at the position include nine minor league games in the Boston and Houston farm systems.
Because of planning to first baseman Spencer Horwitz Not yet in the competition this season, the Pirates turn Endy Rodriguez Starting from first base, once Rodriguez also hits the IL for 10 days, then consider Valdez as a further backup plan. Rodriguez Jared Triolo and Matt Gorski Now, it is the highest first base option during the transition period. Horwitz has already begun a Triple-A rehabilitation mission and may be about a week away from his 2025 debut, although Valdez's injury will make the pirates thinner in the near term.
