The nerds I know on the interwebz say the Pirates are morons and the Yankees took them to school. Why did they trade Nady and Marte so far before the deadline for such meh prospects?
http://sportstwo.com/MLB/Story/MLB/2692635 PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday reportedly have traded outfielder Xavier Nady and lefthander Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees for righthander Ross Ohlendorf and three minor leaguers - outfielder Jose Tabata, righthander George Kontos and lefthander Phil Coke. Nady was removed from Friday's 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres in the second inning for undisclosed reasons and was replaced in left field by Jason Michaels. The deal is pending medical reports on all the players involved, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington confirmed. "We have put a deal in place, pending medical review, to trade Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte," Huntington said. "Once the medical review is finished, we will able to provide you with a lot more detail and a lot more information." Nady was one of the most sought-after names on the trade market due to a career year that has him fifth in the National League with a .330 batting average to go along with 13 homers and 57 RBI. He will add a righthanded bat to New York's lineup, which generally features just three other righthanded hitters. "They were two special guys in our clubhouse and two special guys on the field and, obviously, they will be dearly missed," Pirates manager John Russell said of Nady and Marte. "The relationships we built with them and they built with the team, I think anybody who's been following us has noticed, it's been a real close-knit bunch." Nady's exit presumably opens the door for top prospect Andrew McCutchen, who is batting .280 with nine homers and 26 stolen bases at Class AAA Indianapolis this season and is considered Pittsburgh's center fielder of the future. "It was a little odd," Pittsburgh left fielder Jason Bay said of Nady and Marte leaving during Friday's game. "You don't see that a lot. It just caught a lot of people by surprise. The first couple of innings, it was almost like the game became secondary. And I think that once everybody got over the initial reaction of that in the fourth or fifth, then all of a sudden, it was right back to baseball. "But I think it's only human that there was some reaction and that there was a little bit of a lull." Marte, who has been filling in as the Pirates' closer with Matt Capps on the disabled list, is 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA this season and will slot nicely into a Yankees bullpen that currently is without a lefthander. He has held lefthanded hitters to a .198 average in his career, though that mark is up to .255 this season. "To lose those two guys obviously is an emotional blow for us a little bit," Russell said. "But we are also very excited for them. They get an opportunity to do something. And it's also a move where we want to be a very competitive team here for a long time. We felt that this was the best move for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as being a very good move for (Nady) and Damaso." Marte briefly was property of the Yankees in 2001 but never appeared in a major league game for the franchise before being traded to the Pirates in exchange for Enrique Wilson. "It's tough replace guys like that, but this isn't the first trade that was ever made in baseball," Bay said. "It's part of the game. You just go out there, and whoever we got coming, you hope they're the next Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte." The jewel of the crop going back to the Pirates is Tabata, who has been one of the Yankees' top prospects since being signed out of Venezuela in 2005. Baseball America ranked him as the No. 3 prospect in New York's system entering this season due to his ability to make solid, hard contact and his power potential. However, Tabata's stock has fallen this season due to his struggles both as a hitter and a teammate as a 19-year-old at Class AA. He was pulled from a contest in June and suspended three games in April for disciplinary reasons. Tabata has been sidelined since July 1 with an injury. Ohlendorf has struggled as a rookie in the bullpen for New York this season, going 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA. A starter in the minors, the righthander could provide immediate help to the Pirates, either in the bullpen or the rotation. Kontos has struggled at Class AA Trenton this season, going 3-9 with a 3.77 ERA while issuing 43 walks in 107 1/3 innings. Coke was pulled from his start at Trenton on Friday after one inning. He is a combined 9-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 21 games - 20 starts - with Trenton and Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year. Both Coke and Kontos will add depth to Pittsburgh's system, which is short on pitching prospects. "We are excited to be able to talk about the players we are getting back," Huntington said. "If the deal goes through, we feel like we are adding quality depth to our organization. As we've talked about from the beginning, in order to be a successful, sustainable championship-caliber organization that plays meaningful games into September and October, we need to have options. "We've not had the necessary depth to be able to sustain injury, to sustain less than optimal performance. This deal, if it goes through, will begin that process of accumulating that necessary depth."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_War_Poet_ForLife @ Jul 26 2008, 12:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't call Tabata a meh prospect, but we did get a very good deal.</div> Of course you wouldn't, but according to those who know Tabata isn't worth much right now and the Pirates could have gotten a lot more.
IIRC, the Pirates got Nady for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. So they got him for pitching and traded him away for young pitching.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Officially, the Pirates have a trade in place to send Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to some team for some players. "We have a deal in place pending medical reviews of all the players," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said last night. "But, until there's clearance, it's a little bit vague." Officially, it is vague. Unofficially, it seems clear that the Pirates have traded Nady and Marte to the New York Yankees for four minor leaguers -- including three pitchers. The position player is center fielder Jose Tabata, who turns 20 Aug. 12 and is currently with Class AA Trenton. Also with Trenton are right-hander George Kontos, 23, who has 103 strikeouts in 1071/3 innings, and left-hander Phil Coke, 26, 9-4 with a 2.60 earned run average. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, who turns 26 Aug. 8, is the fourth player coming to the Pirates' organization. He was in the Yankees' bullpen, but he's now a starter with Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Pittsburgh Baseball Club News and views on the Yankees deal at the PBC blog with Dejan Kovacevic and Paul Meyers. Ohlendorf would seem to be the closest to coming to the Pirates, but Huntington would not disclose who is coming to the Pirates -- whether from this trade or Class AAA Indianapolis today. "We are adding quality depth," Huntington said. "We have not had the necessary depth. This begins the process of accumulating that necessary depth." One area where the Pirates have precious little "necessary depth" -- actually, none -- is pitching, so this deal should be a large step in strengthening that shortcoming. The trade began unfolding in the first inning of the Pirates' game last night. Nady started the game in right field and played one inning. He did not go out for the second as Jason Michaels replaced him. Moments later, Marte was shown on television, shaking hands with and hugging teammates in the dugout. "A little unorthodox," left fielder Jason Bay said. "You don't see that a lot. I think it caught some guys by surprise, and the game became secondary. You're only human. There was a little bit of a lull. But, by the fourth or fifth inning, it was back to baseball. "Whoever we have coming could be the next Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte." Tabata was picked by Baseball America as the Yankees' third-best prospect after the 2007 season. He played in the Futures Game before the 2006 All-Star game in Pittsburgh. He's currently on Trenton's disabled list with a strained hamstring. Kontos is reputed to have fine command of four pitches. He was the Yankees' fifth-round draft choice in 2006 out of Northwestern. Coke has struck out 109 and walked 38 in 1141/3 innings this season. Ohlendorf was a fourth-round draft pick of Arizona out of Princeton. He is 6 feet 4, 235 pounds and throws his fastball in the 97-mph range. While the focus today will be more on who is coming to the Pirates' organization, last night the focus was on who is leaving. "They're going to be irreplaceable," Bay said. "It's going to be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of guys. It stings a little bit, but it's definitely part of the job, and Neal knows what he's doing." "They were great teammates," manager John Russell said. "They were two special guys on the field and in the clubhouse. This has been a real close-knit group. They fight for each other, and we've fought through a lot. It was an emotional blow for us a little bit. It was a situation that happened very quickly. "But they're all very hungry, too. They realize we're not where we need to be. And you could sense on the bench that they knew we had to come together. "Those guys were a huge part of this team. It's obviously sad, but you could see them come together as a team. We have to pull together and continue to push on." Will the Pirates make another deal before the non-waiver trading deadline Thursday? "I don't have a good answer," Huntington said. "If there's a good baseball trade to be made, we'll make it. We won't make it if it's not there."</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 26 2008, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>IIRC, the Pirates got Nady for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. So they got him for pitching and traded him away for young pitching.</div> Perez was worthless at that time. Minaya had a deal in place to flip him to San Diego for Scott Linebrink but it fell through. The only reason that trade was made was that Duaner Sanchez got in a cab accident at 2am in Miami one day before the trade deadline. He would up missing the rest of that season and the entire 2007 season.
Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Let the deals begin. The Pirates dealt their two biggest trading chips -- right fielder Xavier Nady and left-handed reliever Damaso Marte -- to the New York Yankees for four minor-league players on Friday. The Pirates acquired three pitchers -- right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and George Kontos and lefty Phil Coke -- and outfielder Jose Tabata. Pirates third baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who played for the Yankees last year, was excited for his former teammates and for the incoming players. He called Tabata a "mini-Manny Ramirez" and gave good reviews of Ohlendorf, a 6-foot-4 hard-throwing righty. "I wish (Nady and Marte) well," Mientkiewicz said. "But from where the franchise is and the guys we got back. ... This organization has got to get deeper. Those two guys (Ohlendorf and Tabata) are huge." Mientkiewicz said he planned to call Nady after the Pirates' 6-5 loss to the Padres and give him an idea of what to expect playing in the Big Apple. "It's tough losing friends," Mientkiewicz said. "But (Yankee Stadium) is the best place in the world to play a baseball game." • Ohlendorf, 25, is a right-handed pitcher who is 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA with the Yankees this season. • Kontos, 23, is 3-9 with a 3.77 ERA in 20 starts for Double-A Trenton • Coke, 25, is 9-4 with a 2.60 ERA in 20 games for Double-A Trenton. • Tabata batted .248 with three homers, 36 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 79 games for Double-A Trenton. The Pirates have not yet confirmed the details of the trade, pending physicals for all six players. General manager Neal Huntington said the Pirates could make an official announcement as early as today. When that happens, he said, "We are excited to be able to talk about the players we are getting back." The players learned about the trade during the first inning. Nady was in the on-deck circle in the bottom of the first. Marte also left the game, hugging teammates in the dugout as he gathered his gear. Tabata, 19, could be the most promising player the Pirates get in the deal. He was rated the Yankees' third-best prospect by Baseball America and was the youngest player in the 2006 Futures Game at PNC Park. This season, Tabata batted .248 with three homers, 36 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 79 games for Double-A Trenton. Tabata will miss the rest of the 2008 season after surgery to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist. Earlier this season, Tabata walked out on his team during a game. He later returned and apologized to his teammates, saying he was frustrated about his sluggish start to the season. Nady, 29, was hitting .330 with 13 home runs and 57 RBI. Marte, 33, is 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA and five saves. "They are two special guys in the clubhouse, and to lose those two guys is an emotional blow," Russell said. "But we are excited for them. We want to be a very competitive team for a long time, and we felt this is the best move for the Pirates." It is unclear who will replace Marte and Nady on the Pirates' 25-man roster. Some possible call-ups from Triple-A Indianapolis would be outfielder Nyjer Morgan or Steve Pearce. "It's more important now that more guys step up," outfielder Jason Bay said. "I look at this as an opportunity for some guys." As for the bullpen, Marte had been the team's closer since Matt Capps suffered a right shoulder injury. Capps will be out at least another five weeks. The leading candidate to be the new closer would be John Grabow (5-2, 3.08 ERA). Russell wouldn't say who would take over the role. "Let's let it sink in," Russell said. "We have some good candidates." Marte was among the most coveted left-handed relievers in the majors. He was the most likely to be traded because he was due to make $6 million next season if the Pirates opted to retain him. Huntington also said the Pirates might not be done trading yet, but stressed any trades won't be salary dumps. "We are in the best financial shape in years," he said. "Any move we make will be a baseball trade."</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jul 26 2008, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 26 2008, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>IIRC, the Pirates got Nady for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. So they got him for pitching and traded him away for young pitching.</div> Perez was worthless at that time. Minaya had a deal in place to flip him to San Diego for Scott Linebrink but it fell through. The only reason that trade was made was that Duaner Sanchez got in a cab accident at 2am in Miami one day before the trade deadline. He would up missing the rest of that season and the entire 2007 season. </div> Yes, I remember that factoid. That was a very fortuitous cab ride for the Pirates.
I'm still not sure how I feel about this trade. I do know that is pretty much eliminates any chance the Pirates had at ending the season at .500
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 26 2008, 01:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jul 26 2008, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 26 2008, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>IIRC, the Pirates got Nady for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. So they got him for pitching and traded him away for young pitching.</div> Perez was worthless at that time. Minaya had a deal in place to flip him to San Diego for Scott Linebrink but it fell through. The only reason that trade was made was that Duaner Sanchez got in a cab accident at 2am in Miami one day before the trade deadline. He would up missing the rest of that season and the entire 2007 season. </div> Yes, I remember that factoid. That was a very fortuitous cab ride for the Pirates. </div> And the Mets, too. Perez won 15 games last year and he is back on track this year as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jul 26 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_War_Poet_ForLife @ Jul 26 2008, 12:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't call Tabata a meh prospect, but we did get a very good deal.</div> Of course you wouldn't, but according to those who know Tabata isn't worth much right now and the Pirates could have gotten a lot more. </div> That is true, since he's been hurt this season. They probably could have twisted Cash's arm, and tried to get a high level pitching prospect. Ghoti, cpaw, Nady's been on both of your teams. How does his fielding compare to Abreu?
Trade has been changed: http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/07/26/brea...de-reconfigued/<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Yankees are sending RHP Dan McCutchen, RHP Jeff Karstens, OF Jose Tabata and RHP Ross Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. LHP Phil Coke and RHP George Kontos are not in the deal. Nady and Marte are on their way to Boston. UPDATE, 11:57 p.m.: Once the teams decided on Tabata and Ohlendorf, the Pirates had a list of players to choose from. Coke and Kontos were on that list. I don’t know enough about Coke to have an opinion on him. But I have watched McCutchen enough to know I think he had a chance to be pretty good. But it’s still a deal they have to make, both for this season and next.</div> Some think this is better for the Pirates, I'm not too sure. McCutchen is good, but Karstens blows. <a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&filter_teams=PIT&id=3156l" target="_blank"> Rotoworld is calling Cutch the best pitching prospect the Yanks have left. </a> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It was widely reported last night (including by the Post itself) that George Kontos and Phil Coke were in the deal in place of McCutchen and Karstens. This is clearly better for the Pirates. McCutchen is arguably the Yankees' best remaining pitching prospect, though he's not a big upside guy and he doesn't rank with Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy. Karstens isn't much more than middle relief fodder, but neither was Coke.</div> That's laughable. Off the top of my head I can think of, Sanchez, Betances, Alan Horne, Andrew Brackman, Gerit Cole, Mark Melancon, and I know I'm missing one.
This is terrible. They have the nicest ballpark, great fans, a terrific tradition, but they have no interest in winning. I wish someone would force them to sell the team.
Sounds like the Pirates blinked http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pb...-elsewhere.aspx <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Trade with Tampa for Bay fails By Dejan Kovacevic | 1:58 p.m., Thursday The Pirates apparently have turned their attention away from the Boston-Florida scenario and are looking elsewhere for Jason Bay suitors. One, according to ESPN, is Toronto, though I have not confirmed that. The other is Tampa Bay, which remains in play. With only two hours left to deadline, bear in mind that deals involving prospects almost have to happen with teams that have been studied intensely. Sure, there are books on everyone, but this is Bay, a prime piece, and they are not going to send him away based on anything other than first-hand observation of prospects coming back. Offers continue to come for John Grabow, but other left-handed relievers appear to be ahead of him in line. Still nothing at all on Jack Wilson. UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: Bay has heard nothing. 2:09 p.m.: Forget Toronto. Just got a call from the Blue Jays. Pirates asked for something so excessive, in Toronto's minds, that the Jays' inquiry consisted of exactly one phone call. 2:15 p.m.: Am told the Pirates asked Toronto for outfielder Travis Snider, the Jays' No. 1 prospect, and pitcher Shaun Marcum, a starter who did not rank among Baseball America's top 10 for that organization. Toronto was very displeased with the way the talks -- or talk -- went. 2:24 p.m.: Right back to Pirates and Tampa Bay. Source says same two names as before, shortstop Reid Brignac and pitcher Jeff Niemann, though the Pirates would not mind upgrading to Wade Davis as the pitcher because he profiles as more of a surefire starter. 3 p.m.: One hour to go. If anyone other than Tampa is in the mix for Bay, it would be a stunning surprise. Have not heard of another team all day. ... Oh, and just got a call from a baseball operations guy from another team, and he reiterated the common view today that the Pirates have their price -- not just for Bay -- and are not varying from it. Makes one wonder if the Pirates really wanted to move Bay, or they just wanted to see if they could land something really good. 3:07 p.m.: One source describes a feeling that a Bay-Rays trade can come off without Tampa giving up its four untouchable prospects -- Price, Brignac, Hellickson, Davis -- in the deal. That would mean quantity, and lots of it. 3:19 p.m.: One report on MLB.com's blog site says Bay is going to Tampa Bay for Brignac and Niemann, but it acknowledges not having the information confirmed. 3:26 p.m.: Just spoke with Brignac's agent, and this was news to him. 3:32 p.m.: Hearing those are not only two prospects that would come in deal, but they are the main names. 4:07 p.m.: The Pirates and Tampa Bay failed to reach agreement on a a trade involving outfielder Jason Bay by Major League Baseball's 4 p.m. deadline. At about 3 p.m., MLB.com published a report saying a deal was done, but later retracted that. Neither the Pirates nor Rays had ever confirmed a deal. 4:26 p.m.: It does not appear as if the Pirates made any trades, although deals sometimes are announced as much as an hour beyond the deadline.</div>
Amazingly Jack Wilson finds a way to remain a Pirate. I purposely feel like the Pirates draft poorly on purpose so that they won't look even more foolish when they end up trading the asset. I'm from Pittsburgh and I can now go on record as saying that this is the poorest run franchise in all of sports.
