This year’s trade deadline is much different than the last two for the Pirates. In 2008, they went into the day nearly certain to deal Jason Bay and the whole day was a frantic mess of Jason Bay rumors that lasted until well past the 4 PM deadline. Last year, they’d already traded Nate McLouth, Nyjer Morgan, Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson, Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, and John Grabow. This year, they might not do anything or they might be surprisingly active and I’m honestly not sure which.
They’re apparently very close to trading for Chris Snyder, which would be a nice little move given the team’s catching situation (UPDATE: more on the Snyder move here). As for everyone else, well, we don’t have anyone’s top target today. Teams would rather have Ted Lilly than Paul Maholm, a number of relievers rather than Octavio Dotel, Adam Dunn rather than Garrett Jones, etc. But teams might be interested in any of these players or several more depending on how the day shakes out and if the Pirates can find a desperate contender that’s going to overpay for pretty much anyone on their roster not named McCutchen, Tabata, Walker, or Alvarez, they should do it.
I’ll post updates to rumors on this thread as I get them (again, there’s a chance things will get posted quicker on Twitter since it’s easier and I always have access to it, though I should be close to my computer most of the day today so I’ll be updating the blog constantly), and anything big that happens will get it’s own post.
UPDATE (9:34 ET) – Tweet from Jen Langosch: Pirates have something cooking – INF Argenis Diaz and 1B Jeff Clement have been called up from Triple-A today. She also ruminates on her blog that Garrett Jones’s Pirate days could be numbered. If those two have already been called up, the news might fall quickly. Brace yourselves, everyone.
UPDATE (9:57 ET) – Pirates, D’Backs have “agreement in principle” on Snyder, but are still talking about names to go to Arizona, according to Jon Paul Morosi. Can’t be big names if that’s how the negotiating is being done. According to DK’s original story (linked above) the deal is also waiting on MLB approval since the D’Backs are moving a big chunk of cash our way (the deal isn’t quite done, which was how I posted it earlier, but it should be soon enough).
UPDATE (10:10 ET) – Jon Heyman says the Mets have been kicking around on Octavio Dotel but the Pirates’ asking price is too high. The Yankees, meanwhile, are not interested in Dotel.
UPDATE (10:28 ET) – Garrett Jones is NOT being dealt, according to Jen Langosch.
UPDATE (10:36 ET) – Ah, there it is. Crosby and Church are going to Arizona for Snyder, says Jack MacGruder. I like this trade even more now!
UPDATE (10:44 ET): And there’s the other shoe. DJ Carrasco is also going to Arizona, says Langosch. I knew Crosby and Church for Snyder was way too good to be true.
UPDATE (11:14 ET): I’ve updated the post about Snyder to discuss Carrasco and take a look at the deal as a whole.
UPDATE (12:20 ET): More thoughts about Snyder, Doumit, and Clement in this post. All new updates will go in the afternoon post.
