So now the news has come out that the Pirates not only offered Edwin Jackson a three year deal in the range of $25-$30 million, an offer that would pay him less on average than the one year deal he got from the Washington Nationals. Basically the Pirates offered him near market value, to play on a bad team. Not even a fanbase begging him on Twitter was enough to sway him the Pirates way.
Apparently that is cause for celebration on the internet though. The Pirates will never sign anyone of consequence to market value, at this point in time. Sure they can go out and slightly overpay for veterans like Clint Barmes and Lyle Overbay, but they don’t do too much to improve the team.
To celebrate the Pirates not signing someone is laughable. This is Jorge De La Rosa all over again. If the Pirates seriously want to sign real talent they will have to overpay, like the Nats who are a much better team than the Pirates, in a much better division.
So congrats Neal, you once again missed on an impact player.
The Pirates will have to overpay to be players in the FA market. Being risk averse is fine, just not so much that you never take a risk. The Pirates always take minimal risk, and that is why they have gotten very minimal reward.
This isn’t Little League Neal, you don’t get a trophy just for participating. Doing your best just doesn’t cut it sometimes.
