Maybe trades were about money

By Bob Smizik
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Sunday, September 14, 2008

Boston Red Sox's Jason Bay runs home after his two-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. Looking on is Tampa Bay Rays catcher Dioner Navarro (AP).

Although Pirates management is hesitant to use the word, it's obvious by the trading in July of Jason Bay and Xavier Nady they are in a full-bore rebuilding mode. That's a reasonable, although not clear-cut, course considering where the team was at the time of the trades and it's chances of getting significantly better in the future.

But here's a question about that rebuilding:

Is it being done to put a better product on the field in the future or is it being done, in a familiar refrain for the franchise, to lower the payroll.

President Frank Coonelly and general manager Neil Huntington likely would react with indignation to the suggestion their motives weren't strictly to improve the team. But their actions speak for themselves.

The trading of outfielders Bay and Nady, along with left-handed reliever Damaso Marte, saved about $3 million this season. Bay would have earned, through an existing contract, about $7.5 million next season and Nady, through arbitration, about $5 million. Marte would not have been brought back. That's an additional savings of about $11 million (taking into account close to minimum-salaried players would replace Bay and Nady).

The rationale for trading Bay and Nady, two of the team's best offensive players, was that the organization needed more depth.
There's little doubt depth was needed and, despite the disappointing play on the major-league level of the acquired players, it's too early to label these trades a mistakes. But it's not too early to begin thinking that way. Going into the weekend, the Pirates were 12-32 since the day they traded Nady and Marte to the New York Yankees. That's an astounding 118-loss pace.

SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 07: Xavier Nady #22 of the New York Yankees is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners on September 7, 2008 at Safeco Field in Seattle Washington. The Mariners defeated the Yankees 5-2. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Despite the payroll savings, there wouldn't be reason to believe the Pirates made the deal for financial considerations except for the fact two other trades they made reek of financial consideration. If the team's motive in trading reliever Salomon Torres and third baseman Jose Bautista were financial -- and it's hard to believe otherwise -- maybe the same motive can be attributed to the Nady and Bay trades.

In December, the Pirates traded Torres to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-leaguers Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts. The trade has been catastrophic for the Pirates. Torres filled a valuable role as a right-handed setup man for closer Matt Capps. No one has filled that role, and all who have been tried have failed.

The Pirates have claimed Torres was traded because he was making a nuisance of himself. He had threatened to sue the team over an alleged promise made to rent his training facility in the Dominican Republic. While it's true Torres behavior was strange, he had been nothing but a good teammate and a valuable member of the team since 2002.

If Huntington felt a strong need to trade him, at least get something of value in return. He did not.

Maybe, just maybe, this illogical trade had something to do with the fact Torres was set to earn $3.3 million in 2008.

In a failed attempt to replace Torres, the Pirates have used, aside from Capps, 11 right-handed relievers. Those relievers -- T.J. Beam, Denny Bautista, Jesse Chavez, Jason Davis, Craig Hansen, Evan Meek, Franquelis Osoria, Salas, Romulo Sanchez, John Van Benschoten and Tyler Yates -- have combined for an astronomical 5.77 earned run average going into the weekend.

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Salomon Torres reacts after striking out Cincinnati Reds' Jerry Hairston Jr. to end the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 4-3 (AP).

Torres, meanwhile, has evolved into a star. He has moved into the closer's role for the Brewers and has 27 saves, 21 since June 1, with a 2.68 earned run average. Opponents are batting .233 against him.

The players received have been busts. Salas had a 8.36 ERA in 12 games with the Pirates. Roberts had a 7.56 ERA at Altoona and an 0-5 record at Lynchburg.
In August the Pirates traded Bautista to Toronto for minor-league catcher Robinson Diaz. The Pirates had some need for a backup to catcher Ryan Doumit, and it's possible Diaz will fill that role. But Bautista offered far more upside. For one, he is an alternative to starting third baseman Andy LaRoche, acquired in the Bay trade, who was batting .150 in 107 at-bats with the Pirates.

Even if the Pirates insist on sticking with LaRoche, Bautista would be an excellent reserve. He can play multiple positions and hits with decent power. The Pirates seem to consider Jason Michaels a good bench player. Not only can Bautista play more positions than Michaels, he has hit more home runs in every one of his three major league seasons than Michaels has at any time in his seven-year career.

So why would the Pirates give up on a player who has some upside and is only 27. Because they didn't want to pay him more than $2 million, which he surely would receive in arbitration next year.

The Pirates will say this is not about the money. But you know when they say it's not about the money it is about the money.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com. More articles by this author
First published on September 14, 2008 at 12:00 am