What Could Of Been For The Pirates

What is going on in Pittsburgh?  It is obvious don't have the money of other clubs, but they continue to trade away a player when they show any signs of being a good player.  I mean come on Pittsburgh revenue sharing was made for a reason.  I guess you don't so I will tell you, it is meant so smaller markets can keep some of their players.

Pittsburgh has this habit of anytime someone shows they may be good they deal them away for prospects.  I will be the first to tell you that I am all for getting some prospects for an aging veteran.  You also need some players that have a little experience on the team.  Pittsburgh constantly receives new prospects and then trades them away once they are big league starters.

I know ownership doesn't have the money to keep everybody, but there has to be a time when you bite the bullet and spend a little bit to keep somebody.  As long as you don't have anyone to draw fans you will not make money and we know thats what it is all about.  It almost like they don't want to win or make any money.  I can't imagine spending money or supporting a team that has no will or desire.

Lets look at primary example, that being Nate McLouth.  He just signed a relatively inexpensive extension in the offseason to be traded away for more prospects.  This deal made no sense at all for the Pirates.

Now lets look at a line-up of players traded away from the pirates since 2003.

1 CF Nate McLouth

2 2B Freddy Sanchez

3 3B Aramis Ramirez

4 LF Jason Bay

5 RF Xavier Nady

6 1B Adam LaRoche

7 C  Jason Kendall

8 SS Jack Wilson

9 P  Ian Snell

I am sorry thats not a bad line-up at all and is one that would at least compete for a wild card if not for a division.  I know its crazy to think of them hanging on to all of these players, but if they just kept lets say Ramirez, McLouth, Sanchez, and Wilson they still wouldn't be a bad team.

What could have been.  Looking at next season they have no one with any real experience.  Watch out for McCutcheon, Andy LaRoche, and Lastings Milledge to be traded next year.  We all know it will happen.  We will all say what could have been next year too.