A year ago today, following a trade deadline that saw the Pirates go out and make “safe” moves for players like Gaby Sanchez and Travis Snider, fans of the Bucs were calling for GM Neal Huntington’s head. The Pirates were in the midst of a second consecutive late-season collapse, their star player was struggling, and the pitching was falling apart.
Following the Pirates getting no-hit by Homer Bailey to clinch their 20th consecutive losing season, the future looked not only grim for Huntington but also very, very short. For the second year in a row, the Pirates looked to be a contender, only to play it safe at the trade deadline, staying put and not giving up any top prospects in order to help a team that may still be a few years away from truly breaking through. For Bucco fans who had been pulling for this team, hoping upon hope that they would finally end the streak, the only logical thing to do was put a big chunk of the blame on the suit calling the shots.
However, instead of crumbling under the pressure and overpaying for free agents or trading away top prospects, Huntington stuck to his guns-and Pirates fans now could not be happier that he did. This team, the 2013 version of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is the one true contender of those three squads, and Huntington alone saw that and waited. Little by little, he has built a contender. And better yet, he hasn’t mortgaged the future in doing so.
It all started with signing Andrew McCutchen to a long-term deal two years ago; a huge step in the right direction for a team who had gradually developed the reputation as one that failed to hold on to any young talent (Aramis Ramirez, Jose Bautista, Chris Young), mainly because of the actions of Huntington’s predecessor, David Littlefield.
Following that statement move, Huntington went out and acquired starter AJ Burnett, who the Yankees are essentially paying the Pirates to have. Jason Grilli was pulled from obscurity. Wandy Rodriguez, along with Snider and Sanchez, were acquired at the deadline, and all are key components of this year’s team. The 2012 Bucs then lost their closer and an All Star starter, but they didn’t skip a beat. This past offseason, Huntington pulled off two of the best free agent signings by any club, signing catcher Russell Martin and lefty Francisco Liriano, both of whom appeared to be shadows of the players they once were. Martin has been, aside from Yadier Molina, the best defensive backstop in baseball, while Liriano has put together the best season by a left-hander this year by anyone not named Kershaw.
Even with those sparkling moves, Huntington’s career was made this last week when he made no one, but two huge moves at the waiver deadline, while the rest of major league baseball stood idle. First, he snagged Marlon Byrd and John Buck from the Mets, immediately upgrading the team’s outfield and bench. Then, he pulled off a stunning move that truly showed how far these Pirates and their front office have come in three seasons, further bolstering the offense by trading former MVP Justin Morneau straight-up for minor league outfielder (and fan favorite) Alex Presley. Two big deals, almost nothing lost in prospects for the Pirates. Further, it shows that Huntington believes and buys in to this club. For his efforts, Pittsburgh fans should do the same for him.
