Winter Meetings: Delay might pay for Pirates

Links (5)

Winter Meetings Open Thread: Day 1
Published 12/3/2007 by gondeee <info@talkingchop.com> at Talking Chop
I'll post these each day so we can add any interesting tidbits we find around the web, or just talk about the activity or lack there of, though, I think we'll have some level of activity. We are apparently shopping for a lefty setup man and a backup shortstop, as well as perhaps an upgrade in centerfield if one should materialize. Here is some of the early buzz and "pre-stories": The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that we were interested in center fielder Chris Duffy last year as part of the LaRoche deal: ...

And now for something completely different
Published 12/3/2007 by Pat at Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke?
As a fun reminder of how little we know at this time of year, Neal Huntington completely denies reports of cutting Nady and selling low on Bay. If that wasn't enough, there's also this interview with him at BP (sent by reader Mark) that includes quotes I swear were lifted from my subconscious like this one: DL: It happened prior to you joining the organization, but can you comment on last season’s acquisition of Matt Morris, primarily your philosophy regarding similar moves? NH: Our philosophy is that every ...

Pirates Rumors: Bay, Morris, McLouth, Nady
Published 12/3/2007 by Tim Dierkes at MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
... Dejan Kovacevic and John Perrotto have the latest on the plans of Neal Huntington's Pirates. Both beat writers are saying not to expect Jason Bay to be traded at the Meetings.  It would be a sell-low move with bad PR. Both also agree that Matt Morris staying put.  Kovacevic spins it as if the Pirates should actually want to keep Morris, while Perrotto's sources suggest the Bucs would have to eat more than 70% of Morris' contract to ditch him. Kovacevic also suggests that the Pirates need ...

Braves Still Interested in Duffy?
Published 12/3/2007 by Will Schaffer at Chop-n-Change
... Last year at this time, John Schuerholz was pushing hard for the inclusion of 27-year old Pirates center fielder Chris Duffy in the Adam LaRoche deal. The Pittsburgh front office said no and Schuerholz settled for minor league shortstop Brent Lillibridge (in retrospect, aren’t we thankful for that one?). Now with a center field vacancy and three rookies set to compete for the job next spring, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is speculating that there might still be some interest. ...

MLB Rumors Update: Johan Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates, St Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers
Published 12/3/2007 at FakeTeams
... Dejan Kovacevic relays from Pirates' GM Neil Huntington that the team is likely to stand pat only wanting to bolster its bullpen and bench.  Interstingly, he wants to do it by dealing under-market-value relievers Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte or John Grabow.  I'd expect SS Jack Wilson to be in higher demand given the dearth of available options on the free agent market, but who would play SS for the Pirates.  Also available would be 3rd/4th-tier CF Chris Duffy who is on the outs in Pittsburgh. ...