PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington was not going to discuss reported talks between the team and Bryan Reynolds. He said those conversations remain private, at least from their standpoint.
Cherington did say they've had conversations with several players about long-term deals, most of the time we don't hear about them. They desire to keep every contract negotiation private.
"We were able to find agreement with Ke'Bryan (Hayes) a year ago," Cherington said during his show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network. "We want to do that again."
"The only chance we have to do that again is with players who check off all the boxes (like Reynolds). A contract is more personal to a player than anyone else. It should be a personal choice and we respect that. We try to keep that stuff away from the field as much as we can and when it's time to play baseball, focus on the game."
Endy in minors
The Pirates 2022 Honus Wagner Player of the Year Endy Rodrigues did not make the MLB roster despite a huge season starting at A ball and ending at AAA. The switch-hitting catcher/infielder/outfielder/DH hit .323 with 39 doubles, four triples, 25 home runs and 95 RBI. His OBP was .407 and slugging .590. Cherington explained a little more why he is starting in Indianapolis.
"Endy Rodriguez is in Triple A, part of that is so he can catch a lot, but there are some specific things as a defensive player, as a catcher, that he's really focused on," Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan. "So that when he gets the opportunity to come up, it's not just getting to the big leagues, appearing there. He's that much more ready to catch a major league game and help us win."
Disappointed by appointments
Cherington is aware several players are upset, not only that they are starting in the minors, but what level they are starting. He knows it's a big deal especially when your family and friends are asking where you are going to be.
"It's easy for me to say that Opening Day is overrated in terms of where you are on the roster," Cherington told Joe Block on his show on the Pirates Radio Network and 93.7 The Fan. "It's not where you start it's where you finish."
The Bucs GM said he wants guys to force their hands and battle each other for opportunities at certain positions. They are doing to have to earn it, maybe at times far beyond it appears they need to perform.
"We are getting deeper and stronger," Cherington said. "To be good and win as much as we want to win in Pittsburgh, we need to get well beyond players that are good enough to get to the major leagues to appear in the major leagues. We need to get well beyond that and get players who are good enough to stick and sustain and hold a regular role."
"Creating that competition at the minor league level, let's use the minor leagues to get as good as we can be before we get the call-up so they are that much better prepared to winning when they get up here."
McCutchen reaction
"We anticipated it would be a positive thing," Cherington said of signing Andrew McCutchen. "I underestimated the reaction."
"So much of it is because of how genuine he was throughout the process. Hearing the things coming out of his mouth during the signing and the aftermath about how important it was for him to come back to Pittsburgh and wear this uniform again. That contributed to it being such a positive story."
"Thank the Pirates, I appreciate hearing that, but most importantly thank Andrew. He wanted to make this thing happen."
Mentors
There was more going into signing veterans to the roster in the offseason-Carlos Santana, McCutchen, Rich Hill, Vince Velasquez. He said you hope the on-field performance happens and as that gives the players more credibility, the other things happen. Players gravitate to the veterans to ask questions and the vets aren't afraid to approach the young players.
He said the desire is to have players explain adjusting when your routine is interrupted. When rain or travel issues mess up your daily plan, the vets can tell the youth what they did in like experiences. The hope is Rich Hill would talk to pitchers about what he's seeing and what adjustments he might suggest. Cherington believes with the homework they've done they have those guys.
Rule changes
Admitting it's a small sample size, Cherington got was genuinely enthusiastic about the rule changes speeding up the game. He said it's made baseball a more compelling game to watch.
"If the desired goals were to create more action in a more compressed period of time, it seems that's exactly what is happening," Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan. "I'm excited to see it play out further, but exciting so far."
"It's a lot. There has a been more time spent since October about understanding the new rules, adjusting to them. How we are going to manage them. I think the league has done a great job of testing it out in the minor leagues before implementation. It makes sense to continue to do that. I'm excited about where the game is going."
He said the importance of the stolen base is exactly what they expected based on last year in the minors. Stolen base attempts and the success rate is up. It affects their roster and lineup decisions. It also affects who is catching and the importance of minor league catchers to have the ability to control an opponents' run game.
"Faster pace generally helps a younger team because they've been playing under these rules for a good chunk of the last couple of years and they are half-adjusted."
