Austin Bechtel

We're thinking of moving in a different direction in the offseason.

There's a chance we bring you back, but the chances are not high.

And I think that's where the Pirates have screwed up in this, where ultimately we should be applauding them for going out there and signing three All-Stars from the past two years.

Ozuna two years ago, Lau and O'Hearn from last year.

But McCutcheon gets ultimately lost in the shuffle, and I don't like that.

I wish they would have handled it differently.

I would have been happy with him as a bench bat, but I understand it from their perspective.

They're trying to win fully, and they don't think that he can do it anymore.

Well, it seems like the Astros are pretty willing to deal him, at least out of reports from Houston.

What I saw, though, Bob, is that the Pirates are kind of unlikely to trade for, maybe not unlikely, that's too strong of a word, but they're not like the betting favorite right now to get Paredes because of the money.

He's only making $9.3 million in arbitration this year, and that'll be too much for the Pirates to take on?

Like, I understand they're projecting for their highest payroll ever,

But we're talking about $110 million here.

We're not talking about a guy that's a $30 million increase, like if you brought in Schwarber or something like that.

And even if you trade Joey Barton, you get rid of the $2.5 million on his books.

How does the balance sheet not work there?

They'll probably trade him at the deadline if they're out of it.

But if they're in it, they just let it ride.

You let it play out, you give him the qualifying offer, and he walks in free agency.

Right, but Detroit is a team that is likely going to be competing for a top spot in the AL playoffs.