The Pomp And Joe Show
1PM - Should we believe the Pirates are going to sign a big-name free agent? Notre Dame's argument; Joey Porter Sr. comments on Steelers criticis
10 Dec 2025
Chapter 1: What are the implications of Pete Alonso's signing with the Orioles?
Bob, do you think Pony's going to make it out to Bowser Chevy by 2 o'clock? I think what Pony is underestimating when weather becomes an issue, even spritzing rain, that tunnel can get pretty darn crowded. And this time of the day, it's already crowded on a nice summer day, let alone when there's a little bit of rain in the forecast.
He's going to come in later than the Pirates on Kyle Schwarber for that show, I think. Or Pete Alonso. I mean, that's the story here. What am I talking about? We'll talk about what Ben said about things later.
No, we have to. You said you teased it.
And we'll tease it to something else. In the meantime, Pete Alonso, sign this, Bob. He signed with the Orioles for what is 155 million?
Yeah, basically the same deal as Schwarber with five plus extra million.
Five-year deal, right?
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Chapter 2: Why are respected reporters claiming the Pirates are willing to spend?
Yeah. So what are your thoughts on this? I wanted him last year. Were the Pirates said to be in on him too or because he's a righty and maybe his power doesn't play as well here? They weren't said to be in.
Half of his home runs go to right center field.
I know, but is that the reason that the Pirates weren't mentioned with him or were they?
I don't think they were and does it really matter?
What do you mean, does it really matter? Does it matter if you were mentioned or not? No, they should have tried to get him. I'm just curious if they were linked to him as they were with Schwarber.
Limits, do you know the answer to that question? Well, they were reportedly linked a lot more to Schwarber.
Because he was a designated hitter, and they need a designated hitter who could pop.
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Chapter 3: What does Joey Porter Sr. say about Steelers criticism?
They need a first baseman, too. They need anything.
Is somebody going to stop this insanity or not? Tom Verducci is one of the finest baseball writers ever, ever. And reporters, and I think he's pretty good on TV, I might add, Bob. He is, yes. Said, according to SI, that the Pirates and Orioles were also offering Schwarber deals in the five-year $150 million range and, quote, the Pirates indicated a willingness to go higher.
Do you guys believe that? No. Then why is he reporting it? Why is somebody that respected reporting that?
It may have something to do with the upcoming what we believe is going to be a work stoppage to get a narrative out there.
Yeah, but what does Tom Verducci and Ken Rosenthal owe to the Pirates? Nothing. There must be a reason.
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Chapter 4: How do the Steelers fans feel about playoff losses?
They may want to set up something that will be an issue when they go to that. I don't know why.
It's not that they owe something to the Pirates. It's that people who have an interest in the Pirates at least being aggressive shoppers want that out there. Yeah. I don't know who it would be. Would it be MLB? Could be. Would sources at MLB want it out there that the Pirates are aggressive, Bob? Again, in advance of a work stoppage. In advance of a work stoppage. And why is that?
Because they don't want big market owners or the players union saying, oh, the Pirates take our money, if you're the big market owner, and don't do anything with it. Or the players union saying, come on. teams like the Pirates need to spend more.
Chapter 5: What was Big Ben's take on the Isaiah Likely play?
They need to spend more.
Now they're giving you ammunition that, well, we're willing to. It's just that we can't get it. But these reporters are so good. I don't know.
Would they let themselves be used like that, Bob?
Well, if someone, an agent comes to you or somebody else comes to you and say, hey, this is happening. I mean, they are on social media. They need this kind of information as well. I don't know if they're being used or not, but they may very well be being used. just as the pirates are using it as an opportunity to tell people that they're really serious.
Well, I told you earlier, and I stand firm on this, is that the language that's being used in all of that, in all of this, I should say,
is curious at best soft language i would call it certainly not hard reporting rosenthal before schwarber sign said the pirates offer is quote almost certainly for more than 100 million bob what does almost certainly mean is that hard and fast reporting i don't know joe Almost certainly.
We've reached a point where we're going to have to read between every line and every social media post that you get.
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Chapter 6: What are the current rumors around Pirates' free agent targets?
It's hard to decide for it.
Verducci said the Pirates, quote, might have been the most serious team outside of Philly for Schwarber.
I don't know what might, but they might not have been. The Baltimore Orioles offered five years, 150 for Schwarber.
So they got turned down.
So then they go to Alonzo. I believe that story because they immediately saw Alonzo.
Exactly. Yes, I do believe that. The Pirates might have been the most serious team. I mean, thanks, Tom, for that reporting. They might not have been, though. And then the real kicker was VerducciSI.com, according to sources. Both the Pirates and Orioles were offering Schwarber deals in the five-year $150 million range. And the Pirates, and I quote here, Bob, indicated a willingness to go higher.
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Chapter 7: How does the discussion shift to the college football playoff implications?
Indicated a willingness? Okay, well, then why didn't it turn out to be a signed contract? Something very strange is happening here. Something strange is a foot limits. I don't know why this is happening. They can go ahead and trade for Brandon Lau and that'll be a nice little move. This stuff is preposterous.
Is the willingness to go higher the fact that they didn't because Schwarber wanted to stay?
It's because they didn't go that high in the first place. Not that they were ever going to go higher. You think they offered Kyle Schroeder $150 million?
It's very hard to believe that that's actually the case. But the fact that it is such credible, accomplished journalists that are coming out and saying it. But they're equivocating at every turn. You know what equivocating means, Bob?
Chapter 8: What are the potential trades and signings the Pirates should consider?
They're giving some qualifiers to it, yes. Qualifiers?
Almost certainly we're willing to offer that? Again, the bottom line here, gentlemen, is simply this. We will judge all of this based on when it's all done. And what the Pirates have gotten in free agency.
If they land a big fish or two, I'll be first in line clapping my hands. Or I should say I'll almost certainly be first in line.
Well, who's the next big fish then? Two of the biggest fish got away.
Who is the next big fish limit?
I think it's got to be Suarez or Jorge Polanco.
What about the bigger fish?
I mean, Cody Bellinger's out there.
Yeah, they should have got him last year. I was saying that, and Alonzo would have been a far cheaper thing if he had done it last year.
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