Pirates Apparently Trying To Extend Sanchez and Wilson (Update: Psych!)

by SethGrandpa on Jul 17, 2009 4:49 PM PDT

Via Buc Dugout and the Pittsburg Post-Gazette.

The Pirates have approached shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez about multiyear contract extensions, putting on hold, for now, the possibility that either will be traded by Major League Baseball's July 31 deadline.

But the clock is ticking.

If the parties are to agree on extensions, they will need to do so far enough in advance of the deadline so that, if the Pirates decide no agreement is possible, they still can pursue a trade for one or both. That likely means something must get done within the next week to 10 days.

And there is a catch, one unusual in professional sports: If one player does not sign, the other probably will not, either. Wilson and Sanchez are best friends to the point of being virtually inseparable, on and off the infield dirt.

Well then.

I have no idea what the Pirates are thinking except that they're trying to appease the type of dumb fans that would rather extend aging guys on a terrible team than build for the future (aka people who were upset with the McLouth deal). I'm so happy we have Z.

On the other hand, this almost seems like an ultimatum for the two. Sign up now or get shipped out. I'd still like to see either of them (and Snell) in a deal with the Mariners. It'll be interesting to see where it goes from here.

Update: Just kidding. Offers have been declined.

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Comments

The Pirates are probably just trying to make it seem like they're not totally desperate to trade them, so teams might be willing to offer up more value.

by I Lick Squirrels on Jul 17, 2009 5:57 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

This sounds right. They really don't want either of them except to trade for

younger, more valuable, cheaper guys.

by Sinking Away on Jul 18, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Poppycock. Poppycock and shenanigans.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 17, 2009 6:25 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

This would be like the Johjima extension. These guys are 30-something middle infielders who are gonna fall off the cliff soon.

by Decatur on Jul 17, 2009 6:57 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Apparently commenting in this FanPost gets you free recs.

Also, does this mean they have to be traded as a package too?

by Mariner John on Jul 17, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

That would be pretty fucking retarded

My Mariners blog - SodoMojo Twitter Feed

by gregrabble on Jul 17, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Fuckin' A dude

Fuckin’ A

by appleshampoo on Jul 18, 2009 12:24 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

What?

The Rise of a Superstar:Justin Upton-.398wOBA, 21 years old.

by Goose on Jul 18, 2009 12:54 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Jon Paul Morosi brings up the good point that the Pirates

may intentionally lowball Wilson and Sanchez on contract extensions and then they can say that that players decline to extend and therefore will be “forced” to trade them.

by Coach Owens on Jul 18, 2009 1:29 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Right. As long as the don't actually sign them this may be a decently shrewed move by the Pirates.

by SethGrandpa on Jul 18, 2009 3:05 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Well if they sign a low-balled offer, then it's a good deal for the Pirates.

On a good team, Jack Wilson would be one of the most valuable players on that team. On the Pirates, he is unnecessary because they are once again rebuilding. But if he wants to sign a deal that is considerably less than the amount he was overpaid in his last deal, why not keep the best defensive shortstop around? Once he and Sanchez are gone, yikes.

by Kenny Knows Sports on Jul 18, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yeah I'm getting the same vibe out of this

After the backlash that came from the McLouth trade, the Pirates may be just attempting this for show in hopes of getting better PR when one of them is traded

by Robert on Jul 18, 2009 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Who recced every comment on this page?

Career Safeco Record: 6-1 (3 of which were started by Felix)

by .Taylor on Jul 18, 2009 10:10 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

This guy.

"You're so beautiful. You could be a part-time model, but you'd probably still have to keep your normal job."

by nickmo on Jul 18, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

The extensions have been pulled off the table.

The Pirates have pulled back their contract extension offers for Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez, but the team remains open to discussing the process anew.

Wilson was offered two years and $8 million, Sanchez two years and $10 million, with the understanding that there would be little flexibility on their part. Wilson was not emphatic in his rejection of his offer, but Sanchez was. Neither agent responded with a counter-offer to the team.

Link

The Rise of a Superstar:Justin Upton-.398wOBA, 21 years old.

by Goose on Jul 19, 2009 12:46 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

This was a pure PR move by the Pirates

According to ESPN, they offered Sanchez 2 years and $10M as long as he voided the $8M deal he would receive for next year if he hit his PA trigger (which he is on pace to do)…

So basically they were offering him $2M more for the 2nd season (2011). If I were him, I’d turn it down too.

by CMC_Stags on Jul 19, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

So there's still hope,

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Jul 19, 2009 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

k, I'll join in with the rec'ing fun.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Jul 19, 2009 2:30 PM PDT reply actions

No chat speak, capitalise, and reccing everything in a thread is really stupid

by Graham MacAree on Jul 19, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Wait, seriously? No one learned from the last time?

by Poochie on Jul 19, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

"k" is chat speak?

People use that in real conversations. Must they spell out “kay” to make it… ok? Oops, I meant “okay”.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 19, 2009 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

the spelling is the issue not the word itself

k is chatspeak. OK, okay, whatever else you want to use is fine. just not chatspeak.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Jul 19, 2009 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I just thought that in terms of "offensive" short cuts, "k" would be right at the bottom.

I mean, using “r” for “are”, or “2” for any variation of “to” is pretty fucking annoying, but “k” is… I dunno it just seems normal.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 19, 2009 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions

In isolation it might be fine but there were other things wrong with his comment

by Robert on Jul 19, 2009 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Right.

But what’s the point in tacking that on? If the major problem is the rec’ing followed by the capitalization then the chat speak, it just seems like an unnecessary bit. It’s like a cop arresting you for theft, then pointing out you jaywalked and ripped the tag off a mattress. You’re pretty much already boned from the beginning, what’s the need for the excess “you fucked ups”?

I guess it depends on how you view the use of the “k” in this case. To me, it’s extremely minor and really didn’t merit consideration next to the other stuff. Then again, the only thing he didn’t capitalize was the “k” as well. I think I might have discovered a whole other level of “huh” with that one.

Anyway, stupid conversation. I’ll just drop it.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 19, 2009 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions

You don't get to tell me how to moderate the site

by Graham MacAree on Jul 20, 2009 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Just speaking for myself I find it unbelievably fucking annoying though

Is your life really so busy that you have to use one letter or else you’ll fall hopelessly behind? Does it slow you down so much that you have to shorten everything as much as possible?

I don’t mean you specifically, just the general “you”.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Jul 19, 2009 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions