Archer was arguably the biggest star traded on MLB trade deadline dayGETTY IMAGES
The Pirates "pulled off a pair of major moves" prior to the MLB trade deadline, acquiring Ps Chris Archer and Keone Kela in moves that "not only signaled their intention to compete for a playoff berth but a departure from their penny-pinching ways of seasons past," according to Kevin Gorman of TRIBLIVE.com. After years of "trading high-priced veterans for prospects whom they protected at all costs when they weren’t standing pat, the Pirates went for broke" this season. Top prospects CF Austin Meadows and P Tyler Glasnow went to the Rays as part of the Archer deal, meaning the Pirates finally "mortgaged the future for the present." However, they may have "completely changed their public perception" in the process. Fans revolted when the team traded P Gerrit Cole and CF Andrew McCutchen in January, but this week's moves had Pittsburgh "buzzing about baseball on the final day of July." That is typically a time when the city "shifts its focus to Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent" (TRIBLIVE.com, 7/31). In Pennsylvania, Josh Mehno writes Pirates Exec VP & GM Neal Huntington "destroyed the myth that he is unwilling to trade prospects to get help for the major league club" (ALTOONA MIRROR, 8/1).
PAYING THE PRICE TO COMPETE: Huntington and team President Frank Coonelly both said that Chair Bob Nutting was "engaged throughout the trade talks" with the Rays for Archer, a deal in which the Pirates ultimately took on about $2.9M in salary this year. Connelly said Nutting was "very clear with myself and Neal that if you believe this team is in position to push forward, there’s some urgency, you should seize this opportunity and bring in a player to help us win a championship" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/1). In Pittsburgh, Lance Lysowski notes Nutting gave Huntington and Coonelly a "directive: if the two believed in the young core then they had his blessing to make significant additions at the deadline, within reason" (DKPITTSBURGHSPORTS.com, 8/1). In Pittsburgh, Tim Benz wrote the Pirates yesterday "started acting like a Major League Baseball franchise." They made "trades for baseball reasons, not the financial bottom line" (TRIBLIVE.com, 7/31).
FINALLY GOING FOR IT: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes the Pirates "stunned the baseball industry" by landing Archer, who was the "biggest star traded" yesterday. The Pirates "signaled to everyone they are all in" (USA TODAY, 8/1). THE ATHLETIC's Ken Rosenthal notes the Pirates acted "more aggressively at the deadline than they did during their three-year postseason run" from '13-15. For the Pirates, the "role of bold buyer was a departure" from the norm (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/1). MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian said many people were "shocked that the Pirates decided this was the year that they would push their chips in after all." Vasgersian: "There have been years in the recent past where Pittsburgh has been closer to a postseason share, perhaps arguably a better team on the field, and they didn’t do anything” ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 7/31). In Pittsburgh, Ron Cook writes give Huntington "much credit" for acquiring Archer. He "stepped miles and miles out of character" by "trading prized young players for a couple of veteran pitchers who can help the Pirates win now and ... for at least the next two seasons." Huntington should be "applauded for doing it." He did his part to "turn the Pirates into a legitimate playoff threat." However, the Pirates left Huntington "no choice but to make the trades by playing phenomenal baseball" in recent weeks (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/1).
