Let's Make A Deal...

Did someone play a practical joke on Buccos' GM Neal Huntington and set his personal calendar a month ahead? Did someone tell him MLB moved the trade deadline back a month? Huntington treated the last day of June as if it was the last day of July, making two trades and once again altering the Bucs' major league roster in order to acquire more depth in the minors. His first deal of the day...

Pirates trade UTIL Eric Hinske to the Yankees for RHP Casey Erickson and OF/C Eric Fryer

What is there to say about this trade? It's really just a minor deal for both squads, the Pirates unload a bench player, freeing up more AB's for young guys like Delwyn Young and Brandon Moss, and pick up two "bodies" for their system. Neither Erickson or Fryer are top prospects, just a few more guys to add to the rebuilding process. And Hinske gets a chance to not only play for every team in the AL East (four down, Baltimore to go) but if the Evil Empire somehow returns to the World Series this year, he will have the distinction of playing in the Fall Classic three years in a row for three different teams. Good luck with that one.

Pirates trade OF Nyjer Morgan and LHP Sean Burnett for OF Lastings Milledge and RHP Joel Hanrahan

The Pirates have traded four, count 'em, FOUR starting outfielders in less than a year. Now that's impressive. But once again, I agree with what Neal is trying to do. He traded a 28 (29 tomorrow) year old outfielder who is barely three months into his first season as a starter. While Nyjer has been productive as a speed/defensive minded guy, the Bucs already have a guy like that (McCutchen) who's seven years younger and hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential. Now you can't replace Nyjer's fun-loving clubhouse presence, he was a team and fan favorite, but when you're on pace for a seventeenth-straight losing season, you need to add talent, even if it's at the cost of character. Speaking of character, Lastings Milledge has had questions about his over the past few years. What you can't question is his talent and potential. Milledge is a five-tool player, some have compared his skill set to that of Buccos prospect Jose Tabata, and if Milledge can stay on the straight and narrow, the sky's the limit for him. Joel Hanrahan is another interesting piece added in this deal, he's got a live arm, and pitched in the WBC this past spring (which probably explains his 7+ ERA so far this season, just ask Chien Ming Wang, Dice-K, Ian Snell, etc.) The Bucs also parted ways with Burnett, one of the only recent first round picks to actually contribute in the majors. I'm a fan of Burnett's, but you gotta give up quality to receive it in return.

Once again, I'm on board with what the Buccos brass are trying to do. It's a commitment to rebuilding that Pirate fans can actually believe. And it's only the beginning. While it might be hard to say goodbye to guys like Morgan, McLouth, and soon possibly Wilson and Sanchez, it's the right thing to do. If the Pirates are committed to youth, then the old guard has to go. It's time to turn the page and see what these kids can do.