I must first start by saying that nothing in sports pains me more than watching the pirates suck year in and year out.  I hate that my baseball team is described as hapless, pitiful, terrible, crappy, and any other unflattering adjective that one can pull out of a thesaurus.  As a realist however I realize that in order to be truly competitive harder times have to come.  I am all for trading whatever value we have left at the winter meeting this year.  This team is not going to be competitive until 2010-2011.  So lets build for that year.  We have our nucleus already.  Andy L, Tabata, Alvarez and Cutch, Lincoln, & Morris.  Here are my dream scenarios. 

1.  Kansas City needs some pitching and a SS.  I would trade Ian Snell for Billy Butler.  Both teams would be buying low. 

2.  NYY needs a Center fielder.  Explore those options.

3.  Jeff Kent is retiring.  Explore options with the Dodgers to get Freddy back to CA.  Possibly coming back Hu or McDonald.

4.  If only we had drafted Wieters.  Could you imagine what Doumits trade value would be over this winter.   I would still give Boston a call.

5.  Probably not going to be closing out many games next year.  Might as well see what Capps will get  you.  Hello NYM

6.  Tigers just let Rentaria go.  They wanted Jack before, maybe they will want him again.

7.  Speaking of KC they just got a 30+ home-run for a relief pitcher.  I wonder what Grabow could net.

8.  Lets see if Billy Bean will trade us a stud minor league pitcher for the Hometown Kid Neil Walker

9.   I don't see Adam L. getting much but see what is available.   

If you haven't gotten the idea I'm ready to gut the whole team of anyone with value.  Lets see if we can get beneath Florida as far as payroll.  I would have no problem if the Pirates finished with the worst record ever in 09.  If you are going to set a record you may as well do it in style.  I would be alright with it if the Pirates still continued to Draft well and sign and develop more talent from South America.  Have three more very solid drafts all of a sudden you have a stockpile of talent.   If this rebuilding is done correctly this time the 10's should belong to your Buccos.  Alright tear this apart guys.