Reports are coming out of Las Vegas that more than likely Wilson stays.  Also, our Chris Gomez type, Mark Loretta, we wanted is now signed by the Dodgers.  Some reporters think the Pirates should go after Eckstein, even though he wants to stay a starter, but I disagree.  I want the Pirates to go after a player like Casey Blake but that wont happen because LA is offering him a huge contract.  Rocco Baldelli is a great outfielder that can play the corners and provide depth for us in the outfield.  Yes he is injury prone with his disease but if hes just a utility man I think that could work.  Below are the rest of the free agents I think are great fits in PIttsburgh

Kiko Calero- proven reliever, leader in the bullpen price tag would rival what they gave Damaso Marte

Callix Crabbe- showed that hes in a legit big league infielder in Milwaukee last year and hes young, with Jim Negrych and Shelby Ford in our system I think he would be a great backup infielder and allow a couple more year for those two to develop

Derrick Turnbow- veteran arm in the bullpen, could help a young pitching staff, gives us another closer option if Capps gets hurt again

Michaels, Mientkiewicz, Gomez- for obvious reasons

Brad Penny- long shot i kno but hes the veteran arm huntington wants and he had a really down year last year which means his price will not be as high

Mark Prior- wouldn't it be great if he fulfilled his potential in Pittsburgh; Not the kind of risk huntington would take but i wouldnt complain if he did

Chris Shelton- can be our backup catcher and play first against left handed pitching, a vet and he has power, price tag wouldnt be too steep

Thoughts? Other players youd like to see? Trades youd think the bucs would mak?

I find it very hard to believe that Huntington as smart as he's been since taking over for Suckfield, would trade Wilson for Hu and Young.  Hu is at best a backup utility man with absolutely no potential to be any better than that.  Young will enter an already crowded outfield and would have little or no chance of making the team.  We dont need an outfielder, or a cut rate shortstop.  The trade in Detroit would be intriguing if we could get a Matt Joyce or a Clete Thomas because I am still not convinced that Steve Pearce is capable in RF.  Think about this the Pirates get Joyce and some other prospects from Detroit in return for Wilson.  That would move Brandon Moss back to RF (where he was when he played for the Bo Sox), Pearce to 1B, allow the Bucs to Mark Loretta and an Adam LaRoche trade could happen.  Lets be honest here, LaRoche needs to go, we all are tired of him hitting near the mendoza line until august then miraculously recovering to finish the season with decent numbers.  That does nothing for a team who by august are already out of it.  Trade LaRoche and get a decent shortstop prospect out of it.  Brian Bixler and Luis Cruz are not the answer and will not be.  The shortlist of prospects could include Reid Brignac (TB), Jed Lowrie (BOS), or Erick Aybar (LAA).  All of these teams need a left handed power bat and LaRoche would be a perfect fit in the AL because of the DH rule.  Signing Loretta would allow us to develop our prospects at SS (and any other prospects that Huntington gets from trades).  The LA Dodgers trade just doesn't make sense and I am not convinced of their farm system (Andy LaRoche will be a back up utility infielder, Walker and Alvarez are going to duke it out for our 3B position).  I really hope Huntington doesn't pull the trigger on the LA trade, it just reminds me too much of the Dave "I couldn't manage a McDonalds" Littlefield's era