A little over a year ago -- on July 24, 2008, just before last year's trading deadline -- the Pittsburgh Pirates began a trading spree that I think is nearly unprecedented in recent baseball history.
Today, August 14, 2009, as the Pirates come to Wrigley Field for a three-game series, know how many players are left from the 25-man roster on 7/24/2008?
Three. Ryan Doumit, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke. (Four, if you count Matt Capps, who was on the DL on 7/24/2008). All the rest are gone. Some of the players they have acquired or promoted are decent players; Andrew McCutchen is a real talent. Lastings Milledge has some talent, if he could ever actually put a full season together. Some of the pitchers have good arms. But basically, it's a Triple-A visiting team coming to Wrigley Field this weekend. The Cubs took two of three in two series earlier this year from the Pirates, one at Wrigley and one at PNC; this time, they both need to sweep, and should sweep. Aramis Ramirez returns today; that should help.
Courtesy of John Lewis' research on a SABR mailing list to which I subscribe, here's where the departed Pirates went:
Lewis also notes that:LF Jason Bay traded to Red Sox 2008 CF Nate McLouth traded to Braves 2009 RF Xavier Nady traded to Yankees 2008 OF Jason Michaels free agency 2008 1B Adam LaRoche traded to Red Sox 2009 2B Freddy Sanchez traded to Giants 2009 3B Jose Bautista traded to Blue Jays 2008 SS Jack Wilson traded to Mariners 2009 1B-3B Doug Mientkiewicz free agency 2008 2B-SS Luis Rivas free agency 2008 INF Chris Gomez free agency 2008 C Raul Chavez free agency 2008 P John Van Benschoten free agency 2008 P Franquelis Osoria free agency 2008 P Damaso Marte traded to Yankees 2008 P John Grabow traded to Cubs 2009 P Sean Burnett traded to Nationals 2009 P Ian Snell traded to Mariners 2009 P T.J. Beam on waivers to Blue Jays 2009 P Denny Bautista to AAA Indianapolis P Yoslan Herrera to AA Altoona P Tyler Yates on disabled list
The Pirates' record was 48-54 (.471) on July 24, 2008. Since then, it is 64-103 (.383).
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Charlie Morton will be making his second career start against the Cubs. He started a game for the Braves against the Cubs a year and a day ago on August 13, 2008. He didn't make it out of the third inning. The big blow off him was a home run by Jim Edmonds -- remember him? Geovany Soto hit a two-run double off Morton.
Randy Wells started and defeated the Pirates on July 1 in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates have remade their team since then. Three of the starting eight that day aren't on the Pirates any more.
The Cubs are on WGN today -- that's the only TV; there is no Pirates telecast. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.