MLBTR.com ranks the top 40 trade candidates and four #Pirates are in top 10: Keller, 2, Bednar, 3, Heaney, 5, Santana, 9. That makes it a pivotal time in recent team history and I have little confidence in Cherington being up to such a huge challenge.

Jack Suwinski was 4-4 today for Indy with a HR and 3 RBI raising his OPS to .926. Do the #Pirates seriously believe he is not a better option than Alexander Canario? They say they want to win, but they don’t act like they do.

The #Pirates are famously and shamelessly cheap in the very public business of player salaries. Makes you wonder if they are equally or more so cheap in the unknown salaries of minor league coaches and managers. Which could explain their horrendous player development record.

LanceMcAlister Not necessarily that. I just want talent in the lineup that can be trusted to deliver. I may be ahead of myself thinking they’d carry their success up immediately but it just seems every time we “spend” it never helps. Either spend meaningfully or trust your system is what I want

Column: In the coming days -- probably the next 48 hours -- college leaders will decide whether to expand the NCAA basketball tournament. Don't do it. Don't let the vandals in charge further deface a work of art. bit.ly/44jbs18

Given a chance to start on a fairly regular basis, here’s how Henry Davis has responded. Since June 7, .192/.232/.250 - .482. 0 HR, 2 RBI in 52 AB. #Pirates seemed to have an answer at catching with Davis, Bart or Rodriguez. Based on 2025 results, they still need a catcher.

Why the #Pirates have lost seven straight games. Bart 0-10, 000 Reynolds 2-27, .079 Hayes 3-24, .125 McCutchen, 3-23, .130 IKF 3-21, .143 Cruz 4-22, .182 Horwitz 4-20, .200 Gonzales 5-24, .208 Davis 3-12, .250 Not part of problem Pham 8-20, .400.

#Pirates declining trade chips: IKF: Thru June 3 - .310/.356/.393 —.748 Since June 3 - .190/.232/.229 — .461 Heaney: first 10 starts - 3-3, 2.91 ERA, 1.13 WHIP Past 9 starts - 1-5, 6.80 ERA, 1.42 WHIP Opposite: Pham might be in demand.

Michael DeCourcy I love college hoops and I can't remember the last time I sat down to watch a First Four game. 🤷‍♂️

In trading Adam Frazier to the Royals today for career minor leaguer Cam Devanney, the #Pirates have weakened themselves in the short term and not helped themselves long term. Devanney, 28, has spent 10 years in the minors and has 0 MLB at bats.

Fabulous catch by Robert on IKF. Brings back memories of Van Slyke.

Michael A. Taylor just hit a bases clearing double. It is 10-1 White Sox. Taylor’s OPS is higher than six members of the Pirates’ lineup tonight.

Cherington strikes again!! As Quinn Priester stars for Brewers, 8-2 including 6 shutout innings vs LA last night, Nick Yorke, the return for Priester, can’t get out of Indy although a parade of failed prospects (Peguero, Bae, Cook etc.) periodically dot the #Pirates roster.

There was a comment that Pirates scouting director Justin Horowitz made about Seth Hernandez being a "culture changer". It was absolute bullshit. He's 18 years old. If the Pirates need a teenager (who is 3-5 years from the majors) to change their culture, they are beyond fucked.

I’m just guessing here but it looks like the once-promising trade market for #Pirates Andrew Heaney has completely collapsed. In his past 6 starts, including today, has a 10.65 ERA, a 1.99 WHIP and has allowed 9 HRs in 23 2/3 innings.

NL Central Standings during Ben Cherington Era (2020-Present)

ACC will start fining schools whose fans storm field or court after games this season: 1st incident: $50,000 2nd incident: $100,000 3rd incident: $200,000 SEC fines $500,000 for each incident

When the #Pirates traded for Spencer Horwitz, they thought they were getting a mid-lineup bat. Instead, they got a poor man’s John Jaso. Like Jaso, Horwitz is batting first; but unlike Jaso, Horwitz doesn’t have an above-average on-base percentage. Cherington strikes again!

My new column on Kyle Dubas’ decisions on Rust and Rakell, and why riding the fence on a rebuild can be dangerous: nytimes.com/athletic/65102…

Tommy Pham on June 19: .184/.278/.219 — .498 Tommy Pham since 6/19: .389/.423/.639 — 1.062 He went from being a laughing stock to the #Pirates best player. It will be interesting to see what the Pirates can get for him in a trade.