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Most contenders in MLB are handing out 10, 11, and even 13-year contracts worth north of $300 million.
There is a lot of spending power and willingness in the league right now: after all, most organizations are playing to win.
Others are hyping up a minor signing that doesn’t really move the needle for them.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Vince Velasquez on a one-year, $3.15 million contract, and prepared a hype video for him.
The problem is not Velasquez himself: he is who he is, a talented but flawed pitcher whose career ERA is 4.93.
The problem is that the Pirates are trying to engage with fans by using a cheap signing as an excuse and hiding the fact they not only fail to invest on their team, but they also trade away their best players every year.
Our Guy Vinny pic.twitter.com/HwIEDGxD37
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 14, 2022
Fans Are Not Happy With The Pirates
In fact, some of the replies of the tweet are angry fans ranting at the franchise.
A social media intern was instructed to make this video for a 3 million dollar signing. We root for the most grotesquely run franchise on planet earth
— Brad (@Brad13____) December 14, 2022
How does someone who posts up annually these hideous ERA's get a promo video and furthermore even get a major league deal instead of best case a non-roster invite to spring training? pic.twitter.com/9D4SjbGCN6
— Scott Ciglinsky (@ScottCiglinsky) December 14, 2022
The deal was agreed to last week during the Winter Meetings, and is now official.
Velasquez, who had a disappointing 4.78 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and a 69/25 K/BB ratio across 75 1/3 innings (27 appearances, nine starts) last year for the Chicago White Sox, is expected to fill a similar role with the Pirates: a swingman.
Perhaps they give him the chance to start and build some trade value to deal him around the deadline, as they usually do.
The Pirates did extend franchise cornerstone Ke’Bryan Hayes recently, but it’s hard to think about the last impactful free agent they signed.
Fans will probably have to wait until Hayes, Oneil Cruz, and some pitchers pan out before this team can compete again.
More must-reads:
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- Braves two-time All-Star addresses future with team
- The 'Active MLB strikeout leaders' quiz
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