After three hours in the rain and cold at my daughter's softball game tonight, I thawed out (after a win) and called in the score to the Observer-Reporter. When the reporter told me the Pirates traded Nate McLouth to the Braves for three minor leaguers, I was more than shocked. It was definitely a WTF moment.
McLouth was dealt to Atlanta for triple-A pitcher Charlie Morton, double-A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and single-A pitcher Jeff Locke.
It's tough to see McLouth go. He's a very good player who has worked his ass off to get everything he has in baseball. Nothing was given to him and he was seen as an afterthought for a number of years in the Pirates system.
When he made it to Pittsburgh and started having success (no thanks to former manager Jim Tracy though he would tell you otherwise), it was all earned. Last year's All-Star game nod, his performance in that game, his Gold Glove season and the career year McLouth had were all enjoyable to watch for a good player and a good person.
It was assumed by many that he was a face-of-the-franchise guy and he had a long-term contract already. His production hasn't slowed any and he remained the Pirates most consistent all-around player.
Here is the statement from Pirates general manager Neal Huntington:
“This may be the toughest decision we have made in my time with the organization,” said Huntington. “Nate is a quality player and person, but as we have said several times, tough decisions will need to be made as we build and sustain a championship caliber organization. Nate has worked as hard as any player to become a starting Major League Player, proving wrong anyone who may have doubted him. When we signed Nate to a long-term contract we did so with the intent on having him remain part of our core of homegrown talent. But the quality and quantity of talent we are receiving in this trade moves us closer to our goal of building that sustainable championship caliber club and compelled us to move a very good player and an outstanding young man.”
To the Pirates credit, they are sticking with their plan of rebuilding the minor league system. Since Huntington and president Frank Coonelly have come on board, that has been one of the focuses is rebuilding the depleted minor-league system.
The question remains at what cost is this occurring. Many fans believe, and have every right to do so, that this is the same old Pirates dumping talent for cheap minor leaguers. It's the same pattern that has occurred time and again for the past 16-plus years.
The organization should be thankful that they have as many fans show up as they do. No fan base should be put through what Pirates fans have been put through since 1992. All the organization seems to keep doing is alienating what few real fans they have left and not just the ones who show up for fireworks nights.
Even with Andrew McCutchen waiting in Class AAA, McLouth was still thought to be a mainstay in the organization and something the organization could actually be proud of - a homegrown talent who made it to the majors and reaped the benefits of his hard work.
Though maybe the biggest benefit of all to McLouth is that he gets out of this so-called major-league organization.
Six years ago, the night that another homegrown talent (Aramis Ramirez) was traded, then Pirates outfielder Brian Giles stated his displeasure with a very truthful statement and sentiment felt in the clubhouse: "Not all of us are lucky enough to get traded."
Today, McLouth got lucky. And now guys like Jack Wilson, Freddy Sanchez, Adam LaRoche and others feel exactly the same way that Giles did that night.
Enjoy watching Andrew McCutchen while you can Pirates fans. It won't be too long before he's the next one to be shipped off.
