Dave speaks

Ed Eagle serves an interview with the GM.

This made me smile:

EE: There is now a concern among a lot of Pirates fans that I hear from that the team might be tempted to spend the additional money it has this year just for the sake of spending it all.

This was the answer to that concern, from DL's response to an earlier question:

We still have some dollars to continue to try to improve the club for 2005 and certainly we'll have more freedom financially as we move forward in future years. But once Spring Training starts, that does not mean that you can't continue to improve the team. There are trades made during Spring Training. There are trades made during the season. Having some dollars available will give us the ability to be in that market. We haven't been a player in that market here in the recent past.

This fits with a few things I've been thinking this week. First, I don't think the Bucs will fall on their face out of the gate. Second, I think some other teams will. Third, why can't we use the extra money to part some quality player from a team that's rebuilding? Every season there's a race to the bottom with some teams. I'm sure there are a half-dozen teams out there who won't trade anyone right now, but, if they start the season winning 33% of their games, will then feel like they need to part with the older players, collect prospects, and go with the youth movement. We did the youth movement last year and we have some surplus youth. Being prepared to take about $5M in salary off another team's hands might be serendipity come late June or July. And that would make headlines, wouldn't it -- the Pirates acquiring someone near the deadline to help now and next year.