Cory Humes

Rumors of the Pirates’ involvement in bidding for Adrian Beltre and Jorge De La Rosa scare me. The only way this train can be derailed is if it runs head on into a terrible contract. If the team were to give $10 million to one player in a season, that one contract would easily represent 14-20 percent of the team’s bankroll. What happens if that $10 million player is a dud?

It’s never too early to pencil in names on 2011′s depth chart. Considering the Pirates’ options, it seems as though pursuing platoon-mates for Garrett Jones or John Bowker might be the easiest way to boost the team’s offensive output. But which lefty mashers should Neal Huntington go after?

Given western Pennsylvania’s pool of talent, it’s inevitable that the Arena Football League’s Pittsburgh Power will work to roster a few local heroes. Former Panthers, Mountaineers, Nittany Lions and small college and high school standouts not currently thriving in organized ball may have an opportunity to come back home and wear the local colors.

While Neal Huntington’s work has the Pirates positioned well for a turnaround circa 2012 or so, his evaluation of players in certain trades seems inaccurate in hindsight. Unfortunately, along with his celebrated wins at the exchange came these four losses.

With the first overall pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball first-year player draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates select Anthony Rendon, third baseman, from Rice University.