To spend or not to spend
The comments thread below on the poll post hits the nail on the head when it comes to the real discussion we should be having when it comes to guys like Suppan, Ohka, etc. The question isn't whether or not the Pirates have the money to spend on those guys (Dejan makes that clear in today's Q&A) because they do have it, the question is whether or not they should spend it one those guys. Honestly, you can make arguments either way.
Don't spend the money
We've got four pretty good young starters and beyond Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez, we've got no real bats. We're a small market team, getting involved in bidding wars for middle of the road pitchers is not a smart use of that money. Sure Suppan or Ohka may help us in the short term, but in the long term that money could be spent on scouting, on signing Latin American prospects, on improving the minor league system, or in so many other ways that would help this infinitely more than either of those two would.
Spend the money
Baseball is about image. Right now the image that every single player in the league has of Pittsburgh is that it's where careers go to die. No one will ever waive a no trade clause or sign a contract here until that changes. This off-season we've got the money to spend and we've got the hole to fill, bring in a guy like Suppan and prove to everyone else that Pittsburgh doesn't have to mean the end of a career. Who would you rather see in the rotation? Chacon? Burnett? Van Benschoten? If we have to trade a starter to get a bat you might see two of those three in the rotation if we don't sign Ohka or Suppan. Put a proven vet in the rotation to show the young guys the ropes, they looked lost on their own last year at some points. Break out the checkbook, dig a little deeper, and show people that their careers don't have to be on life support to sign with the Pirates.
Don't spend the money
We've got four pretty good young starters and beyond Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez, we've got no real bats. We're a small market team, getting involved in bidding wars for middle of the road pitchers is not a smart use of that money. Sure Suppan or Ohka may help us in the short term, but in the long term that money could be spent on scouting, on signing Latin American prospects, on improving the minor league system, or in so many other ways that would help this infinitely more than either of those two would.
Spend the money
Baseball is about image. Right now the image that every single player in the league has of Pittsburgh is that it's where careers go to die. No one will ever waive a no trade clause or sign a contract here until that changes. This off-season we've got the money to spend and we've got the hole to fill, bring in a guy like Suppan and prove to everyone else that Pittsburgh doesn't have to mean the end of a career. Who would you rather see in the rotation? Chacon? Burnett? Van Benschoten? If we have to trade a starter to get a bat you might see two of those three in the rotation if we don't sign Ohka or Suppan. Put a proven vet in the rotation to show the young guys the ropes, they looked lost on their own last year at some points. Break out the checkbook, dig a little deeper, and show people that their careers don't have to be on life support to sign with the Pirates.