A quick look at how the key players for the 2012 Pirates came together:

SP James McDonald – On July 31, 2010 the Pirates traded their closer, Octavio Dotel, to the Los Angeles Dodgers for McDonald and minor league OF Andrew Lambo.  Dotel pitched exactly 18.2 innings for the Dodgers, who finished 80-82.  Lambo is still just 23-years old, but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.  McDonald has become an ace starter, and is under team control until 2016.  This is a trade that the Dodgers wish they could un-do, a candidate for the best move made by Neil Huntington.

SP A.J. Burnett – Burnett had never lived up to the expectations of a massive contract he signed with the New York Yankees in 2008.  In February of this year, the Yankees were trying to unload their veteran hurler to any team that would take him.  The Pirates swooped in and acquired Burnett for a pair of minor leaguers, neither a legit prospect.  To facilitate the deal, New York agreed to pick up $20 million of the $33 million owed to Burnett over the next two seasons.  Ultimately, Burnett has proven that getting out of New York was the best thing that could have happened to him.  He has become the veteran leader of the Bucs, and has been integral to the success of 2012.

SP Kevin Correia – Correia was coming off a down year in San Diego when the Pirates signed him to a two-year, $7 million contract in December of 2010.  His workhorse mentality and veteran presence has been a great value at that price.  Correia will never be a Cy Young winner, but he is the type of pitcher that every contending team needs to have – a reliable, inning-eating starter who rarely has a dud outing.  By comparison, St. Louis is paying SP Jake Westbrook $8.5 million this year for essentially the same type of production.

SP Jeff Karstens – The Pirates trade OF Xavier Nady and RP Damaso Marte to the Yankees for Karstens, OF Jose Tabata, SP Ross Ohlendorf, and RP Daniel McCutchen at the 2008 trade deadline.  While Ohlendorf fizzled out after showing promise, Karstens has continued to develop into a solid starting pitcher.  Tabata is a work in progress, but has started 265 ballgames for the Pirates since being promoted in 2010.  McCutchen represents depth for the Pirates in the bullpen, unable to find a job in the 2012 relief corps despite showing reliability last season.  He will be one of the first calls if the Bucs need reinforcements for the stretch run.  Nady played in 66 games for the Yankees, batting .270 before injuries derailed his career.  Marte stayed in New York for a few more years, but never regained form as a dominant left-handed reliever.

SP Eric Bedard – Bedard has had a very up and down career, but it was his 2011 season that convinced the Pirates that he could fit into their 2012 plans.  The Bucs were able to agree with Bedard on a suitable contract, $4.5 million for one year.  While it was unknown how much could be expected of Bedard, given his past injuries, it was a chance worth taking.  Thus far he has been inconsistent, a few good starts, a few bad, and most recently a decent one against Colorado.  How much further Bedard goes as part of this rotation will depend on what the Pirates do at the trade deadline, and on his production over his next two starts.  Either way, it was a bargain deal for the Bucs.

CL Joel Hanrahan – “The Hammer” was acquired on June 30, 2009 from Washington in the deal that sent RP Sean Burnett and OF Nyjer Morgan to the Nationals.  The Pirates also received OF Lastings Milledge, who is no longer with the organization.  Hanrahan has only developed into one of the top closers in baseball, saving 71 saves as a Pirate.  Burnett has been a reliable lefty reliever for Washington, and Morgan is in Milwaukee after Washington gave up on him.  Advantage – Pirates.

RP Jason Grilli – Grilli had floundered around the major leagues for 10 years before the Pirates bought his contract off of the AAA-Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs on July 20 last summer.  Grilli was on a minor league deal that had an opt-out clause if any major league team offered him a contract, and after he dominated at AAA for a few months, the Pirates came calling.  Since then, he has morphed into the best 8th inning set-up man in the National League, posting amazing numbers and building a bridge to Hanrahan in the 9th.  Grilli has the stuff to be a closer, and in time he will probably get the chance.  For 2012, the Pirates will continue to revile in their undefeated streak when winning after the 7th inning, made possible by the “Grilli Cheese Hammer” combo.

RP Chris Resop – Resop was another scrapheap acquisition by the Pirates, who found him on the waiver wire from Atlanta in August 2010.  Resop has turned into a reliable relief pitcher who has the flexibility to pitch long relief or short, and has the stuff to shut down teams one inning at a time.  He has been a great pickup that cost the Pirates a total of $1.25 million and is signed through 2015.

RP Jared Hughes – Hughes is a product of the Pirates minor league system, and has become a suitable reliever in just his second major league season.  His 2.06 ERA and 1.145 WHIP are great numbers for a middle reliever making a cool $481,000 this year.  He is also under team control through 2018.

RP Tony Watson – Watson was drafted three times (2003 by Florida, 2006 by Baltimore, and 2007 by the Pirates) and found a home in Pittsburgh this year.  He is a homegrown product that makes $484,000 and is under team control through 2018.

As for the position players, a quick rundown on the “homegrown” products that are playing a huge part in this incredible 2012 campaign:

CF Andrew McCutchen – former 1st round pick by the Pirates in the 2005 Amateur Draft.  Has become one of the top overall players in baseball in 2012 and signed a 6-year extension that keeps him in Black and Gold through 2018.

2B Neil Walker – former 1st round pick by the Pirates in the 2004 Amateur Draft.  Has become a fantastic second baseman who can hit .300 and drive in 60-75 RBI per season.  Walker is a Pine-Richland native who is signed through 2017.

3B Pedro Alvarez – El Toro has found his stroke in 2012.  The former 1st round pick (2008) is here to stay, another in a line of great 1st round picks that have helped form this team.  He is on his way to being a .250/40/100 player and is signed through 2017, with an extension probably coming this winter.

OF Alex Presley – Presley has been inconsistent but has the makings of a future starting outfielder who can hit at the top of the lineup.  He was drafted by the Pirates in the 8th round of the 2006 Draft.  Presley is under team control through 2018.

These players were all acquired through trades or free agent signings and have become major contributors to the 2012 Pirates:

1B/OF Garrett Jones – The Pirates signed Jones as a minor-league free agent in December 2008.  He exploded onto the Pirates scene in 2009 with a 21 HR campaign in just 314 at-bats.  Since then, he has become part of Clint Hurdle’s mix-and-match bench, providing solid production when called upon.  Jones is making $2.25 million and can not be a free agent until 2016.

UTIL Josh Harrison – Harrison was the forgotten man in the July 2009 deal that sent SP Tom Gorzelanny  and RP John Grabow to Chicago.  He has emerged as a dynamic little player whose value lies in his ability to play just about any position on the field.  He is an energetic player who seems to live for dramatic moments.  Harrison is making $484,000 and is under team control until 2018.

C Michael McKenry – Talk about a steal!  “The Fort” came to Pittsburgh last summer in a deal with Boston and immediately become the backup catcher due to his defensive skills.  He has learned to use the bat in 2012, developing power and becoming a very clutch hitter.  He has also been praised for how he handles the pitching staff.  A player like McKenry is hard to find for so cheap, and the Pirates have him locked down through 2018 at the earliest.  McKenry could very well be the heir apparent to Rod Barajas as the starting catcher in 2013.

1B/3B Casey McGehee – Acquired in a trade with Milwaukee over the winter, McGehee is a versatile player with major pop in his bat.  He has helped the Pirates develop Pedro Alvarez by playing early in the season against the tough lefties and has recently began to find the stroke that made him a feared hitter with the Brewers.  The cost for McGehee?  The Pirates sent RP Jose Veras to Milwaukee.  McGehee is signed to a very cost-efficient contract through 2015.

OF Gorkys Hernandez – Hernandez is a defensive whiz who should be inserted into a corner outfield slot late in each game to improve team defense.  His bat is a work in progress, but his speed and defense are as real as it gets.  He was part of the original Nate McLouth deal with Atlanta in 2009 and has spent years honing his craft in Altoona and Indianapolis.  He is ready to contribute for the Bucs this summer, and is under team control until 2017.

As the trade deadline approaches, remember how this team was built.  It doesn’t always take a headline-stealing deal to help a contending team down the stretch.  These Pirates love each other and fight for one another, so management must be careful to not mess around with the chemistry if the team.  A small deal or two, yes.  But a gut-busting deal for Justin Upton or Cole Hamels……maybe that isn’t what these Pirates need.

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You can follow Jeff Snedden on Twitter @jeffsnedden

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"The Fort" has raised his batting average by 50 points since June 25, driven in 11 runs over that span as well.

It is July 5, do you know where your Pittsburgh Pirates are?

How about sitting at the top of the N.L. Central standings, a full game up on the rival Cincinnati Reds.  The Pirates are in first place, ladies and gentlemen.

On May 23, the Pirates were sitting at 20-24 after losing a home series to the New York Mets and sat 5.0 games out in the division.  Many fans were beginning to lose faith in the team, still stinging from the horrific downward spiral the Bucs went through during the second half of 2011.  Since that night, the Pirates have simply been one of the best teams in all of baseball, posting a 25-12 record.  They flirted with first place on June 10, only to go on a road trip to Baltimore where they would be swept in a three-game series by the Orioles.  During that series at Camden Yards, the Pirates pitching staff gave up 27 runs, with Brad Lincoln, Eric Bedard, and Kevin Correia all having bad outings that resulting in losses.  That series could have been a turning point for the Pirates, as they then had to go to Cleveland for another Interleague series.  Instead, the Bucs took two of three from the Tribe – kick-starting the offense in the process.  When the dust settles on the 2012 season, the series in Cleveland may be looked back on as the moment that this team truly came together as a “band of brothers”.

With the All-Star break coming up next week, this edition of Pirates Smorgasbord will take a look at the factors that have thrust the Pirates into the national spotlight once again, as well as the many rumors that have begun to spring up surrounding the Bucs as they head into a second consecutive trade deadline season as buyers.  It’s a smorgasbord of Pirates information – a virtual potpourri of facts and opinions on baseball’s Cinderella of the season.

Drew Sutton celebrates his walk-off homerun that made the Pirates 8-7 winners over Houston this past Tuesday night.

Role Players making their presence felt

When fans look back at the Pirates three-peat N.L. East Championship teams of 1990-1992, many names stand out.  Bonds, Bonilla, Van Slyke, Drabek, Smiley, Bell – all names that immediately make us all think back to those grand years at Three Rivers Stadium.  However, for those fans who lived and died with those Pirates teams – myself included – we remember a few different names that were key pieces as well.

Espy, Varsho, Slaught, Redus, McClendon, Wilkerson, Reynolds – these were the role players that provided many heroic moments for the teams that won 95, 98, and 96 games during that run.  It seemed that every night, we were being treated to a clutch hit or great defensive play by one of these unsung Buccos.  The Sunday games – the day of the week where Jim Leyland would notoriously rest most of his stars – were full of bench players in the lineup, so if you ventured to Three Rivers Stadium to see the Bucs on a Sunday afternoon, chances are you would see Gary Redus somewhere on the infield.  The strategy worked, as the Pirates would usually get an outstanding performance by a reserve every weekend.

Clint Hurdle doesn’t quite have the same game plan for the current Bucs.  The skipper likes to move guys around in the batting order based on who is hot or match-up stats, but rarely does he sit more than one starter in a game.  As we get deeper into this season, players like Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker will need a day or two off to stay fresh.  Good thing for Hurdle that he has a bench full of players who can get the job done when duty calls.  As Drew Sutton proved this past week, there is something about putting on that black and gold jersey that just brings out the best ballplayer in everyone.

Baseball is truly a sport that embraces the team concept.  Over 162 games, every player on the 25-man roster will need to step up for his moment in the sun.  This season, it has been gritty bench players like Michael McKenry (#StarttheFORT) who have made us nostalgic for those early 90′s Pirates squads.  “The Fort” is clearly the backup to Rod Barajas, but with the veteran catcher dealing with some minor injuries lately, it has been McKenry who has firmly established his spot as the second backstop for the Bucs.  His current hot streak has keyed a few wins for the Pirates, and his team spirit is evident to anyone who watches this team on a daily basis.  Josh Harrison is another bench player who has been invaluable to the team, playing all over the infield and in both corner outfield spots.  He has played stellar defense, with only two errors in 51 games – even more notable when he check out his splits and realize that he has started games at five different positions in 2012.

Drew Sutton has technically been a Pirate twice this season, having been acquired in late May and then ending up in Tampa Bay, only to be reacquired on June 24.  While with the Rays, Sutton played first, second, and third base – then immediately became primarily an outfielder upon his return to the National League.  While his .387 BA in nine games for the Pirates has been superb, knowing Sutton can play every position on the diamond sans catcher is just as valuable to Hurdle.  Pirates fans were treated to the first walk off homer in the four year big league career of their newest player on Tuesday night, a 10th inning bomb to center field that sealed another win over the hapless Astros.

The acquisition of Casey McGehee has proven to be a nice move for the Pirates.  Despite a slow start with the bat, having McGehee around enabled Hurdle to give Pedro Alvarez the proper match-ups during his struggles.  Now that Alvarez has found his bat, McGehee has evolved into a super-sub player – and a nice luxury for Hurdle.  Garrett Jones has benefited greatly from the current roster alignment as well, and if he stays on his current pace, Jones could blast 25 homers in only 400 plate appearances.  The Jones/McGehee Frankenstein monster could end up with a .275/40/100 line if they stay the course, a stat line that some teams are paying up to $10 million per season to acquire.

If the 2012 Pirates end up playing in October, it will be in no small part to the contributions of McKenry, Sutton, Harrison, and McGehee.

SP Paul Maholm could be part of the Cubs firesale later this month.

Could Paul Maholm make a return to Pittsburgh this summer?

Paul Maholm spent seven respectable seasons in Pittsburgh, winning 53 games in his time as a Pirate.  This past offseason, the Bucs made a decision to not extend a team option for him that would have cost over $10 million.  He subsequently signed with the Chicago Cubs for $4.75 million with a 2013 option at $6.5 million, numbers that are not out of whack for an inning-eating veteran starter.  Maholm never played on a Pirates team that lost less than 90 games, and one could imagine that he is secretly cheering for the Bucs whenever the Cubs aren’t facing them.  The Pirates have always been blessed with players who understand the commitment to the community and impact they can have with their high profile careers, and Maholm was one of the best in Pittsburgh for his entire run here.  His donations of time and money to the Miracle League field program and many other various Pirates charities made him one of the most requested athletes in the city for these events.  Bottom line:  Paul Maholm was a complete professional who genuinely loved the city of Pittsburgh.

The 2012 season was going to be a rebuilding year for the Cubs and their new Theo Epstein-run front office.  They knew going in that they would be bad, but nobody on the North Side could have predicted the Cubbies to be THIS bad.  The team is in full-on firesale mode, and any player not named Starlin Castro or Anthony Rizzo is on the trading block.  This includes the veteran-laden starting rotation of Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Travis Wood, and Paul Maholm.  Garza will be a hot ticket at the trade deadline, and being that he is under contract for at least two more seasons at only 28-years old, he will command a significant return via highly-rated prospects.  The Pirates would be more apt to look at Dempster or Maholm, neither of whom would command a top-rated prospect return.

The idea of Paul Maholm coming back to Pittsburgh hasn’t been discussed too much in the local media, but the chances of it happening are real.  The Pirates starting rotation has been solid, with James McDonald, A.J. Burnett, and Jeff Karstens all with locked-down slots for the stretch run.  The wild cards are Eric Bedard, who has taken the loss in four of his last six starts and seems to have lost his command of the strike zone, and Kevin Correia.  Correia has pitched better of late, winning three of his last four starts and only giving up 2 earned runs in the other.  Correia has probably pitched his way back into the rotation for the rest of the season.  The Pirates will give Bedard a few more starts to sort out his issues, but there is always the chance of a looming injury with Bedard.  Having one more proven, back-of-the-rotation starter like Maholm could put the Pirates pitching staff over the hump.  Maholm has only thrown 89.2 IP in 2012, and if the Pirates were to bring him back in July, he could end up being a horse for them in a pennant race.  The Cubs will be looking for young, controllable talent.  The Pirates have a slew of young starting pitchers in Jeff Locke, Rudy Owens, and Justin Wilson who all appear ready for the big leagues, but are sandwiched between the Pirates current starts and a crop of future stars behind them.  These pitchers could be used as trade bait to require Paul Maholm, who would undoubtedly be thrilled to return to Pittsburgh in a season that could be historic.  Maholm has seen the underbelly of Pittsburgh baseball, the chance to see it at its best would be incentive enough for him to have one of his traditional “bulldog” runs where he is as good as any left-handed pitcher in the National League.

If Neil Huntington can get a deal done for Maholm and perhaps a spark-plug fourth outfielder like Reed Johnson, I could see the Pirates giving up Jeff Locke and perhaps Indianapolis first baseman Jeff Clement, who has seen his career reborn in 2012.  This would be a deal that could be done, while still allowing the Pirates to seriously consider a few of the “big time” trades we will discuss next.  Would you like to see Paul Maholm back in Pittsburgh?  Sound off in the comments section below.

Is Andrew McCutchen a legit N.L. MVP candidate? Yes, he is.

MVP?

The chants of “MVP MVP MVP” at PNC Park each time Andrew McCutchen enters the batting box may not the product of a pipe dream after all.  The Pirates All-Star center fielder is having a season that could end up being one of the best overall campaigns in the history of the Pirates.  Currently leading the N.L. with a .360 BA to go along with his 16 HR and 54 RBI, “Cutch” is on pace to not only hit 35 HR and drive in over 100 runs, he also has a legitimate shot at a 30/30 season and an outside shot at the elusive 40/40 season.  McCutchen currently has 14 stolen bases, so he would have to amp up that number to reach 40 steals.  His power seems to grow by the game, so hitting 40 home runs is not out of reach.  His other stats include a .412 OBP and a 1.022 OPS.  He could end up with over 30 doubles and double-digit triples.  Toss in the fact that he is a possible Gold Glove candidate as well, and you have one of the greatest seasons by any player – EVER.

Could Andrew McCutchen be in the discussion for the National league MVP award?  He should, and he will.  Keep the chants going at the ballpark, just in case.

Quick Hits

- Hearing the rumors that the Pirates could potentially be in on the trade discussions for the Phillies Cole Hamels or the Brewers Zack Greinke is exciting, but fans should temper their expectations.  The Pirates front office is not going to mortgage their future (Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Luis Heredia) for either Hamels or Greinke.  Both pitchers are three-month rentals and neither would be a high percentage play to resign long term in Pittsburgh.  As far as starting pitching goes, the Pirates should be looking at players such as Maholm or even Joe Blanton.  Both can be had fairly cheap, and both could possibly come in a package that would include either bullpen help or a significant upgrade to a bench slot.

-  Expect to hear the names Jeff Locke, Rudy Owens, Justin Wilson, Bryan Morris, Daniel McCutchen, Duke Welker, Jeff Clement, Matt Hague, Gorkys Hernandez, and Alex Presley in any potential trade rumors for the Bucs.

-  The Pirates had at least five legitimate All Star candidates, and will be represented by two players – McCutchen and Joel Hanrahan.  A.J. Burnett, James McDonald, and Jason Grilli all had the stats to make the game, but were not selected.  It makes you wonder if the “fan vote” has overstayed its welcome when a guy like McCutchen is not in the starting lineup, despite being the hottest player in all of baseball throughout the first half.

- The Pirates are 10 games over .500 as of tonight’s win and sweep of the four-game series against Houston.  Get used to the phrase “first time since 1992″ because everything the Bucs do from this point out will be described in that context.

- C Rod Barajas was once again scratched from the lineup tonight due to an injury.  With Eric Fryer up in the majors and Michael McKenry playing like a starter, now would be the time for the Bucs to give Barajas a vacation on the 15-day DL.  The 36-year old catcher has played in 100 games only four times in his 14-year career.  He will need to have time off to get to the finish line.

-  2B Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 9 games tonight, and has raised his batting average from .263 to .275 during this stretch.  Walker hit .296 in 2010 before regressing back to .273 last season.  Ultimately, he should be right in the middle of those two numbers – .280.  If Walker can consistently hit .280 with 10-15 homeruns and 80 RBI, he will always be ranked in the top 10 second baseman in the game.

- The demotion of OF Jose Tabata to Indianapolis this week was a long time coming.  Tabata has looked simply awful in the field, taking bad routes to balls and seemingly pulling up on fly balls that look like they could have been caught.  At the plate, he seemed to be starting to find his stroke.  He will play both RF and LF at Indy and work on his conditioning, which has been an issue for him since last summer.  Tabata is only 23-years old and fans tend to forget that he only racked up 442 total plate appearances at the AAA level before being promoted to Pittsburgh.  He may need a full 2-3 months at Indianapolis to get back on track, hopefully in time to contribute to a Pirates pennant chase in September.

That’s it for this extended edition of Pirates Smorgasbord.  The Bucs end the first half of 2012 with a tough three-game series against the San Francisco Giants in a battle of division leaders, however they will miss Giants ace Matt Cain in the series – a definite plus.  Enjoy the All Star game and break, folks.  Next week we will be back to start what could be the most historic half-season of baseball in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

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You can follow Jeff Snedden on Twitter @jeffsnedden

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Pedro Alvarez hit his second bomb of the day….the dugout is alive with electricity and Michael McKenry walks past Andrew McCutchen and drops this face. So what are we calling it?

The winner will be announced next Sunday. Ready, set, go….

There will be a surprise cash prize.

Oh, damn, Pedro just put a hole in the LEFT field wall with a two-out double.