The Pittsburgh Pirates saw another shakeup to their front office this week, as the San Francisco Giants hired professional evaluation team leader Hadi Raad away to be their new pro scouting director.
While Pirates fans probably wouldn't have even noticed that Raad was gone (what even is a professional evaluation team leader, anyway?), Giants fans appear to be less than pleased with the hire. Quite frankly, we can't blame them.
Assuming that professional evaluation means, well, evaluating professionals, the Pirates aren't exactly a model for success in that department. One need not look any further back than the 2024 MLB trade deadline for evidence to that effect. If Raad's professional evaluation team was responsible for bringing Bryan De La Cruz to Pittsburgh in exchange for a pair of prospects in right-hander Jun-Seok Shim and infielder Garret Forrester, then... yikes.
De La Cruz was supposed to be the answer to the Pirates' lack of offense as they chased a spot in the postseason. Instead, he became part of a late season implosion, hitting just .200 with three home runs, 17 RBI and two stolen bases, ultimately getting non-tendered by the club at the end of November. Again, that's not a great showing for Pittsburgh's professional evaluation ability.
Giants fans seem less than thrilled after poaching key Pirates evaluator responsible for Bryan De La Cruz trade
But wait! It gets better.
Before he came to the Pirates, Raad spent three full seasons as the director of pro scouting for the Miami Marlins. Where did De La Cruz come from? The Miami Marlins. In fact, Raad was Miami's pro scouting director when the club traded right-hander Yimi Garcia to the Houston Astros for right-hander Austin Pruitt – and De La Cruz – in July 2021.
So, Pirates fans shouldn't be all that disappointed about losing the guy who was largely responsible for their biggest trade deadline disappointment in 2024. Giants fans, on the other hand? Well, best of luck to you all.
The Pirates will, however, need to find a new professional evaluation team leader... whatever that is.
More Pirates content from Rum Bunter