Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington Has Earned Fans’ Trust

Jun 12, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker (left) the Pirates first round selection in the 2014 supplemental draft speaks with Pirates general manager Neal Huntington (right) after signing his contract before the Pirates host the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

On December 7, 2007, my phone rang and I was told Salomon Torres had been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Kevin Roberts and Marino Salas. I put my head in my hands and hung up the phone.

That was my introduction to Neal Huntington.

Fast forward to December 2013 and fans have transformed their stances from confused to endlessly professing thanks to him and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates management.

I will admit I did not initially know much about Huntington but figured he had to be an upgrade over Dave Littlefield.

The turning point for Huntington was the 2008 trade that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees. The return was Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Tabata. Karstens was very dependable in his time as a Pirate regardless of whether he was a starter or reliever. His location made him valuable to the team. Daniel McCutchen had a great 2011 season with the Pirates. Ohlendorf gave the Pirates two good seasons and Tabata stayed on the 25-man roster until earlier this season. That was a win.

Five days later was the biggest flop of a trade when the Pirates sold high on Jason Bay as part of the Manny Ramirez deal. The idea was good but the return was not. Craig Hanson never panned out due to injury, Andy LaRoche was not good enough to stick with the team, Brandon Moss did not perform well with the Pirates and Bryan Morris could not develop his off-speed pitches with the Pirates as he was let go earlier in the season.

Now of course, Moss has found success with the Oakland Athletics and Morris with the Miami Marlins. You know a trade is considered bad when management admits it was a failure and Pirates management did that at the end of the 2008 season.

Jose Bautista was the next piece to go and the Pirates flopped on this trade as well acquiring Robinzon Diaz. Not much analysis needed on that one, anyone who has watched baseball the past three to four years knows how much of a disaster this trade was. Huntington pulled the trigger too quickly after Bautista lost his starting job to Andy LaRoche. Eight days later he was traded.

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The first time I met Neal Huntington was at PirateFest in 2009. Naturally with so many trades in 2008, there were several curious fans who asked him questions. I decided to go a different route and asked him about Mark Shapiro who was general manager (now team president) for the Cleveland Indians. Once I heard his answer I knew immediately what he would be as the Pirates general manager and I approved and forgave Huntington for the two large mistakes he made the prior season.

May 2009 was the Nate McLouth trade, which proved to be the turning point for Huntington. McLouth was traded for Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke and Gorkys Hernandez. Hernandez did not pay off but Morton and Locke both did. Both are current members of the rotation. The Pirates felt that Andrew McCutchen was ready and chose not to shift McLouth to a corner outfield position, but rather trade him. McLouth – outside of a good 2013 season with the Baltimore Orioles – has not been the same player.

Joel Hanrahan joined the Pirates a month later and this required getting rid of Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett, which turned out to be the correct choice. Though the Pirates did not get a good result from Lastings Milledge, Hanrahan turned out to be the best player involved in the trade and was an asset to the Pittsburgh bullpen.

While the Pirates did not find similar successes in trades to Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson, they were not true misses, but rather just trusting that they could be replaced. James McDonald and Derrek Lee were added the next two seasons, and both found success with the Pirates.

To this point, the team was not able to establish enough credibility to make any significant free-agent signings. This changed in 2012 when the Pirates signed A.J. Burnett. This was a huge moment for Huntington as before they would sign position players that would flop or get relievers just to trade them for pieces later (see Octavio Dotel).

Burnett quickly became a leader in the Pirates clubhouse and had two great seasons with the team. Outside of a bunt to the eye, he stayed healthy and pitched 393 innings in his time with the club. This led to free-agent signings like Russell Martin, which helped.

Burnett would team with deadline acquisition Wandy Rodriguez and each threw over 200 innings in 2012. Rodriguez cost Rudy Owens and Robbie Grossman, who have bounced back and forth between the Houston Astros and the minor leagues. Colton Cain has not panned out either. While Rodriguez’s end with the Pirates was not a good one, he did what he was supposed to in 2012, the Pirates just were not in a position they were used to and were unable to capitalize.

From the beginning, the 2013 season felt different. Martin was now with the Pirates, Gaby Sanchez had joined the Pirates the past July to help Garrett Jones provide depth at first base. Clint Barmes had signed in 2012 and provided defense, McCutchen became the MVP of the National League and really everything came together.

Huntington received criticism early as a general manager, some of it deserved, but cleaning up the mess Littlefield took time and pretty much starting from next to nothing, the top minor-league system was built. Now, the possibilities were endless.

The Pirates made a great decision last year, getting Marlon Byrd, who helped them in the playoff chase. While Justin Morneau was also acquired, he did not pan out in a Pirates uniform. Byrd quickly was embraced by the team and his power was a tremendous asset that helped the team to its first playoff berth since 1992.

Today, Huntington has many reasons to smile. All of the hard work is finally paying off. Yes, there have been plenty of stumbles, but the fans who had been starving for a winning team are starting to become satisfied.

Huntington has done this while protecting all of his top prospects. Some may view this as cheap, but he does wants to maintain and exceed the current success. Getting a player for a couple of months may help the current club, but losing a top prospect for something that may not work out is not something Huntington is willing to invest in.

The Pirates had a chance at Jon Lester today, but ended up losing out to Oakland. Why? The A’s were willing to give up Yoenis Cespedes. That would be similar to the Pirates giving up Gregory Polanco. Anyone in their right mind would turn down that deal, and fans are starting to under stand, some again thanking Huntington for not pulling the trigger.

It’s easy to see big names and get excited, but Huntington knows better and maybe fans do, too. Not because the Pirates are cheap, but rather because Huntington uses his head and not his heart. Maybe now the city believes in the Pirates, and more talent is on the way.

If the Pirates do not make the playoffs this season, it’s not a big deal. This team is built to win for the long haul. No this team will not get Justin Masterson or John Lackey, both of whom went to the Cardinals. What they will get is the confidence that they do not need to force themselves into a trade.

The Pirates are right there in both the NL Central and wild card standings and they will not choke. Teams will need to beat them if they want a playoff spot.

So thank you Neal Huntington. It’s been a bumpy ride, and the Pirates have not been to the top yet, but now there is a chance they will get there.