Pirates talk to Luis Gonzalez (says the Post-Gazette)

Luis Gonzalez is looking for a new team. Ideally, a team with a bench/part-time opening. Preferably with younger players. Really? The Pirates have those things. And Gonzalez does not want much money either. The Pirates have that too! Okay, let's all settle down and remember that the year is NOT 2002. Gonzalez is no longer a star. Physically, he probably could not play close to every day. And even with Gonzalez, and potentially Pedro Martinez, the Pirates will not reach the playoffs this year. So, what does this accomplish? They use (potentially, again) 2 roster spots for aging, past-their-prime veterans that could have gone to 2 younger players. Come 2010, those 2 younger players will not have that extra bit of big league experience that might come in handy. Perhaps this makes the 2010 team a little worse than it could have been. Then again, maybe having two veterans of such caliber would help the team mature. I really don't know. Doug Mientkiewicz was supposedly a very valuable player on the Pirate's roster in 2008. Everyone likes him. Everyone respects him. I'm sure some, if not all, players learned from him. Does this show in the standings? Will it show? I really don't know. As exciting as it would be to add a couple of aging superstars to the team, these moves, if they happen, could be a detriment. I would much rather see Braden Looper signed to be a starter. At least with Looper, there is a realistic chance that he could be retained beyond this coming season. I'm not sure I'd even want to see Martinez or Gonzalez, at this point in their careers, for one season.