Shapiro Looked to Add Bat in Offseason

Mark Shapiro, Eric Wedge and their crew TRIED to make a move this off-season for a left-field or right-field bat.

Nothing was good enough to give up what teams were asking for though.

Immediately off the bat, I'm pretty sure a ton of GMs were asking for Adam Miller or Aaron Laffey. A price Shapiro wasn't willing to play(and can you blame him the way Laffey is pitching?).

Another guy I heard in rumors was Asdrubal Cabrera. Now, Cabrera isn't really getting the job done, but he is young and there is no telling where his ceiling is.

Kelly Shoppach was a guy the Pirates had interest in, and with Victor going down last year, he proved how valuable he was off the bench. I'm sure Shapiro was hesitant to deal him.

And the guy involved in the most rumors and still was up until his fabulous third or so start, Cliff Lee. Shapiro looks good for not dealing his sparkling stud of the rotation(so far) in the off-season.

This group is a selective bunch. That's why I've learned to not question moves. Not all of them will work out. Look at Jason DuBois for Jody Gerut. Brandon Phillips for Jeff Stevens(even if Stevens becomes a good reliever, which I think he will, BP is an all-star). I can't really think of any more off the top of my head that didn't work out for them.

But they happen. Yet Shapiro would rather wait till he gets something HE feels comfortable with. He isn't someone to jump at a deal because the fans want it. I give him credit.

At least he was looking. That's all you want. Maybe if the offense needs it(and with Francisco playing well, I don't think so at this point), at the deadline, he will go out again and get a bat for left field.