The Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly made a record-setting free agent contract offer to Kyle Schwarber.
That is, record-setting for themselves, bigger money than they ever have paid a free agent by a factor of three. Only problem? Schwarber took an even bigger offer to return to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Now the Pirates have to figure out what's next.
It's all well and good to talk a big game about spending money. You can back that up by being sure to leak to the media whatever the big offer was, even when you know it won't be enough to land the player.
But when that player signs elsewhere, it's time to sink or swim.
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The Pirates evidently felt they had at least $30 million per year to pay out, if Schwarber had accepted their reported four-year, $120 million contract.
Now's the time for Pittsburgh to prove it was serious and shell that money out elsewhere.
If the Pirates are going for a similar player type to Schwarber, the likes of Pete Alonso and Eugenio Suarez are available.
They've been linked to second baseman Jorge Polanco, as well.
It really does seem to be about bats for the Pirates, who have a solid assortment of pitching talent to call upon.
Will the Pirates fade into the background after missing out on Schwarber? Or will this force them to double down on other free agents? That's what will define Pittsburgh's offseason.
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