Mark Madden's Hot Take: Getting a bat at the deadline will keep deception going for Pirates

Here’s why the Pittsburgh Pirates should add a significant bat before MLB’s July 30 deadline, proposed in a way that owner Bob Nutting might approve:

If the Pirates legitimately appear to be trying to win, it would hook the marks for at least five more years. The suckers. That’s you.

This is a long con, after all.

Adding payroll before the deadline would cost a bit of money now, but it would further the deception of the franchise’s intent and be good PR in the immediacy.

Consider the acquisition of pitcher Chris Archer from Tampa Bay in 2018.

Archer, a two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay, was terrible for the Pirates. In return, the Pirates gave Tampa Bay pitcher Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Shane Baz, all prospects. Glasnow and Meadows have had issues with injury and illness but, when available, have been competent big-leaguers, occasionally excelling.

That trade was an unmitigated disaster.

But at least the Pirates tried. That’s how many remember that trade: The Pirates had a chance to win, albeit a slim one, and at least they tried.

You’ve got to give the marks just enough so you can keep taking.

Go get a bat, Bob. Keep the grift going.

Pile a decent acquisition of top of wins like Friday’s 8-7 come-from-behind walk-off against the best team in MLB in front of a sellout crowd at PNC Park, and the rubes might even say you did the right thing when you trade Paul Skenes after he gets a big arbitration award.