Rude Awakening: Arbitration Will Force Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz to FACE Criticism

Pittsburgh Pirates face a critical arbitration deadline—could Oneil Cruz benefit from tough love in the boardroom? Gary Morgan explores whether arbitration’s cold hard facts might spark a turning point for the electrifying but inconsistent shortstop. The episode tackles arbitration strategy, roster decisions around Joey Bart, Dennis Santana, and Justin Lawrence, and what each player’s future could mean for the team’s trajectory.NL Central over/under projections take center stage as Morgan sizes up the Brewers’ chances of repeating 97 wins, the Cubs’ rebuilt rotation featuring Edward Cabrera, and whether the Reds’ youthful core can finally grow together. The breakdown covers key moves, wild cards, and breakout candidates. Final segment: Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) might actually make baseball more watchable—will robot umps add drama or trigger a race for perfection? Don’t miss this incisive look at the Pirates’ offseason strategy and the changing MLB landscape.Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONFanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Every Friday night, before the games tip off, FanDuel gives fans a new way to kick off the weekend with NBA Happy Hour. Check the FanDuel app and see what’s dropping during NBA Happy Hour — every Friday from 6 to 7:30 PM Eastern.FanDuel — the Official Sportsbook Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.