 |
|
|
| |
« Giants Sign Renteria? | Main | Mariners Sign Russell Branyan »
Pirates Get Last Crack At Mientkiewicz
Dejan Kovacevic talked to free agent first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz recently. Mientkiewicz seeks a starting job, even while admitting, "I'm everybody's B and C plan. If the two guys they want to sign get hit by a truck, then they think about me."
The 34 year-old hit .277/.374/.379 in 334 plate appearances while playing an above average first base. He earned $1.075MM. The Pirates want him back, but in a utility/clubhouse leader type role. Pirates president Frank Coonelly said today, "We are working hard to convince Doug that returning to the Pirates is an outstanding opportunity for him." Out of gratitude to GM Neal Huntington for giving him a shot this year, Mientkiewicz will give the Pirates a call before he signs anywhere else.
Kovacevic also has an update on the Jack Wilson trade talks. He says the Bucs are focused on the Dodgers, seeking Chin-Lung Hu and Delwyn Young. Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier today that the Dodgers' talks for Wilson "remain stalled," while John Perrotto said L.A. "backed off."
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e2010536370c20970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Pirates Get Last Crack At Mientkiewicz:
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Top Stories
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
Recent Posts
Rumors By Team
Monthly Archives
Live Chats
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST
"Above average defense"?
Mientkiewicz is hands down the best defensive first baseman in the MLB. How this guy does not win a gold glove every year for his ridiculous defense is beyond me.
Posted by: Brandon W. Fisher | December 04, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I'll kill Colletti myself if he trades for Wilson
Posted by: eric23 | December 04, 2008 at 12:11 AM
WIlson sucksssssssss
Posted by: NedCollettiClueless | December 04, 2008 at 12:28 AM
i wish this wilson to the dodgers rumor would just die. i'm tired of thinking about colletti effing his team up any further.
Posted by: jmurray | December 04, 2008 at 12:30 AM
Jack Wilson isn't worth Hu and Young. He isn't even worth Hu straight up. Ned is a moron. We have cheaper in-house options but he chooses not to see that. Give Hu a chance until DeJesus is ready for the majors. No need for this pointless trade, and yes Wilson does suck. But everyone knows Ned loves mediocre veteran players.
Posted by: Why_was_I_born_a Dodger fan | December 04, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Brandon Fisher:
Because the stats say otherwise. Pujols is actually the best fielding 1B in the NL, and if you disagree you can go check the stats yourself on Bill James' website where he breaks down them all for the fielding bible awards.
Posted by: mtzxc | December 04, 2008 at 12:42 AM
If Wilson is in the cards for the Dodgers, than it would make sense that Khalil Greene would be, too. Swapping him for Delwyn Young would be a steal for Kevin Towers. Especially if Young went back to 2B.
Posted by: WestCoastBias | December 04, 2008 at 01:15 AM
I post that... than I see the Cardinals announcement. Great.
Posted by: WestCoastBias | December 04, 2008 at 01:17 AM
HAHAHA Minky always thinks he should be either hitting in the middle of the order and starting, like he was when he played with Boston, or now starting like he wants to now. The guy is absolutely nothing but a glove and nothing else. He had *2* decent years period with his bad and has never even knocked in 80 runs. How many teams can afford that out of the 1B position?
Posted by: johns | December 04, 2008 at 02:57 AM
"HAHAHA Minky always thinks he should be either hitting in the middle of the order and starting, like he was when he played with Boston, or now starting like he wants to now. The guy is absolutely nothing but a glove and nothing else. He had *2* decent years period with his bad and has never even knocked in 80 runs. How many teams can afford that out of the 1B position?"
Did you read the part of the article where he says he wants a starting job but knows he is everones plan B or C come on he knows what he is worth and he will be back in Pittsburgh next year I hope.
Also I would love for this Wilson to the Dodgers deal to get done because I love seeing non-Pirate fans blasting their GM. Some Pirate fans would still find a way to say we got fleeced.
Posted by: BucSox | December 04, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Mientkiewicz is very valuable to a team like the Pirates.
What often gets overlooked is the importance of infield defense to young starting pitchers. When he was starting with the Twins, their infield defense was among the best in the league ... guys like Eric Milton and Joe Mays benefited ... and the Twins started winning. Now, of course, he was there to serve a role on a team that had no chance for contention, like the Pirates in '09. But he helped build the confidence of the pitching staff so that when they were ready to start winning, they could ship him out.
Teams don't do this very much anymore ... incremental improvement. They want the best available player they can afford at every position without consideration of how those pieces work together. It'd be nice to see a more intentional approach.
Posted by: AJ | December 04, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Bucsox, The hitting in the middle of the order was a reference from when he played in Boston and was griping about lack of playing time and also when he was, was not hitting above 8th and ninth in the order and when saw Minky once again griping about wanting to start with his non-bat, it was a reminder.
Posted by: johns | December 04, 2008 at 11:47 AM
"Mientkiewicz is hands down the best defensive first baseman in the MLB."
The '08 Baseball Prospectus seemed to indicate that his defense was overrated (closer to average) and that he is living off the legacy of his stellar, early career defense.
Anybody have any good sources of defensive analysis to substantiate either the statement above or BP's take?
Posted by: elguapo | December 04, 2008 at 08:13 PM