« Cardinals Outfielders Speak | Main | Mariners Avoid Arb With Felix Hernandez »

Pirates Notes: Maholm, Mientkiewicz, Alvarez

By Tim Dierkes [January 19, 2009 at 9:14am CST]

The latest on the Pirates, from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Extension talks with Nate McLouth are dormant, but talks with Paul Maholm are not. Maholm is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, so he's under team control through 2011.
Doug Mientkiewicz was overwhelmed by the support he's getting from Pirates fans.
Scott Boras apparently told the Pirates Pedro Alvarez was working very hard to stay in shape while their negotiations dragged, but team president Frank Coonelly says Alvarez "was not in good condition" when he showed up for the Florida Instructional League in September.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e2010536e40070970c

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Pirates Notes: Maholm, Mientkiewicz, Alvarez:

Comments

I find that last point entertaining.

Posted by: Cardinals Fan Forever | January 19, 2009 at 09:16 AM

Like anyone really believes what Boras says. If team management hasn't figured out by now that nothing Boras says can be taken at face value then they need to be fired.

Posted by: bravesfan | January 19, 2009 at 09:28 AM

How bad is it for Pirates gans when they're giving "overwhelming support" to Doug Mienkiewicz?

Ouch.

Posted by: tolo316 | January 19, 2009 at 09:28 AM

"How bad is it for Pirates gans when they're giving "overwhelming support" to Doug Mienkiewicz?"

Fans give support to mediocre players all the time, even on good teams. Being a "fan favorite" doesn't necessarily mean you're good.

Posted by: melonis rex | January 19, 2009 at 09:36 AM

Pedro Alvarez, it would be a smart idea to see that you've already unhashed a PR nightmare and not to exacerbate it by showing up out of shape, both to camp in September AND the current minicamp.

Posted by: melonis rex | January 19, 2009 at 09:38 AM

I would like to have Paul Maholm and John Grabow for Gregor Blanco and a lower level pitcher

Posted by: Bravesfan10 | January 19, 2009 at 09:40 AM

Where does Alvarez play?

Posted by: Bravesfan10 | January 19, 2009 at 09:41 AM

"I would like to have Paul Maholm and John Grabow for Gregor Blanco and a lower level pitcher"

I hope this was a joke.

Posted by: melonis rex | January 19, 2009 at 09:45 AM

bravesfan10, keep dreaming. Littlefield doesn't run this team anymore.

Maholm was the only consistent pitcher on the staff, it would make no sense to trade him for anything right now.

And the Pirates need to bring back Minky. Everyone loved his attitude and he was a very good bench player and got a lot of important hits. I'd love to see him coaching in a few years.

Posted by: bigpat | January 19, 2009 at 09:50 AM

"I would like to have Paul Maholm and John Grabow for Gregor Blanco and a lower level pitcher"

I hope this was a joke.

Naw not really...why?

Posted by: Bravesfan10 | January 19, 2009 at 09:52 AM

Well Ian Snell for Gregor Blanco and Stephen Marek/Todd Redmond?

Posted by: Bravesfan10 | January 19, 2009 at 09:54 AM

no one wants gregor blanco if it costs them anything of value

Posted by: was385 | January 19, 2009 at 10:06 AM

Because the Pirates have no need to trade Maholm or Snell unless they're getting top pitching/SS prospects in return.

Posted by: melonis rex | January 19, 2009 at 10:09 AM

Please think before you propose random trades. Why would the Pirates want Gregor Blanco? Why would anyone for that matter?

Posted by: bigpat | January 19, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Of course Pedro was out of shape because he has spent a significant amount of time partying and getting wasted with his college buddies

Posted by: ARyan | January 19, 2009 at 10:28 AM

I feel soooo sorry for Bucs fans. Different management, same results.

I bet Alvarez is really really starting to tick off Buccos fans.

Posted by: Ink&Paper | January 19, 2009 at 10:56 AM

Bucs never should have caved to the extortion game the union and Boras ran to get more money for alvarez.

Owners and MLB have no spine. Boras owns them.

Posted by: go sox | January 19, 2009 at 11:51 AM

In MLB's defense, Boras owns alot of things

Posted by: ArodMVP217 | January 19, 2009 at 12:06 PM

"Bucs never should have caved to the extortion game the union and Boras ran to get more money for alvarez."

Coonelly and Huntington did EVERYTHING right in the Alvarez scenario. They went to draft, and picked THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE at the time of drafting, regardless of signability questions or cost/representation (Boras). Then, they fork over the 6MM++ needed to sign him. The best way for a noncontender to spend money is on the draft.

Giving in to Boras's demands looks a LOT better in the long run than Alvarez not signing/getting the contract voided and re-entering the draft next year. Much, much better. Now the Bucs have one of the best position prospects in the NL in their system, and at a position (3B) which isn't very deep leaguewide.

Posted by: melonis rex | January 19, 2009 at 01:39 PM

"I feel soooo sorry for Bucs fans. Different management, same results."

I disagree. New management has made several steps forward. The Nady trade and the Alvarez signing are few of their good moves. Also, not moving Wilson for peanuts. If someone won't top the two draft picks Wilson will net, don't trade him. Someone will probably get desperate at the deadline for a SS.

With the exception of the Bay trade (and a lot of LaRoche's struggles could possibly be attributed to timing; some players, especially prospects just need regular PT to get into that groove, and Andy was being shuffled back and forth while in LA).

The Nady trade was selling high on a guy who was screaming "fluke" (had he gone back to his 2007 numbers in the 2nd half, the Bucs would be screwed) buying low on a VERY highly ranked prospect in Tabata (who rebounded, btw, and still got a B+ mark from Sickels). And getting a servicable #4-5 starter in Karstens.

Posted by: melonis rex | January 19, 2009 at 01:45 PM

melonis rex... i agree with everything you say about the new managment... i think neil huntington has done a great job so far... with the players hes brought in and not giving up jack wilson for nothing... In NEIL HUNTINGTON I TRUST!

Posted by: BucsNewEra2011 | January 19, 2009 at 09:59 PM

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:

Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

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.

Pirates Notes: Maholm, Mientkiewicz, Alvarez

TrackBack

Comments

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Post a comment

Top Stories

Search MLBTR

MLBTR Features

Recent Posts

MLBTR Mailing List

Rumors By Team

Monthly Archives

Live Chats


Home Contact About Advertise Archives Widget Twitter RSS Usage