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« Bonderman's Tests Reveal 'No Major Issues' | Main | 45 Worst Contracts In Baseball »
MRI On Pirates Prospect Reveals Inflammation
6:59pm: Apparently, the Pirates couldn't wait until Tuesday. Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review found out from Huntington that Tabata had the MRI today and everything looks fine.
"He does have some mild rotator cuff inflammation, but is able to return to activities as (the pain is) tolerated."
6:11pm: Highly-touted prospect Jose Tabata will have an MRI done on his right shoulder Tuesday after alerting the Pittsburgh Pirates' medical staff to some recent soreness, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.
General manager Neal Huntington told Langosch that the team's medical staff does not believe there is reason for serious concern. The MRI should help identify to doctors what is causing the outfielder discomfort.
Tabata was the marquee piece in last summer's trade that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees. He quickly became one of the Pirates' top prospects and has already drawn unsolicited praise from manager John Russell this spring.
Tabata, 20, is 0-for-3 with three walks this spring.
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Dammit, it's so rare to see a Bucco headline at MLBTR, so I was pumped when I hit refresh. Not so much...
Posted by: bucs_lose_again | March 02, 2009 at 06:22 PM
The Pirates REALLY need Tabata to get in his development this year, with the hopes of joining McCutchen and probably Brandon Moss in the outfield sometime in 2010, with McLouth likely being traded for pitching or middle infield help.
Landing Tabata in the Nady/Marte trade was a quiet victory for that franchise.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 02, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Since when does MLBTR report injuries as much as this ... sheesh! I come here for rumors!
Posted by: twinsfan | March 02, 2009 at 06:27 PM
Amen Scrib... This guys gonna be a stud.
Posted by: BuccoNation | March 02, 2009 at 06:48 PM
I find it interesting how much Tabata's stock has fluctuated as a prospect.
The guy was considered one of the best prospects in baseball last year (#37 on BA Top 100). But he started 2008 brutally in AA for New York (.248/.320/.310 in 294 at bats) and talk of character issues came up.
So the Yankees did what you should never do. They sold low on the guy by moving him in a package for a year and a half of a league average player in Nady and a half year of a solid reliever in Marte.
Tabata happened to rake in AA after joining Pittsburgh (.348/.402/.562 in 89 at bats) and now he's back in the talk of elite outfield prospects.
Tabata hopefully ends up being one of the few things that goes right in that organization.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 02, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Yeah I hated to trade Tabata but with Matsui and Posada down the Yanks really needed a bat and he did finish right behing Arod in hrs and rbis after being acquired. I know Cash probably gave in to the pressure to make the playoffs.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | March 02, 2009 at 08:03 PM
"Since when does MLBTR report injuries as much as this ... sheesh! I come here for rumors!"
Only when the injuries are to significant players (Johan, Bonderman, Utley, etc.) and/or top prospects (Tabata).
"Landing Tabata in the Nady/Marte trade was a quiet victory for that franchise."
Totally agree, although that trade looks like a win/win for both sides.
Posted by: melonis rex | March 02, 2009 at 08:24 PM
They're keeping Ben busy tonight.
"Yeah I hated to trade Tabata but with Matsui and Posada down the Yanks really needed a bat and he did finish right behing Arod in hrs and rbis after being acquired."
Brian Cashman is a MLBTR blogger? Nothing personal YanksFan, it just cracks me up when people refer to actions made by baseball front offices as if they pulled the trigger themselves or they are spending their own money.
Posted by: GScott | March 02, 2009 at 08:36 PM
I agree with melonis here. Trade was a win-win for both sides.
I think Nady is in line for a 25/90/.280/.350/.470 line this year. Of course, those may be too high considering he might not get full playing time.
Also, if Marte becomes even just a lefty specialist, I'll be happy with his performance (even at 4 mil a year).
I think the difference maker in this deal is not Tabata, he makes the deal even, but Karstens.
Posted by: B3NG4L | March 02, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Right. I think what ends up tipping the scales towards Pittsburgh in the end is the fact that they didn't only land Tabata, but they landed three solid young pitchers in Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutchen as well.
Looking back, the Pirates landed a pretty good package for Nady/Marte.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 02, 2009 at 09:20 PM
"Looking back, the Pirates landed a pretty good package for Nady/Marte."
Next move is to trade Adam LaRoche.
If Morales struggles and/or Rivera/Vlad/Abreu gets hurt, I could see LaRoche an Angel. Getting one of Adenhart or Walden in such a deal would be a steal.
"I think the difference maker in this deal is not Tabata, he makes the deal even, but Karstens."
Agreed. Personally, I think he's going to be a solid #4-5 starter. Which, for ANY team, is valuable, when looking at the contracts guys like Garland get.
Posted by: melonis rex | March 02, 2009 at 09:25 PM
I could also see Jack Wilson moved at the deadline (Dodgers if Furcal gets hurt, White Sox if Getz/Lillibridge don't perform well, although I think Lillibridge has mad potential), Twins.
There's just so many question marks in terms of contending suitors there.
Posted by: melonis rex | March 02, 2009 at 09:27 PM
I doubt the White Sox would go after Wilson to play second base, considering most of his value is in his defense at shortstop.
And let's not talk about potential failures from Lillibridge and Getz yet, it's too early for me to be considering that.
As for Karstens, when you consider how that rotation in Pittsburgh seems to shuffle ever year, getting a solid guy who can be placed in there and eat innings cheaply from year to year could be huge.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 02, 2009 at 09:32 PM
And I really doubt LaRoche could land the Pirates a Walden/Adenhart type prospect.
He's good but he'll be a FA after the season, and there's no way you land that type of pitching prospect for a rental of LaRoche's caliber. That'd be a brutal steal.
Posted by: scribbletone | March 02, 2009 at 09:35 PM
True. But it's been done.
Posted by: BuccoNation | March 02, 2009 at 10:25 PM
So far in spring training, Ohlendorf has been getting a lot of praise. Karstens had a couple good starts last season after the trade. Going into this season it seems Ohlendorf is the guy to keep an eye on as he has an inside track to a spot in the rotation.
Posted by: The Sobesman | March 02, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Not to mention I think Ohlendorf has better stuff. Karstens seems very hittable
Posted by: indybucfan | March 02, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Ohlendorf's stuff was never in question, all Yankee fans ever heard about (and saw on some occassions) was how good his slider/fastball combo was, and how it had excellent movement.
He just seemed to have problems harnessing those talents in games. Granted he's still young and can figure it out, and I'm sure he wasn't helped by the Yankees constantly bouncing him between starter, long reliever and set up man.
Posted by: jvg019 | March 03, 2009 at 10:10 AM
"He's good but he'll be a FA after the season, and there's no way you land that type of pitching prospect for a rental of LaRoche's caliber. That'd be a brutal steal."
LaRoche > Casey Blake
Carlos Santana and Jon Meloan > one of Adenhart/Walden
Posted by: melonis rex | March 03, 2009 at 10:37 AM