Our good friend Jake at Bucco Blog has all sorts of good Pirate info tonight. The Bucs have plenty of trade options right now. My Cliff Notes version:
- Freddy Sanchez could miss most of April with his knee injury. Perhaps the newly released Todd Walker would be a good fit? I can see it. In due time he’ll make his way around the entire NL Central.
- Teams are scouting Ryan Doumit and Humberto Cota as possible backup catcher options. One club with a new opening: the White Sox, who unfortunately may have lost Toby Hall for the season with a labrum tear. D’oh. KW has dealt with Littlefield a couple of times before, on the Todd Ritchie and Rob Mackowiak deals. Littlefield is one of few GMs who has gotten the best of Williams in a deal.
- Jose Castillo and Nate McLouth are also drawing looks from other teams. The Cubs may have peeked at Castillo in their quest to add a backup middle infielder. As for McLouth…maybe the Marlins? Aren’t they supposed to announce their center fielder this week?
- Pirate relievers have also drawn interest but the team doesn’t feel it has a surplus and will likely stand pat for at least a month or two. Jake says Shawn Chacon may be the exception to that.