The Pirates agreed to terms on minor league contracts with pitchers Brian Burres, Neal Cotts, and Tyler Yates today, according to a team press release.
Burres, 29 in April, spent the season with the Blue Jays' Triple A affiliate after being claimed off waivers from Baltimore in February. He posted a 7.0 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and seemingly-undeserved 4.76 ERA in 107.6 innings.
Cotts, 30 in March, had Tommy John surgery in July and was non-tendered by the Cubs after the season. Yates, 32, also had Tommy John surgery in July and was outrighted by the Bucs in October.
Yes! Neal Cotts won’t be a Cub this year
Couldn’t have said it better myself
Thats the first thing I thought
Neal Cotts? Looks like the Pirates just clinched their 18th straight losing season.
Yea but how many World Series have the Pirates won since the Cubs won thier last one? (5) World Series for the Bucs.
Yates should have some value. Cotts could have some value. Burres has no value.
Burres appears to have some value as a reliever but none as a starter
Now that I look at his numbers, you’re probably right.
Burres does have some value, just not to a contending team.
He’s a cheeeap lefty who can start or pitch out of the pen and give a team some flexibility. He’s easily better out of the pen. His main value so far has been to protect a franchise’s top pitching prospects. Giving a team upwards to 100 IP for the league minimum is not insignificant.
Burres? The Orioles didn’t even want him anymore(and that’s coming from a Baltimore fan).
Wow, almost forgot about this guy. Wasn’t he something of a fixture in the O’s pitching just 2 seasons ago. My how times have changed.
The Bucs are desperate for help in the pen and this trio looks like it will continue where the last 17 years left off. To many base runners for a bullpen.
Burres: 6.08 ERA, 1.679 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9, 5.7 K/9 in four seasons
Cotts: 4.63 ERA, 1.467 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9, 8.3 K/9 in seven seasons
Yates: 5.12 ERA, 1.565 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9, 8.1 K/9 in five seasons
Would love the Cotts of ’05, but probably settle for the Cotts of ’08 and Yates of ’06 or ’08.
Let’s Go BUCS!!! The future looks a lot brighter than the recent past.
they are all minor league contracts, no guarantee they will get a contract
I would like to see the Pirates go for Jose Arredondo or Wil Ohman next. Low budget, high performers.