The Pirates released pitcher Fernando Nieve, reports Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 28-year-old righty struck out eight and walked two in 7 1/3 spring innings, but somehow also managed to allow 17 hits.
Last year for the Mets, Nieve posted a 6.00 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 2.1 HR/9, and 37% groundball rate in 42 innings. 18.5% of his flyballs left the yard, a rate that led all of MLB among those with at least 40 innings. Nieve also made eight starts in Triple-A, posting a 5.63 ERA. He signed a minor league deal with the Pirates on December 1st.
Five years ago Nieve was the Astros' third-best prospect in the eyes of Baseball America. Back then he was said to have a plus fastball and slider, and a comparison to Ugueth Urbina was considered a positive.
Wow what a name drop with Urbina
Come on! At least outright the guy to AA. Trust me, we need help in the bullpen if Resop is transformed into a starter.
Resop as a starter is better than Ohlendorf as a starter. I’d go Morton, Burres, Correia, Maholm and McDonald…not necessarily in that order. Cutting ties with Ross will show me that the “new Pirates regime” is serious…
I’m not sure that Resop > Ohlendorf as a starting pitcher, but Ohlendorf’s arbitration win as a Super Two does seem to make it more likely he’ll get non-tendered or traded sooner rather than later.
Lesson? Don’t pick up Astros prospects. They pick up your prospects.
Yikes! You have to be bad if even the Pirates don’t want you.