Pirates infielder Jordy Mercer was injured by a take out slide while turning a double play earlier today. The extent of the injury is unknown. The Pirates may activate utility infielder Brent Morel if Mercer misses more than a few days, writes Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The club is already carrying a short bench, and none of the three healthy players have experience at third base. Morel was pulled from his Triple-A start today. The Pirates 40-man roster is full, so activating Morel will require a roster move.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter) heard that the Reds did not want to trade Johnny Cueto last month because they feared having to watch him pitch for another team in the All-Star Game. Of course, Cueto was not named an All-Star and he remains a member of the Reds as of this writing.
- The Orioles are among the teams scouting the Reds, tweets Morosi. They’re most interested in Cueto and outfielder Jay Bruce. Cueto is a free agent after the season, but Bruce is under contract through 2016 for $12.5MM with a $13MM ($1MM buyout) for 2017.
- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle acknowledged the challenges Pedro Alvarez is having in his first season at first base, but he told reporters, including Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that he’s not about to lobby GM Neal Huntington to make a move. “I think our [GM] knows as well as I do what we’re looking to identify as strengths and weaknesses on our club,” Hurdle said. “We will do everything we can to fortify and make our club better. I’m not a fan of saying OK, we need A, B and C when A, B and C are out there [in the clubhouse].”
- Justin Upton was pulled out of today’s game early, but it wasn’t a sign of an impending trade as many speculated. The Padres simply had a muscle tighten up on him in the middle of today’s contest and he was pulled from the game as a precaution due to weather, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
Sean Rodriguez has 100 career games at 3B, plus you have Pedro Alvarez who could play in a pinch. The Pirates depth chart also likes Cervelli as capable, but I don’t know how accurate that is.
Mercer is the SS. It’s probably a mistake in the story mentioning players with experience at 3B. Regardless, Pedro will never play another inning at third for the Buccos. They’d be better off pulling a random fan from the stands and giving him/her a glove.
Kang is a SS, which the article is probably assuming he moves over to take Mercers spot, leaving a whole at 3rd because Harrison is still on the DL.
Henson call him up to play SS to showcase him for a Trade because blocked by Walker at 2B and Mercer/Kang at SS.
With prospects, showcasing them in the big leagues is usually a bad thing. If they do badly, they lose value. If they do well, your fans will not want him dealt and your veteran is now unhappy. It’s a lose-lose proposition. Without showcasing them, you can ride the “potential” card all the way to the bank.
I don’t want walker to go but…..Hanson (not Henson) is Walkers replacement after 2016 because Walker will be too expensive to resign/extend. Unless Walker takes a home town discount, accepts a QA 2016 or changes to a much needed position he won’t be with the Pirates in 2017.. maybe sooner if Hanson works out sooner than later and a good trade option becomes available.
The Pirates have Pedro Florimon playing SS at AAA. He would not give the team much offense (hitting .250 at Indianapolis), but has a .974 fielding percentage. Kang has done exceptionally well playing 3rd base since Harrison’s injury, and is probably a better option playing there with Florimon at short. Morel offers little to either the Pittsburgh offense, nor defense.
Can I volunteer for the 3B spot? I can field, but I’m guaranteed to not hit over .050
.050 is still better than Lester is hitting this year..
Pirates need to trade for Adam Lind and Ben Zobrist. Get it done NH.
I would say one of them.. Zobrist. Lind is unlikely unless they get a really good deal.
What kind a Package can O’s come up to satisfy Reds, Royals are better option for Trades both players for Reds.
Bundy, gausman or hunter harvey are all interesting starts.
Got some other solid pitchers at AAA as well like Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright which could go along with a name you mentioned above. Bet yeah the O’s farm isn’t very stacked to say the least….
Bundy doesn’t have as much trade value as you would think.. He signed a major league contract after he was drafted.. Which means this year is his last option year.. Starting in 2016 he has to be on the 25 man active roster or on the DL.. If he is not, then he will have to be exposed to waivers.. Seeing as how he doesn’t seem to be MLB ready and will miss most or all of this season he won’t be a very good option for a contending team next year.. Someone like the Brewers or Phillies could view him as a project but his confidence could be a factor if he keeps getting hammered game after game while he develops in the majors..
“They feared him pitching for another team in the all star game”
That’s why they are the Red’s……
Yessssssssssss morel is my guy! Me and my dad were just talking about him the other day used to play 3rd for the white sox. He’s ok
A mid season shake up is needed, Morton (check dictionary for inconsistent), Hart (A bust), Bastardo (can’t trust with a ten run lead and 2 outs), Caminero (pitches 100 mph, but gets few outs), Tabatha(enough said) and Alverez ( sub par hitting, rare glimpses of power, fielding? single A ball player) must all be traded for the Pirates to even get close to the wild card, a quality 5th starter is needed! Locke has probably pitched his best as a Buc so far. But Worley is a starter OR a reliver, not both, can’t a package be put together for Hamels or Cueto? And honestly fellow fans, As a fan since 1969, they have not had a first baseman since “Pops” Stargell!! So please before I go to the grave, Get a first baseman and more importantly a WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP, so I can rest in peace.
How was Johnny Cueto not an All-Star? The guy has to be one of the most consistently underrated players in the league…
A mid season shake up is needed! Morton, (refer to inconsistent), Hart, (A bust),
Camerino (pitches 100MPH, but gets few outs), Bastardo (shaky with 10 run lead and 2 outs), Tabatha (enough said), Alvarez,(has worn out his welcome and the turf at third and first with errors and had shown only glimpses of power), all need to be moved in order to compete in that division. a quality 5th starter is needed! Can’t a deal be worked out for Cueto or Hamels? I’ve been a fan since 1969, and they have not had a first basemen since “Pops” Stagell, So please before I go to the great beyond, please get a first baseman and a WORLD SERIES TITLE!
A mid season shake up is needed in order to stay competitive, Morton, Hart, Alverez, Bastardo, Camerino and Tabatha must go, A fifth quality starter is priority, (Cueto, Hamels?) As for first base, well, I’m at loss as much as anyone! is it jinxed? they’ve not had a first basemen since Stargell!