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Pirates Sign Ryan Vogelsong

By Jeff Todd | December 18, 2015 at 4:39pm CDT

4:39pm: Vogelsong receives a $2MM guarantee and can earn up to $3MM worth of incentives, according to MLB.com’s Adam Berry (Twitter link).

3:00pm: The Pirates have announced a one-year deal with free agent righty Ryan Vogelsong. Contract terms have not yet been reported, though a source tells MLBTR that it’s an incentive-laden deal that can max out at $5MM.

Vogelsong, 38, had seemed to wrap up his MLB career after a stint with the Bucs in the early and mid-2000s. But he returned with new vigor after a stint in Japan, and has played with the Giants for the past five seasons.

Last year was not the best season for the veteran. He logged a rough 4.67 ERA with 7.2 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9. And ERA estimators saw that earned run mark as a more-or-less accurate reflection of his actual contribution on the hill.

But there are still some positives. Vogelsong threw 135 innings over 22 starts and 11 relief appearances, and has a good track record of reliability. His velocity actually trended up slightly, with an average fastball of 91 mph.

For a Pirates organization that entered the offseason looking for rotation options with limited resources, it’s easy to see the appeal in the steady veteran. Pittsburgh recently dealt away Charlie Morton after acquiring Jon Niese, so the need is still there, and further staff additions still seem likely.

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View Comments (34)
Post a Comment

34 Comments

  1. doubting11

    10 years ago

    He sucks

    Reply
    • Kapler's Coconut Oil

      10 years ago

      Great contribution my friend, your insight is second to none

      Reply
      • cxcx

        10 years ago

        It was a reasonable comment. Certainly no worse than “nice signing” or “I wish they had gotten someone better.”

        Reply
        • coleham

          10 years ago

          Nice Signing

          Reply
          • stymeedone

            10 years ago

            I wish they had gotten someone better.

            Reply
        • baseballpun

          10 years ago

          He’s a pitcher.

          Reply
        • danfromfreddybeach

          10 years ago

          How about the old classic “now that’s the move that’s going to put them over the top”?

          Reply
    • lemieuxkarl66

      10 years ago

      Wtffffffffffffffff

      Reply
  2. jgm1w11

    10 years ago

    Good for him. He was a good Giant.

    Reply
  3. Robertowannabe

    10 years ago

    If signed on the cheap, maybe just a stop gap till Glasnow is ready or a swingman out of the Penn like Blanton?

    Reply
    • Robertowannabe

      10 years ago

      ** oops out of the pen

      Reply
    • lemieuxkarl66

      10 years ago

      So now Niese, Locke & Vogelsong are all nice stopgaps for Glasnow….

      Only we only need one.

      Reply
      • greatd

        10 years ago

        Remember that Burnett retired?
        You need depth.

        Reply
        • bucsfan

          10 years ago

          Very true, especially considering all the other potential replacements at AAA not named Glasnow or Taillon are hurt. Hopefully this signing doesn’t preclude a signing of Latos.

          Reply
      • Robertowannabe

        10 years ago

        You have the order correct in the rotation and Vogelsong is prob gonna be the swing guy. This is as of now. I still think 1 other guy is going to be traded for or signed that will be above all 3 of these guys and then they all become depth guys eventually as the young guys come up.

        Reply
  4. DisplacedSTLfan

    10 years ago

    Perfect reclamation project for the Buccos coaching staff.

    Reply
    • Ruben_Tomorrow 2

      10 years ago

      He’s going to be 39 next season, how much is there to reclaim?

      Reply
      • Kapler's Coconut Oil

        10 years ago

        One season, exactly one season worth reclaiming

        Reply
        • cquinn4

          10 years ago

          We already reclamation projected him in SF

          Reply
      • DisplacedSTLfan

        10 years ago

        I know he’s no AJ Burnett…but he was 36 when he joined the Pirates…just sayin’

        Reply
  5. greatd

    10 years ago

    The Pirates love these guys who rely on their two seam fast ball.
    He might not be another Happ but he could be another Worley.

    Reply
    • pitnick

      10 years ago

      On the other hand, he could be another Vogelsong.

      Reply
  6. Hannibal8us

    10 years ago

    I mean I forgot he was even still in the league, but I’m sure this was on the ULTRA cheap so if he can bring anything to the table it’s a plus while we wait for Glasnow and eventually Taillon.

    Reply
  7. Ray Gritton

    10 years ago

    Mid nineties huh? This guy has been playing in the majors since he was 13!

    Reply
  8. TJECK109

    10 years ago

    Finally the Pirates see a return on their Jason Schmidt deal from 2001

    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      10 years ago

      Better late than never. If Bobby Hill ever comes out of retirement and becomes competent, we might even get a return on the 2003 Aramis Ramirez trade.

      Reply
      • TJECK109

        10 years ago

        Now if we could just get Jon Lieber back we would be on a roll. Back to the future!! Jon Lieber for Brant Brown… Ugh

        Reply
  9. Monkey’s Uncle

    10 years ago

    We could do a lot worse, and spend probably a lot more money, for a 5th starter. Come to think of it, we have done a lot worse and probably spent at least some more money.

    Reply
  10. obsessivegiantscompulsive

    10 years ago

    Vogelsong was not that good as a spot starter, He’s been a SP for a number of seasons now, and flubbed those early spot starts.

    However, once he was permanently in the rotation, next 15 starts, 3.48 ERA. Luck involved with low BABIP, but shows that he can hold the rotation spot for an extended period.

    Unfortunately, as in prior seasons, he has petered out late in the season. But if you acknowledge his strengths and weaknesses, and use him in light of his history, you can get very good value out of him.

    And he did much better with his relief work later in the season, handling the swapping between roles better. It was reported that Righetti helped him make the adjustments necessary later in the season to help him better adjust to it.

    I think it could also have been a matter of acceptance of his new role on the team. I’ve read a number of accounts of relievers who discussed their transition to relief and a common theme I’ve seen is that they are bad as relievers until they mentally accept that they are not a starter anymore, and fully accept their new role as a reliever.

    Vogie has been great for the Giants and I think he can be a good pitcher for another team, but with the two signings of Cueto and Samardzija, and the cheaper availability of Heston, plus the upcoming Blackburn, Beede, Blach, Mejia and maybe Stratton, unfortunately there was no space for a great Giant, one who will always be remembered fondly by Giants fans. I hope that he makes the Giants Wall of Fame when the time comes, I think he should.

    Reply
  11. joew

    10 years ago

    I was really mad at first.. then they updated with the cost.. $2million +another possible $3 million worth the risk… but really? Would be nice to have more of a sure thing.

    Still only 3 rotation spots filled (Cole Liriano and Niese) with 2 pitchers a maybe (Vogelsong and Juan) Would be nice to get more of a sure thing.

    Reply
  12. npalley98

    10 years ago

    So I guess the next signing is gonna be either Ian Snell or Jason Bay.

    Reply
  13. The Ghost of Bobby Bonilla

    10 years ago

    BREAKING: Pirates now in talks with Al Martin and Randall Simon after talks with Jason Kendall reach an impasse.

    Reply
  14. greatd

    10 years ago

    Scott Kazmir / Yovani Gallardo / Mike Leake / Doug Fister / Ian Kennedy
    The better guys available.

    Josh Johnson / Mat Latos
    Scary but they may be attractive to team who wants upside.

    Kyle Lohse / Jeremy Guthrie / Aaron Harang / Bronson Arroyo
    Inning eating veterans.

    The Pirates do have options,

    Reply
  15. nlp31

    10 years ago

    Good depth signing

    Reply

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