The Pirates have signed utilityman Nick Franklin to a minors pact, per a club announcement. It comes with an invitation to participate in MLB Spring Training, where Franklin will do battle with a number of other infield/utility candidates.
Franklin, a former first-round draft pick, has appeared all over the field at the MLB level, but the bulk of his time has come at second base. He has seen time in the corner outfield, at short, and at first as well (in addition to one frame a piece at third base and on the hill).
While he showed promise upon cracking the majors with the Mariners in 2013, and again ticked upward in 2016 with the Rays, Franklin has failed to establish himself at the game’s highest level. He has struggled in limited MLB action in the past two seasons with the Brewers and Angels. Through 923 total plate appearances in his six seasons in the majors, Franklin carries a .214/.285/.359 batting line with 24 home runs and 17 steals.
WOW BLOCKBUSTER
I hate these comments… it takes 25 guys any given day, and a lot more than that throughout a year. They can’t all be #3 hitters with gold gloves and cannons for arms.
just ignore it. person is an immature moron.
sweeeeeeeet!!! career 214 batting average! Last place 56 wins.
Minor league deal, will not make the team.
Pirates are essentially the same exact team they were last year, which won 82 games, now they’ll win 56? Special kind of stupid over here.
stupid is as stupid does :p
Brewers attempted to have him become a catcher in the minors last year, I’m interested to see if Pittsburgh will do the same.
Another FORMER first round pick scavaged from the heap for the Pirates and their crappy management/ownership group.
Same management group that led them to the playoffs 3 straight years
the playoffs are now ancient history
Yep, especially for whiny fans.
That resulted in a single wild card win and nothing else. They were successful then largely because A) they were analytical pioneers of the time, including being the first major factors in shifting, and B) they got lucky on a few under the radar acquisitions like Burnett and Martin. Now the rest of the league has caught up to and surpassed them, and they’ve been trying to replicate those value plays and failing, frankly because value plays miss more often than hit. This is a fact I don’t think they realize, or just choose to ignore for profits’ sake.
If they truly want to get back to the playoffs they need to stop being so stubborn, about both their approach to player acquisition and about spending money, and realize that this free agent market is in shambles and REAL value could be had.
Take a look at the pitchers they faced in those games. And how many other teams in the past 10 years can claim 3 straight playoff appearances?
I say Amen to that J.T.
Ok, this dumpster diving is getting a little ridiculous. The Pirates have zero need for a player of Franklin’s caliber, even if he hits his upside. They have a glut of unproven infielders that would come before him, and then not even any room at AAA. Please just sign Iglesias or heaven forbid Machado to a 1 year deal.
$5mil was too much for Jordy Mercer or Freddie Galvis, and you want them to sign Machado…lol
But they could sign Iglesias and get a first rate fielder and decent hitter.Do something.
This ownership has amazed me all spring
By bringing in these minor league guys when they have the money to get gig MLB
Talent and they absolutely refuse.
Adam Jones and Gio Gonzalez could help them
Contend smoking some others but they will not even sw them
English level = poor
Tony: Your typing amazes, I mean AMUSES me! Unless you live in a different country,it’s still WINTER (not spring). I’m normally not a member of the “grammar patrol”. However your misspelling, improper capitalizing & nonsensical words super lengthy 2 sentences drives me crazy.
You would understand if you had ever been to Munhall. LOL
Exactly… that was pretty fluent for Munhall.
Statue of Liberty signing….someone has to play SS when the Bucs face Manatee JC.
At this point I think the Pirates feel that they have everything shored up at the major league level. I heartily disagree with this, but that’s the life of a Pirates fan. All of these recent minor league signings are little more than spring training depth with small shots at making the roster.
Jose Iglesias at SS makes too much sense. Hope it happens
It won’t because it makes too much sense and it forces NH to get out of his routine.
It would not break the bank either.
My only guess is that he and Hechavaria are waiting for Machado to sign.
Another Scott Boras 1st round pick that is a bust like Pedro A.
How do these type of guys keep getting contracts they have proven to not be MLB caliber players let’s give some new blood a chance
It’s a minor league deal. If Franklin is awful in spring training; the Pirates release him and he gets no money.
Exactly. What’s with all the front office bashing with every minor signing? Every team has several and only the smaller market teams get bashed for it. A Gonzalez or Jones could fall into their laps but I doubt it.
Because, at least for the Pirates, they’re reminders that these types of moves are all they will ever do.
Anybody happen to know how Nick Franklink secured a million dollar salary in 2015 when he wasnt even arb eligible and had a poor performance track record?
were saved!
Good afternoon Pirate fans!
This guy was a bust. He was once the prize of AAA.
Who?
This just in…Nutting has bought a fireworks and bobblehead company going out of business on the cheap….He further states the money saved will be allocated into player procurement and player acquisition…Play Ball1
Great signing! They have to fill that huge hole left by S-Rod.
SRod was a very fine utilityman for the Buccos in 2015 and 2016.He was Hurdle’s guy and rightly so for he truly was a Swiss Army knife.His power in 2016 got him a starting job with Atlanta and an $11 M contract.
They could have used him in 2014 when their bench was bad.They specifically targeted him from Tampa Bay and got a good player.
I think that he came back too soon from his bad traffic accident in the spring of 2017.He was never the same afterward and tried too hard to earn his money.
It was a shame his Pirate career ended like it did and I do believe that they kept him as long as they could in deference to him.For that I respect the Pirates ‘organization as they showed loyalty to a loyal ballplayer.