Pirates reliever Keone Kela has been out since May 4 because of right shoulder inflammation, though he may finally be moving toward a return. The team announced that Kela’s likely to start a rehab assignment at the Triple-A level Saturday.
This is the second time Kela has begun a rehab stint since he landed on the injured list. However, Kela’s previous attempt came to a halt May 31 because of a setback – one that has shelved him for another month and a half to this point. The shoulder woes added to a less-than-ideal early season start for Kela, who yielded six earned runs on 11 hits and four walks (with 11 strikeouts) in 11 2/3 innings before the Pirates shut him down. Those subpar numbers came with a slight velocity drop for Kela – after averaging almost 97 mph on his fastball from 2017-18, it has clocked in just below 96 mph this year. His curveball and changeup have also lost some pep in comparison to the previous two seasons.
The Pirates are almost exactly a year from acquiring Kela, whom they got from the Rangers last July 31 for left-handed pitching prospect Taylor Hearn and young infielder Sherten Apostel. Kela was terrific for the Pirates over a small sample in 2018, and came into this year having logged quality production in each season but one (2016) since making his major league debut in 2015. The usual version of Kela would be a welcome late-season addition for the Pirates, who – despite an unimposing 44-47 record – are a surmountable 4 1/2 games back in the National League Central and three behind a wild-card spot in the NL.
Along with issuing an update on Kela, the Pirates announced that injured infielder Erik Gonzalez had to stop his rehab because of a left hamstring strain. It’s a new injury for the 27-year-old Gonzalez, who has been down since undergoing surgery on a fractured left clavicle April 25. Gonzalez, acquired from the Indians in a trade for outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff in the offseason, opened 2019 as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop prior to his injury. But the Pirates have since seen rookie Kevin Newman post eye-opening production at the position, calling into question whether the out-of-options, light-hitting Gonzalez will have a place on their roster if and when he does return this year.
Erik Gonzales? Haven’t heard his name in awhile. At least all the Tribe fans that hated that trade haven’t mentioned him either.
You can have him back. We don’t need him any more.
I’d rather have Gonzalez on the bench than Kang and end the no range left side of the infield combo of Kang at SS and Osuna at 3b against lefties
Defense or lack thereof aside, Kang will occasionally barrel up a ball and hit it out which is something Gonzalez won’t do. Neither belong on the team at this point, but if forced a choice I’ll take Kang.
It seems that Luplow has finally been given an extended chance and has done fairly well.The Pirates rushed him up in 2017 as he did not have much time in AAA.He did not do well in either 2017 or 2018 and they were enamored with Gonzalez whose most notable achievement with the Pirates has been running into other players on pop flys.
Max Moroff has proven to be a AAAA player.
Surprised by Luplow success but looking at splits he is only a platoon player.
He’s in the game… strike out, strike out, pop out. looked good. (I’m at the game in Columbus. All Indians, 17-5 after 7.)
Ray will find a way to screw him up. Clint is up to his old tricks of team starting flat after the break. Lyles needs to go to the pen. Neil needs to make an impact deal. If not show him the door.
Hurdle has plenty to be blamed for, but it’s not the fact that the pirates lost the first 2 to the Cubs after the break.
A healthy effective Kela would be a huge addition. Between him and Lyles, they will have filled their bullpen needs….cuz Lyles needs to come out of the rotation.
They need one, maybe two starters, depending on how much faith you want to put in Dario Agrazal (and everyone staying healthy).
I’ve heard them linked to Homer Bailey. I don’t dislike that idea as much as I probably should. Get him and Ivan Nova. That should cost close to nothing. If he’s cheap enough, maybe add a Tony Watson. Trade Kang and use what little you get for one of these guys.
The one question is, can they get something worthwhile for Polanco? I haven’t paid attention to him lately, but I use him a generic example….if they could get a guy like Daniel Norris. Young SP, still has team control, talent, but might need a change of scenery. If you could get a guy like that, an OF mix of Marte, Reynolds, Dickerson and Cabrera is perfect. Two switch hitters, a lefty and a righty, position versatility, etc.
They traded Nova because they liked Lyles and Nova was making too much money,which he was.Lyles was good for six weeks,now awful.After Saturday’s debacle even the Pirates may be smart enough to figure it out.Nova has been fairly bad,but for the Pirates he was a good fifth starter,one of the better ones in the league.They could do worse,although I thought that Cashner would have been a better addition.
Watson’s contract has incentives that could escalate it from $2.5M to $8M.
Kang has nine homers this year and has been adequate defensively as a backup.The Pirates need his power.
They need to get something for Dickerson because they can find out about Polanco the rest of the year.If Chisenhall actually plays he could play right field if Polanco is still a bust.The worst thing that could happen is they trade Polanco and then he makes the All Star team like Meadows did this year.
The Pirates are pulling their normal on again off again routine.Hurdle should be pilloried for pitching Feliz and Crick on Friday when he had Rodriguez and Vasquez available.They cannot win the close low scoring games against good teams and Hurdle is one of the main reasons.
Maybe the Indians will take Gonzalez and Dickerson and a decent minor leagur for a good pitcher.
Will someone take Hurdle? He is absolutely terrible at managing a staff. Neil is most to blame for not pursuing legit players.The fans take in the a………. again!
Amen, can’t we trade him for a AA all star?
the chisenhall countdown continues…
Harvey,I think that Lonnie,just like,Elvis,has left the building.
Like the MTA rider,he may never return.
Per game cost for the $2.5 M investment,infinity.
Instead of Chisenhall and Gonzalez NH should have picked up a couple of decent relievers for depth which they really could have used.
Hurdle needs to go. Maybe good in clubhouse but terrible at making pitching decisions. He has cost them numerous games this year
I agree! Only problem he should of been gone 3 years ago.
Once they failed to make wild card he should have been put on a short leash like every other manager
He and GM have jobs for life since they help Nutting make tons of money.
EXACTLY
Nutting makes money regardless. He is content with the Pirates being mediocre.
I hate to say that as a life long Pirates fan it goes against my grain but I think that you are right.
I think that most owners want to win.To some,that is all that they want.
I think with Nutting he would like to win but is content as long as he makes money.
Cashner would’ve been a nice rental for next to nothing. This team desperately needs mlb starting pitching. I’m not even saying quality starting pitchers (though that would be nice). They just need veteran guys that can at least eat some innings and maybe get a win every other or every third start. If they added a guy or two that can get them to the 6th with 4 or 5 runs given up it would be an improvement. Give me 2 Wandy Rodriguez type pitchers. Then just hope the bats stay hot.
I think they need to try and make the pitching move I mentioned in my last comment asap. As far as the bats go they need to hold on to what they have until closer to the deadline (unless they can acquire a quality pitcher or 2 before then). These next 2 weeks will tell a lot. If at that point it’s obvious that they are out of it then they should sell leaving no one untouchable except for the obvious. Bell, Reynolds,Newman, Moran and Vasquez unless of course someone like the Dodgers offers the whole farm.
Next two weeks will tell. I guess I know what that means. With Clint and 2nd half funk. Step up Neil let’s make a deal for fans sake after all we pay your salary. no fans no team!
They FINALLY made that out of character type of deal last year with getting Archer, unfortunately, its not going as planned. I know what you are saying about Neil stepping up and making a deal, I’m a huge critic of the front office and ownership of the team. I’m just saying, they just made the type of deal you are asking for and it was a disater(to this point). So imo they will be hesitant to make a similar type deal.
Marte and polanco should be traded for whatever they can get for them. Both are baseball dumb and yesterday Marte doesn’t hustle after a ball in the gap and lets guy get a double. Next inning Heyward dives after a ball in 7-0 game and crowd gives him a standing ovation. Difference in the two teams and managers Maddon would have taken Marte out if the game, but Hurdle does not. Will never win with Marte
I have never seen Marte not hustle in the field as he is proud to play centerfield and is very good at it.I will take your word for yesterday’s blowout.
Heyward is an excellent outfielder who should hustle all of the time with the exorbitant contract that he has.He is known for his excellent fielding and not his hitting.
The Pirates could easily trade Marte and get several good young players for him.The Cubs are stuck with Heyward and his contract.
Polanco has natural ability that may never be fully utilized.Trading him now when he is at his lowest value,however,would not be wise.
‘several good young players’ ?
Not so sure about that.
One smart thing the Pirates did this year was making their young players earn jobs instead of just handing them to them, which they’ve done too often in years past.
Mind you, they didn’t make it all that hard, but they still forced them to win the jobs.
Kang forced Moran to earn the job, instead of last year when it was just given to him. Gonzalez achieved only two things in his Pirates tenure: Hurting Marte and lighting a fire under Kevin Newman.
Also, I completely forgot about Brault, who has been OK lately. They could either get one starter and a lefty reliever or get two starters and make Brault that lefty reliever.
PS- “Baseball dumb” is trading your best player for “whatever they can get for him”.
Marte is at a premium position and he does a number of things well.He also shows up everyday when not being run into by an out of position player.Yes he makes some boneheaded plays,and will never meet his full ability,but he can easily demand good young players in return.
Brault has proven to be better as a five inning starter than as a reliever.Holmes is another one who they think they can make into a reliever.I do not think it is that easy to do as they are basically two different positionsI think that they need to keep Brault where he is and send Lyles to the bullpen.
I also think that they need to give Crick a “timeout”and send him to AAA like they did with Rodriguez.He is walking 7-8 batters per 9 innings.That is difficult to do.Even the mediocrities from earlier this year did not do that.
I think Newman was at a point in his career where he just blossomed.Hopefully the same thing can happen for Kramer when room is made for him.