TODAY: The Pirates have released Kang, John Dreker of Pirates Prospects tweets.
FRIDAY: The Pirates have designated infielder Jung Ho Kang for assignment, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on Twitter. Erik Gonzalez and Pablo Reyes are coming onto the active roster, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic tweets.
It has been a forgettable season for Kang, who re-signed with the Bucs for $3MM after sitting out virtually all of the prior two campaigns. He had only himself to blame for the absence and lost earnings, as it resulted from his history of multiple instances of being caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
Kang has by all accounts carried himself in a more responsible manner off the field since returning to the Pittsburgh organization. But he has not returned to his days of high-quality offensive production at the plate.
Through 185 plate appearances in 2019, Kang carries a meager .169/.222/.395 batting line with ten home runs but also a whopping sixty strikeouts and only eleven walks. That’s a surprising turn for a player who carried a 21.4% strikeout rate and 9.7% walk rate in his most recent full season in the majors.
It remains to be seen how Kang’s career will progress from this point. The 32-year-old’s power is still intact, so he could be given a shot with another MLB outfit (likely on a minors deal). It seems plausible to imagine also that he could elect to go back to his native Korea or another Asian league if the opportunities here are not satisfactory.
He did so well in his first two years but then he had to go and get a DUI in Korea. Such a shame.
Didn’t he get like 3 or 4 DUI’s?
You have to take out the or. It’s 34.
Hahaha
Hilarious
Multiple duis and was under suspicion for sexual assault in Chicago. Yeah, adios.
Yep. I read somewhere that his name translates to:
Doesn’t Learn Lessons
Annyeong, Kang.
Reyes looked good last fall, it’s worth a look. Maybe Gonzalez can establish some trade value.
Gonzalez has zero trade value, unless you’re Neil Huntington then he’s cheap and can block up younger players so we can promote them when they turn 26 or 27.
I was wondering why the Pirates keep giving Erik Gonzalez chances when you guys have (what seems like) a ton of solid-to-great infield options in Cole Tucker, Kevin Newman, Kevin Kramer, and Ke’Bryan Hayes.
I guess it’s a good “problem” to have but still… Erik Gonzalez just seems like your run-of-the-mill Quadruple-A player.
The guy is a defensive wizard at short, Tucker proved he needs at least the rest of the year at Triple-A. Newman is having a good season, but last year he failed to prove he could handle short, hence the reason they got Gonzalez, and he still has questionable defense (the guy made four errors in a game earlier this season). Gonzalez was never meant to be the shortstop of the future, just the guy that would bridge the team to one of the middle infield prospects proved they are ready.
Gonzalez!? He had 3 errors in limited time in 15 games! Not too mention he ran into 2 players causing injury. Plus, his batting average is around his weight with zero power.
Bridge the team…smh
You knew this was Kang to happen sooner or later.
(it’s not quite as bad of a pun as it looks: the correct Korean pronunciation is “GUNG”)
Still suspension-worthy.
When you have to explain it …
Yeah… I know…
I disagree gmen fan. Still got a smile from me.
Though not a laugh like the Manning meme of the aftermath of the Jaylon Smith hit …
I’m Kang to forget you ever said it
At least his attempt at a pun is more insightful than anything you ever typed or said aloud…
They want Gonzalez to be the new Sean Rodriguez.A team needs such a player in order to carry so many pitchers.He is OK as long as he does not injure any other players.
Reyes played well last year after his call up but not this year,and then was fairly bad at AAA.They want to see which player shows up.
Kang did not hit well obviously but still has some power.Hopefully he clears waivers and goes to AAA to get experience at second base and shortstop.He did well there earlier in the year,and if he does the same for the rest of the year,the Pirates should try to resign him for next year on a minor league incentive-laden contract.The Pirates still need his power,and he did not look bad as a fill in at shortstop.
You gotta let this Kang go. (see connfyoozed’s pun cheat sheet above)
Reyes should be the next SeanRod. Comparing Gonzalez to him is an insult to SeanRod
I did not say he was as good as SRod.I said that they want him in that position.
I agree that he will not be nearly as good as the first edition of SRod.
When ChisenDL gets back thats when the season gets started! look out !!
Lonnie has evidently permanently left the building.
Not a bad gig to make that kind of money.
I bet that he does not get a ML contract next year though.
Wasn’t he recovering from something relatively minor? Lonnie Chisenhall, I mean.
Couldn’t he file a grievance for this? He is 15 AB away from a 650k bonus. This move is just so they don’t have to pay it….
He could, but that isn’t why they are doing this. They’re doing he because he has been brutal, but Kang has been the only backup SS on the MLB roster. So they either had to call up Kramer (they’d rather let him get at bats in AAA) or wait for Erik Gonzalez, and Gonzalez is finally healthy.
Kang has stunk it up all year but it’s pretty clear they wanted to avoid the payday. The wait for Gonzalez is a good cover.
He’s hitting .169 with a 58 OPS+ and despite barely playing has been worth -0.6 WAR.
Can you believe those cheap losers are letting this superstar go?
He can try, but when the team’s entire counter argument is ‘you kinda suck right now, fam’, it’s hard to see the arbiter siding with Kang here…
Bringing up Gonzalez and Reyes is stupid. Bring up Tucker and Kramer, two players with actual upside. Pirates are no longer contending, let the kids play.
They do not know what they have in Gonzalez and they have to find out.He is coming off the IL.I think that he is out of options.
I agree that Kramer should get a full time chance at second base a little later this year.He should be ripe,
I disagree with Tucker as Newman has hit so well and played a fairly good shortstop.Tucker did not hit when he had a chance.I think that he was too green.He is not hitting that well in AAA either.Let him earn his promotion.
I think that with Polanco out and Dickerson traded they are short in the outfield.I would like to See Osuna get some time there.They want to see if last year was a fluke for Reyes and his AAA hitting was not that good this year.
We all know what Gonzalez brings to the table. Plenty of data on him with the Indians and a few months with us (which he was horrible). Gonzalez can’t hit, nor field unless a ball is right at him and his awareness is quite horrific. Kramer and Tucker need to be called up, along with Will Craig to play 1st. Kramer is a career .290 hitter in the minors. Tucker was just starting to adjust to major league pitching when we sent him down. Craig, who’s an outstanding defensive 1st baseman has shown power and can knock in runs.
I’d DFA Gonzalez and keep Kang as a bat off the bench. But then again, we need to save that extra 500,000K. Every penny counts.
Gonzalez adds zero at the plate, and you know damn well Hurdle’s going to play him some place. He loves those veterans over younger players.
This entire organization is a damn joke anymore. Polanco wouldn’t play on any other roster, same goes for Gonzalez. Yet we run their sorry asses right out onto the field like somethings going to change.
It’s time for Neil Huntington to go. And it’s time for Hurdle to go with him. Hopefully our new GM can make some deals this offseason and add younger players who know how to play defense.
On a side note, Reyes can play the OF and has hit .286 with 10 HR’s in 150+ ABs. That’s more than I can say for Gonzalez.
Clean house ! Clint and Ray need to go. Ray’s way doesn’t work. Clint has been a joke the last 3 years.
Agreed. I’d like to see Bannister be the next manager. Not sure about the pitching coach. They don’t need a guru with one vision. The need someone who can teach and bring out the best of everyone’s specialties.
Captain Jack – how do you do math; Gonzalez can’t hit all all, batted .216. Tucker “was just starting to adjust to major league pitching when he was sent down; batted .196. He started off hot, then when he started to adjust he hit about .100.
Oh man…I completely forgot about Bannister. My main concern in firing Hurdle is that they’d just hire Tom Prince or another John Russell.
Hmmm.
All three major clowns Neil,Clint and Ray need to follow!
Don’t really like the guy from his off field antics but would be a better option for the Orioles then Jose Rondon with at least some offensive potential if he could return to form with a change of scenery, Kang could rake before all the off field issues.
I have never seen numbers as bad as Pablo Reyes’ 2019 MLB numbers.
-0.8 WAR
.128/.190/.128
-13 OPS+
That’s in only 39 at bats. I wasn’t even aware that you could have a negative OPS+.
That said, he’s actually been really good in AAA this year, .885 OPS with 10HR/30RBI in 51 games. Give him one more chance.
I don’t think the negative part of the number means anything. It’s based on 100 being average, so however higher or lower you are is just how far away you are from 100. A -13 is analogous to a 213.
It means 113% worse than average; his OPS is less than half of the league average.
With the elimination of August trades I wouldnt be surprised to see a lot of these guys claimed. More so than usual.
It’s amazing how many very bad GMs there are in MLB. Pirates have wasted so many top draft picks and/or given huge money to bad results. yet these GMS keep their jobs year after year.
It’s gotta be hard to hit mlb pitching when you’re feening for the bottle
I doubt that he’s the first MLB player to have an issue with drinking. He got caught and it probably destroyed his career eventually.
Mickey Mantle did it for years.
Colin Moran should play everyday for the rest of the season, ESPECIALLY against lefties.
A platoon player with Moran’s defense? Meh.
But, if he can hit lefties as well as he does righties, you can live with the defense and you have something there.
I think Moran’s future is on the bench, in a David Freese role. He can hit, but not enough and not for enough power to justify his awful 3B defense. He’s shown he’s a great pinch hitter, and Hayes should be up by next June at the latest. Musgrove appears to be the last hope for the Cole trade.
Except Freese played first base too and Bell is ensconced there.
Moran has 11 homers and 60 rbis in about the same number of at bats that Hayes has 7 homers and 40 rbis in AAA.Hayes has filled out to 6’1,210 pounds so he may not get much bigger.
Granted,Hayes is a much better fielder,but Moran has been a good clutch hitter with a good number of rbis.I am afraid that Hayes will not be able to match that as 7 home runs is the most that he has ever hit.
I just hope that whoever is the starter mid way through next year earns the nod.
Have you seen Hayes play? He is a very thin 210. He could easily sit in the 220-225 range in a few years. Given his great defense, it wouldn’t dampen his defensive value a lot. He also has a lot of raw pop you can see in his BP he just hasn’t tapped into it yet. Also given his low swinging strike rates combined with his line drive approach. He is a perfect launch angle change candidate. I think he will sit 20-25 hr maybe a few more at the major league level
I agree. He has yet to receive everyday at-bats. I think there’s more power to come, not 30 hr, but maybe 20-25.
I agree that I would like to see if Moran can hit lefthanders.
But I would also like to see Osuna play somewhere close to full time also.They need to see if he has finally become a ML hitter.
I like Osuna too and he should be able to get some reps in right field too now that Dickerson is gone and Melky is not an everyday player. Problem is, Reyes will play there too since Hurdle can’t field the same lineup 2 games in a row.
I swear every Pirate manager after Leyland has done the same thing with the lineup card. I’m fine with getting your bench guys at-bats now and again but geez. Starters start and bench players come off the bench.
Now activate the show pony cervelli and release him too!
My guess is that they will activate him in September with the increased roster and let him play some first base as a sort of swan song,
Unless he is willing to take a minor league contract for next year as a utility man I doubt that he will ever see any more ML action.
Looks like they tried to change him. Give that man a bottle and watch him rake.
The guy is scum. He was given way to many opportunities to succeed in life that majority of the world would never get. I’m glad he ultimately failed…
With the recent string of injuries, I can picture Kang and Cabrera joining the Yankees.
The bigger question is what the heck is going on with the Pirates? No reason ownership should get away with not spending a little to improve this team. The “small market” nonsense is getting stale. They have a beautiful ballpark (Top 5 in big leagues) and can draw not only from Pittsburgh but from surrounding area. Yet they continue to operate like KC Royals without the success. Where is the Commissioner? Heck, I am not even a Pirate fan but why is this great franchise being allowed to be run into the ground?
Quick history of the Pirates death spiral…
Cheap ownership and bad GM’ing for almost 20 years and that was BEFORE Huntingdon and Nutting. Littlefield was a terrible GM and the previous owner McClatchy literally once gave the team a few hours notice to trade their best young player (Aramis Ramirez) to even the books. They essentially had to build from scratch and five years later had the stretch from 13-15 where they made the playoffs each year and won 98 games in 2015. Payroll ended at $115 million or so that year.
But at the end of it, they had nothing to show for it. No playoff series wins, no division title as the Cards were the only better MLB team in 2015 and the least talked about but most important, not a huge increase in season ticket sales.
The premise with the fair weather Pittsburgh fans is “we don’t care until you win” but the promise that they will when you do.
The team feels like they did win and the “fans” didn’t come. The “fans” say “I don’t see any flags flying, who cares about your 98 wins, etc.” You can pick whichever side you prefer in that debate.
But, a cheap man like Nutting isn’t going to pour money into a venture if beating 1 in 30 odds is the only way to make the money back. So, the next year, you get Jaso and Voglesong as the big ticket items. Trading hometown hero Neil Walker was also too much for the locals.
So, now the owner doesn’t consider the fans a sound investment, the fans hate him and everyone who works for him, the local media feeds this hate for it’s own benefit and….as I said a year or two ago….I don’t actually see how the death spiral ends….
Except maybe in Vegas in 2026, when PNC Park becomes the nicest AAA stadium in America.
It’s not a good situation…to say the least.
Thanks for your reply. I hope it doesn’t come to that. The Pirates belong in Pittsburgh. I think with a decent team it is a ML market.
Very well said. I’m a long time Pirates fan and it’s like a see saw with equal weight on either side.
Fans don’t want to spend money until ownership does, ownership doesn’t think fans will show up if they spend.
I would just like to add that it was a bit disheartening to see the team add so little to what was a pretty strong roster, like you said, Jaso and Vogelsong won’t cut it. They have to get super lucky with all their signings or forget about the signing multiple scrubs approach and just put all the money towards a higher caliber player, but still relying on free agency isn’t smart.
Meanwhile, (and yes every team can say this) if one or two things go differently…
What if Taillon stayed healthy and Glasnow panned out here?
Could have been a very different story.
Nutting would have to get ML approval to move a storied franchise,and it is plain as day that he is lopping off the profits while maintaining a mediocre team.
The Pirates did add salary at the trade deadlines when they were very good during the peak years of 2013-15.
They did maintain a competitive total team salary for a couple of years then.
I do think that Nutting is willing to add if the team is at least good.I do think that they cannot afford the high salaried free agents.That said,they need to change their tune and add where they need to from free agency.
They have been good at paying their own players,especially for the sweetheart deals of course.
The problem is that they are in a do loop and need to get out of it,just like their current losing steak since the ASG which is the worst since 2011.
Well said
The Pirates biggest offseason signing… gone.
Stunning that a $3M player that hasn’t played in a year didn’t pan out….
Raise It.
He’s probably gonna claim by the royals
Then Get DFA’d signs with the orioles for 3 yr deal 2.3 million
That’s funny about the Orioles signing him. The Orioles are dumpster divers. How about the Giants.
Zeise’s article in the PG regarding Kang and the Chris Coglan slide was spot on. A dirty slide led to this kid’s demise, plain and simple. He’s never recovered physically or psychologically