Pirates hurler Hector Noesi has opted out of participation in the 2020 season, manager Derek Shelton told reporters including Stephen Nesbitt of The Athletic (via Twitter). Noesi cited family reasons in asking out of his minor-league deal.
In other Pirates news, top relief pitcher Keone Kela still has not appeared at camp, Shelton further advised. (Via MLB.com’s Adam Berry, on Twitter.) The organization has not provided further information on the matter. It certainly could be that Kela is in some stage of protocols relating to COVID-19, though it would be unwise to assume anything about his situation.
Noesi had been looking for another big league opportunity after appearing last year with the Marlins. He struggled quite a bit in his time in Miami, his first MLB action since 2015. In the interim, the journeyman hurler — once a small part of a busted blockbuster — had a few nice campaigns in the KBO.
Kela’s situation is of greater concern to the Pirates from a competitive standpoint. If the club struggles as most anticipated, he’d be an obvious mid-season trade piece as a 2020-21 free agent. Kela turned in 29 2/3 innings of 2.12 ERA ball last year.
Maybe he feels that going to the NPB in Japan is a safer way to make more money. Stay safe anyways, rooting for you Hector!
And just like that.. the Pirates actually got better
By losing Kela? I don’t get how losing a guy who gave up 1 run in 18 innings from July 24th onward is a good thing.
Because he is a locker room cancer and from all reports I have ever read, he is just not a pleasant person to be around.
Yeah, but as soon as he starts bothering teammates they can flip him on the market for a prospect or two. He may be toxic on a personal level, but there’s no doubting his talent
This is kind of Kela’s thing, it seems.
Man, why all the negative talk about Kela? Not saying he was elite-level, but Kela literally was one of the Pirates best players last year, although that’s not saying much. Regardless he still was lights out when he came back from his injury. Pitched 18 innings from late-July onward, allowed 1 run, struck out 22, gave up just 8 hits and 7 walks.
Kela doesn’t always have his head on straight but the results are there when he is focused.
Maybe Kela didn’t think the Pirates were playing this year?
Is anyone even surprised about Kela? This is what he does.
Bottom line we need the guy ,
So Neosi isn’t happy with his MLC and opts out of the 2020 season. Did he opt out for the season or his MLC? I can’t imagine he’d be allowed to sign elsewhere if he opted out for the season
if none of the ’19 regulars opt out… they may have a chance with all the ‘big’ names not playing.
Next man up, introducing the Pirates closer, leading the team with 4 saves, Kyle Crick.