Pirates Rumors

Pirates Avoid Arbitration With Charlie Morton

By Tim Dierkes | January 16, 2012 at 12:19pm CDT

The Pirates avoided arbitration with starter Charlie Morton, MLBTR has learned, agreeing on a one-year deal worth $2.445MM. The Proformance client tops Matt Swartz's projection by over $300K. Morton was arbitration eligible for the first time, and peers such as Chris Volstad, J.A. Happ, Randy Wells, Clayton Richard, and Homer Bailey will take note of his agreement.

As our arbitration tracker shows, the Pirates' remaining arbitration eligible players are Garrett Jones, Jeff Karstens, Casey McGehee, and Evan Meek.

Pirates Avoid Arbitration With Joel Hanrahan

By Tim Dierkes | January 16, 2012 at 9:26am CDT

The Pirates announced they've agreed to terms on a one-year deal with closer Joel Hanrahan, tweets MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. The deal is worth $4.1MM, tweets ESPN's Keith Law. The righty can earn an additional $10K for 40 and 45 games finished and $15K each for 50 and 60 games finished, MLBTR has learned. Hanrahan, a client of Reynolds Sports Management, projected for a $4MM salary according to Matt Swartz. He was arbitration eligible for the second time after earning $1.4MM in 2011.

Hanrahan, a daily MLB Trade Rumors reader, told Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in late December that a multiyear contract had not been brought up.

Having signed relievers Jason Grilli and Chris Resop as well, the Pirates still have Garrett Jones, Jeff Karstens, Casey McGehee, Evan Meek, and Charlie Morton on the docket, as our arbitration tracker shows.

Pirates Agree To Terms With Chris Resop, Avoid Arb

By Mark Polishuk | January 13, 2012 at 6:11pm CDT

The Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $850K deal with reliever Chris Resop, allowing them to avoid arbitration with the right-hander, reports The Associated Press. Resop, 29, posted a 4.39 ERA, a 10.2 K/9 rate and a 9.4 H/9 rate in 76 appearances with Pittsburgh last season, though advanced stats such as xFIP (3.53) and BABIP (.344) suggest Resop was a bit unlucky.

Resop is the second Pirate to avoid arbitration this winter, after Jason Grilli. The Pirates still have six other arb-eligible players, according to the MLBTR Arbitration Tracker.

Pirates Sign Doug Slaten

By Tim Dierkes | January 11, 2012 at 11:46am CDT

The Pirates signed lefty reliever Doug Slaten to a minor league, deal, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Slaten, 31, tossed 16 1/3 innings for the Nationals this year and another 10 1/3 in the minors, missing much of the season with an elbow injury. He was effective against lefty batters in 2010, although he faced only 81 of them. Slaten was non-tendered by the Nationals last month after earning $695K in 2011. He also had minor league offers from the Brewers and Rangers, tweets Rosenthal.

Slaten is represented by Paragon Sports International. Another PSI client, Jo-Jo Reyes, signed a minor league deal with the Pirates eight days ago.

NL Central Notes: Maholm, Garza, Phillips

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 10, 2012 at 9:25pm CDT

The Cardinals, Brewers, Reds, Cubs and Astros have all grabbed headlines on MLBTR today. Here's the latest on the NL Central, starting with a longtime Pirates pitcher…

Left-hander Paul Maholm told Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio that he wanted to sign with an NL Central team. The Pirates expressed some interest in the left-hander, but the Cubs ultimately signed him.
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer told Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio that he wanted to sign Maholm because of his youth, sinker and competitiveness.
Hoyer says the Cubs are happy to have obtained some starting pitching depth and downplayed the idea that Matt Garza will be dealt now that Maholm's aboard. "Because we have six starters doesn't mean we're going to pare down to five by any means," he said.
Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips told told Stern and Bowden he was happy to see the Reds pick his option up earlier in the offseason. He says he’s now focused on the upcoming season and doesn’t sound optimistic that an extension will be finalized any time soon. Phillips expressed his desire for an extension earlier in the offseason, explaining that he’s not going to give the Reds a hometown discount. "There’s no homeboy hookup. That ain’t going to work," Phillips said.

Central Links: Pirates, Padilla, Tigers, Cubs

By Mike Axisa | January 9, 2012 at 10:47pm CDT

Earlier today we learned that two Central teams were having trade talks about Matt Garza, as the Tigers are attempting to acquire the Cubs right-hander. Here's the latest from baseball's two Central divisions…

The Pirates will not scout Vicente Padilla next week, reports Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter). Last week we heard that the 34-year-old righty was throwing 95-96 mph in winter ball.
David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com says (on Twitter) that the Tigers have received calls about their veteran players and will listen to offers. Just speculating, but a spare reliever like David Pauley would figure to draw some trade interest.
In the wake of the Sean Marshall and Anthony Rizzo trades, Baseball America's Jim Callis looked at the current state of the Cubs farm system. He says Rizzo is their third best prospect behind Brett Jackson and Javier Baez.

Contract Details: Tejeda, Blue Jays, Phillies, Pirates

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 9, 2012 at 4:55pm CDT

MLB.com's beat reporters have been digging up details on some recent minor league deals. Here are the latest updates:

Robinson Tejeda will earn $825K if he makes the Indians' roster and can earn $50K for pitching in 50 games, 55 games, 60 games and 65 games, Jordan Bastian tweets. Tejeda would earn a $100K bonus for pitching in 70 games.
Aaron Laffey will earn $800K if he makes the Blue Jays, Gregor Chisholm tweets. Brian Bocock would earn $480K at the Major League level.
Todd Zolecki has the details on the Phillies' deals with Dontrelle Willis and Luis Montanez. Willis has many incentives, including bonuses for winning the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.
Jenifer Langosch reports what Anderson Hernandez ($500K), Logan Kensing ($675K) and Jose Morales ($650K) will earn if they make the Pirates' roster.

NL Central Notes: Cubs, Rizzo, Cardinals, Lee, Heisey

By Mark Polishuk | January 6, 2012 at 7:57pm CDT

Here's the latest from the NL Central…

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer wants to add more depth to his pitching staff, reports MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. "At this point, we're still very much in the process of gathering as many quality arms as we can, and we'll put those pieces in place as we get closer to Spring Training," Hoyer said. "We have worked hard, and we continue to work hard, and hopefully we'll have even more starting-pitching acquisitions….We want to go seven, eight, nine deep in the rotation and we hope to replenish the bullpen as well."
ESPN's Keith Law gives the Cubs the "slight edge" in today's Anthony Rizzo-for-Andrew Cashner trade. Law says he would rather have Rizzo than Yonder Alonso, who the Padres acquired from the Reds last month as part of the package for Mat Latos.
The Cardinals announced Derek Lilliquist will become the team's new pitching coach, with Dyer Miller taking Lilliquist's old job as bullpen coach. The moves may or may not be permanent as former pitching coach Dave Duncan is on an indefinite leave of absence to be with his wife, who underwent brain surgery last August.
The Pirates have shown some interest in bringing back Derrek Lee but "the first baseman doesn’t seem to have reciprocated that interest," writes MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. Of the five remaining Pirate free agents, Langosch thinks only Paul Maholm has a chance of returning, but the Bucs will likely be outbid by one of Maholm's several other suitors.
Incumbent Reds left fielder Chris Heisey talks to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who thinks Heisey has earned "a long trial" at the everyday job. The Reds have recently been connected to free agent outfielders Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick and Cody Ross.
The Reds have announced the signings of catcher Corky Miller and left-hander Jeremy Horst to minor league contracts with invites to the Major League spring training camp. Miller, a 10-year veteran, was originally drafted by the Reds in 1998 and has spent the last three years in Cincinnati's system. Horst, 26, made his Major League debut last season with the Reds, posting a 2.93 ERA in 12 relief appearances. Previously-announced signings Brian Esposito, Sean Gallagher, Daryl Jones, Chad Reineke, Clayton Tanner and Kanekoa Texeira were also confirmed as non-roster invitees.

Red Sox, Mariners Interested In Maholm

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 6, 2012 at 2:45pm CDT

The Red Sox and Mariners are among the teams interested in Paul Maholm, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Cubs and Orioles are still in on the free agent left-hander and the Pirates remain in touch with him. The Padres have also been linked to Maholm, a Bo McKinnis client.

Maholm, 29, posted a 3.66 ERA with 5.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and 49.9% ground ball rate in 162 1/3 innings for the Pirates in 2011. He spent the end of the season on the disabled list recovering from a shoulder injury and the Pirates chose a $750K buyout over a $9.75MM club option in October.

The Red Sox could use rotation depth behind Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard. The Mariners, who locked up Hisashi Iwakuma yesterday, are open to the idea of adding another veteran arm if the price is right, according to Rosenthal.

Pirates Still Looking For Utility Infielder

By Mike Axisa | January 5, 2012 at 12:32pm CDT

The Pirates continue to look for a utility infielder capable of playing shortstop, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Pittsburgh signed Anderson Hernandez earlier this offseason, but they're presumably looking for someone with more offense and experience.

As our Free Agent Tracker shows, players with shortstop experience like Orlando Cabrera, Adam Everett, Craig Counsell, Ryan Theriot, Miguel Tejada, and former Pirate Jack Wilson remain unsigned. It's a stretch to consider some of those players shortstops, however. At the moment, Chase d'Arnaud, Josh Harrison and Yamaico Navarro are slated to back up new addition Clint Barmes.

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