Pirates Rumors

Odds & Ends: Giants, Bay, Rockies, Padres

By Luke Adams 2 | November 1, 2009 at 12:34pm CDT

Here are a few Sunday links to browse, as a huge sports day in Philadelphia begins….

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if the "desperate-for-pop" San Francisco Giants will try to top the Boston Red Sox rumored four-year offer to Jason Bay (we heard some speculation about this yesterday too). If not, Shea names Garrett Atkins as a cheaper potential target for the Giants.
SI.com's Jon Heyman discusses Bay and Matt Holliday in his latest column. Heyman points out that although Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, refers to him as the market's "most complete" player, Urbon keeps tying Bay's value to Holliday's. Scott Boras is avoiding doing the same thing for his client, instead comparing Holliday to the $180MM man, Mark Teixeira.
Within the same column, Heyman mentions progress being made on contracts for Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy, suggesting something could be announced after the World Series.
New San Diego GM Jed Hoyer has reportedly offered Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen the Padres' assistant GM position, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Baseball Prospectus's John Perrotto reports (via Twitter) that there's no chance Pittsburgh Pirates prospects Pedro Alvarez and Brad Lincoln will be called up to the majors before at least June of next year.
DRays Bay looks ahead to this winter's free agent reliever market. If you missed it, check out MLBTR's analysis of the market for closers, as well as for both lefty and righty relievers.
Casey Kelly and the Red Sox have to decide soon whether the 20-year-old prospect will continue his career as a pitcher or shortstop, according to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald. Given Kelly's minor league numbers to date, it seems like a no-brainer that the team will want to move him back to the mound.
Roch Kubatko of MASN.com tries to sort out the Baltimore Orioles' 40-man roster.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Red Sox, Rays, Doumit, Gonzalez, Cubs

By Cork Gaines | October 30, 2009 at 4:35pm CDT

On this date two years ago, the Yankees signed Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth $7.5MM. Two years later, Girardi has the Yankees in the World Series. With the offseason now just days away, many players will be looking for their own new deals. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

The Bottom Line projects the Red Sox 2010 payroll and what they need to do to get back on top.
Fire Brand of the American League looks at shortstop options for the Red Sox.
Dodgers Rumors breaks down the Dodgers' 2010 roster and how they may approach free agency.
Rays Index projects the Rays 25-man and 40-man rosters as well as the 2010 payroll.
New Bucs says it is time for the Pirates to trade Ryan Doumit.
Mets Fans Forever speculates on what it might take for the Mets to land Adrian Gonzalez.
The Cub Reporter suggests some players for the Cubs to target this offseason, including Kelvim Escobar and Akinori Iwamura.
World Series Dreaming doesn't see any major changes coming to the Cubs this off-season.
Around the Majors breaks down the free agents at third base.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Odds & Ends: Bay, Rangers, Mariners

By Mark Polishuk | October 29, 2009 at 8:15pm CDT

As we look forward to the inevitable battle of the bullpens in Game Two, here are a few newsbits from everywhere but Yankee Stadium in the MLB universe…

R.J. Anderson of Fangraphs believes that the Red Sox will be making a mistake if they sign Jason Bay to the four-year/$60MM contract that Jon Heyman reported (via Twitter) the club is willing to offer.
Rangers officials met Thursday with Dennis Gilbert, the lead man of an investment group interested in buying the club, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
The Mariners outrighted Bryan LaHair, Randy Messenger, Marwin Vega and Cesar Jimenez to Triple-A Tacoma, with Jimenez's assignment coming after the southpaw was activated from the 60-day disabled list. Left-hander Justin Thomas was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh.
MLB.com's Jen Langosch breaks down the Thomas signing for the Pirates, and notes that the Bucs still have one more 40-man roster spot to decide on before November 20.

Odds & Ends: Lackey, Rangers, Mets

By Mark Polishuk | October 29, 2009 at 5:57pm CDT

With about an hour to go before the start of Game Two, here are some items from around the majors….

During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show today, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said his club will be focused on finding second base help and starting pitching in the offseason, though Colletti played dumb when asked about the possibility of the Dodgers making a play for free agent starter John Lackey.
With the number of open managerial jobs quickly dwindling, some of the rumored candidates for the filled positions are looking at other options. Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle (who was up for the Cleveland manager's job that went to Manny Acta) is one of four finalists to be the Rangers' next hitting coach, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Along those same lines, Bob Melvin may go from being a candidate to be the next Astros manager to being considered for the Mets bench coaching job, says Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News. Rubin also reports that the Mets will name Chip Hale as their new third base coach after the World Series is over.
According to a team press release, the Pirates have claimed pitcher Justin Thomas off waivers from Seattle.
In a chat with MASN's Byron Kerr, Adam Dunn said he feels Washington is an attractive destination for free agents in part because Nationals Park is "a really fair ballpark."

Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Astros, Smoltz, Hermida

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 29, 2009 at 9:31am CDT

Some links to read for Thursday morning…

The AP reports (via the Miami Herald) that the Seibu Lions won the rights to negotiate with top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi.
Another top young pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, hit 100 mph repeatedly in his third AFL start, according to ESPN.com's Jason Grey.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says fans and media members need to hold Astros owner Drayton McLane accountable, and says it wasn't GM Ed Wade's fault that managerial candidate Manny Acta signed with the Indians.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that the Cardinals still have interest in bringing John Smoltz back next year, perhaps as the team's fourth starter. The club seems likely to find a fifth starter within the organization.
The Pirates and Reds will swap A ball affiliates next year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Padres GM Jed Hoyer offered contracts to all of the organization's scouts and player development personnel, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs expects Tim Hudson to be worth the extension he's expected to sign.
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro lists the Blue Jays, Mariners, Rays and Mets as possible destinations for Jeremy Hermida. The Marlins may trade the outfielder, who should hit free agency after 2011.

Tyler Yates Elects Free Agency

By Tim Dierkes | October 27, 2009 at 5:00pm CDT

TUESDAY: Pirates GM Neal Huntington told Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the team is in dialogue with Yates in hopes of retaining him.

MONDAY: Tyler Yates elected free agency after being outrighted by the Pirates, according to a team press release. Yates had Tommy John surgery in July, and outrighting him now takes him off the 40-man roster earlier than non-tendering him in December. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote in July that "the Pirates' tentative plan for Yates is to offer him a minor league contract for 2010." The press release notes that the Pirates' 40-man roster is at 38, with Evan Meek and Jose Ascanio still on the 60-day DL.

Yates, 32, tossed 73.3 innings last year with a 4.66 ERA. At 5.0 per nine innings, walks were a problem. The Bucs acquired Yates from the Braves in March of '08 for Todd Redmond.

Odds & Ends: Pirates, Mets, Johnson

By | October 24, 2009 at 1:49pm CDT

A fresh batch of links for Saturday afternoon…

According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, Pirates right-hander Ross Ohlendorf missed arbitration eligibility by just two days.
On the other hand, as Perrotto notes, right-hander Jeff Karstens is eligible for arbitration.
MLB.com's Marty Noble fielded a ton of hot stove-related questions from Mets fans for his latest "Inbox" article.
David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution suspects the Braves will stick with Martin Prado at second base next season. That, of course, leaves Kelly Johnson's future in limbo. He's eligible for arbitration and is expected to command close to $3.3MM, which would be a hefty sum for a backup infielder.
Patrick Newman of the incomparable NPB Tracker has updates on Japanese free agents RHP Ryota Igarashi and OF Saburo Ohmura.

Odds & Ends: Torre, Braves, Blue Jays

By Mark Polishuk | October 21, 2009 at 9:14pm CDT

In the midst of a tight Dodgers-Phillies game, here are some news tidbits from around the baseball world….

Before Game Five, Joe Torre said he wants to (and believes he will) be the Dodgers' manager next season, reports Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Frank Wren is in a bit of a Catch-22 when it comes to re-signing Tim Hudson and Adam LaRoche, and/or trading Kenshin Kawakami or Derek Lowe for hitting help.
MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports that new Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has spent his first few weeks on the job talking to the team's coaches and players. After talking to pending free agents Marco Scutaro, Rod Barajas and John McDonald, Anthopoulos said he wants to speak to their respective agents in the coming weeks.
As reported by Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Mark Cuban told a group of Pitt students that he won't be buying the Pirates.
Speaking of Pittsburgh natives looking to be involved in MLB ownership, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan said that Pittsburgh lawyer Check Greenberg's investment team made with members of the Hicks Sports Group on Wednesday to discuss buying the Rangers.
Tommy Rancel of the DRaysBay blog outlines why he thinks the Rays should look into signing Kelvim Escobar this off-season.

Chris Bootcheck Elects Free Agency

By Tim Dierkes | October 20, 2009 at 4:08pm CDT

Reliever and Scott Boras client Chris Bootcheck has elected free agency, according to a press release from the Pirates. Righties Denny Bautista and Craig Hansen were also outrighted, but apparently remain in the organization for now.

Bootcheck, 30, signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in December. The signing seemed to signify the Pirates could work with Boras after the Pedro Alvarez drama. Bootcheck picked up 20 saves in Triple A, posting very strong peripherals (11.6 K/9, 1.5 BB/9, one home run allowed in 42.6 innings). He did not fare well in his 14.6 big league innings, but did average 93.6 mph on his heater.

Odds & Ends: Pirates, Rockies, Brewers

By Howard Megdal | October 19, 2009 at 9:37pm CDT

What, two playoff games isn't enough baseball for you? Us either…

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com discusses the many problems with the Pirates. She doesn't think any of the traded Pirates are coming back, and addresses the improvement Pittsburgh needs to make in the starting rotation and up the middle.
MLB.com's Thomas Harding dissects the state of the Rockies, position-by-position.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says there will be no pitching coach hiring announced today for the Brewers, in case you were staying up late waiting for that announcement.
Boston Red Sox coaches Brad Mills and Tim Bogar interviewed for the Houston managerial vacancy.

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