Pirates Rumors

Odds And Ends: Sweeney, Padres, Saito

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 11, 2009 at 9:25am CDT

Some links for the morning…

We already knew Mike Sweeney would consider signing with the Mariners and Angels after the season. Now MLB.com's Jim Street adds the Padres to Sweeney's list of preferred clubs.
Like GM Kevin Towers, Padres CEO Jeff Moorad expects the team to be "competitive" next year, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that Takashi Saito will make $500k when he appears in his next game. Even more incentives kick in if he continues picking up appearances throughout the season's final month.
Pirates GM Neal Huntington tells Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Joel Hanrahan has seemed like a different pitcher in Pittsburgh because he was unlucky as a member of the Nationals.
ESPN.com's Rob Neyer doesn't expect the confusion surrounding Jose Valverde's age to have much of an effect on the contract he signs in the winter.

Rosenthal On Garcia, Pirates, Papelbon

By Tim Dierkes | September 8, 2009 at 8:52am CDT

The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

Rosenthal says Florida's Chris Coghlan deserves the NL Rookie of the Year award. Andrew McCutchen, Garrett Jones, J.A. Happ, Randy Wells, and Tommy Hanson are also in the mix…who do you like?
For the AL ROY, Rosenthal sticks with his preseason choice of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus. Jeff Niemann, Andrew Bailey, Nolan Reimold, and Gordon Beckham are other top contenders.
Rosenthal has a few possible Nationals managerial candidates: Diamondbacks third base coach Chip Hale, Bobby Valentine, and Bob Melvin. It's also possible Jim Riggleman is retained.
I was not aware of this – Freddy Garcia's deal with the White Sox has a 2010 option with a $1MM base and $2MM in incentives. Garcia has an 89mph fastball these days, but he's posted quality starts in three of four tries (against the Yankees and Red Sox).
The Pirates would only trade starters Paul Maholm or Zach Duke if they receive "a young major league starter of similar quality, plus another piece." I mentioned that the Bucs look pretty good for 2011, but Rosenthal says team officials are not conceding 2010.
Rosenthal's source describes a Jonathan Papelbon trade as "pretty unrealistic." Jayson Stark's sources had a similar opinion.
Rosenthal rattles off the teams that have had past interest in Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, who is getting pricey: the Orioles, Twins, Giants, D'Backs, Dodgers, and Cardinals.

Offseason Outlook: Pittsburgh Pirates

By Tim Dierkes | September 7, 2009 at 5:41pm CDT

Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Pirates. Their commitments for 2010:

C – Ryan Doumit – $3.55MM
C – Jason Jaramillo – $400K
C/IF – Robinzon Diaz – $401K
1B/OF – Garrett Jones – $400K
2B – Delwyn Young – $406K
SS – Ronny Cedeno – $823K+
3B – Andy LaRoche – $414K
IF – Ramon Vazquez – $2MM
IF – Steve Pearce – $408K
IF – Brian Bixler – $404K
LF – Lastings Milledge – $452K
CF – Andrew McCutchen – $400K
RF – Brandon Moss – $415K

Other possibilities: 1B/C – Jeff Clement – $405K, 3B/OF – Neil Walker – $400K

SP – Paul Maholm – $4.5MM
SP – Zach Duke – $2.2MM+
SP – Ross Ohlendorf – $414K
SP – Charlie Morton – $405K
SP – Daniel McCutchen – $400K

Other rotation candidates: Jeff Karstens – $402K, SP – Kevin Hart – $408K, Jose Ascanio – $405K

RP – Matt Capps – $2.3MM+
RP – Jesse Chavez – $402K
RP – Evan Meek – $401K
RP – Joel Hanrahan – $420K
RP – Steven Jackson – $400K
RP – Phil Dumatrait – $402K
RP – Failed rotation candidate

Other commitments: Pedro Alvarez – $500K

Non-tender candidates: Tyler Yates – $1.3MM+, Craig Hansen – $825K+, Denny Bautista – $400K+, Chris Bootcheck – $600K+

Because of all the competition on this club, the above roster is just a rough projection for 2010. The Pirates entered the 2009 season with a $48.7MM payroll. My rough estimate has their 2010 commitment at about half that, before arbitration raises for Cedeno, Duke, and Capps. The payroll should still fall under $30MM.

In my opinion, the Pirates are taking the right approach to rebuilding under GM Neal Huntington. Huntington has a clear long-term focus, and isn't afraid to pull the trigger on a trade that will help the team in the future. Gone from the team's Opening Day lineup: Nyjer Morgan, Freddy Sanchez, Nate McLouth, Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson, and John Grabow. Eric Hinske, Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny, and Sean Burnett were also traded.

The game's best prospects are almost always off-limits, but the Pirates have added a variety of quality young players. Since they don't have veterans clogging up starting jobs and payroll, there's been an opportunity for players like McCutchen, Jones, and Ohlendorf to emerge. Based on his recent history it would not be surprising if Huntington is willing to listen on Doumit, Maholm, and Capps this winter and next summer.

It's a boring analysis, but expect the Pirates to stay on course by mostly avoiding the free agent market, remaining open to trade ideas, and spending on the draft. 2009 was a year of transition as the veterans were sent packing. The team will continue sorting through its inventory in 2010; competing in 2011 does not seem out of reach.

Odds And Ends: Mets, Padilla, Cardinals

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 7, 2009 at 9:24am CDT

Derek Jeter could become the all-time Yankees hit leader today, but in the meantime, here are some links:

Jim Bastian of The Journal reports that the Dodgers re-signed Jamie Hoffman just two days after designating him for assignment in a procedural move.
As Ben Shpigel of the New York Times notes, Daniel Murphy could start at first base for the Mets next year. This could allow the team to spend on an outfielder, perhaps even Jason Bay or Matt Holliday.
MLB.com's David Ely says Vicente Padilla has been more than serviceable since the Dodgers picked him up to bolster their rotation in late August.
Yahoo's Jeff Passan says the Cardinals are the champions of the trade deadline. Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa, Julio Lugo and John Smoltz have turned the Cards into a force.
ESPN.com's Rob Neyer expects Jose Tabata to spend the next six years making the Yankees look foolish. The Pirates acquired Tabata in the Xavier Nady trade last summer.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post gives Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd credit for the team's strong play.

Odds & Ends: Ohlendorf, Nationals, Maine

By Steve Adams | September 6, 2009 at 3:22pm CDT

Some links on another slow Sunday afternoon…

Tyler Kepner from the New York Times takes a look back at the trade that sent Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady from the Pirates to the Yankees. Kepner says that Ross Ohlendorf alone is making the trade "look like a steal."
MLB.com's Bill Ladson answers some questions about the Nationals offseason and how the club can improve in his latest MLB.com Inbox. Ladson answers questions about Livan Hernandez's future, Justin Maxwell's value, and if the Nats should look at trading for Dan Uggla.
John Maine wants to pitch again in 2009 and end his season on a high note. When asked about the possibility of the Mets not offering him a contract for the 2010 season, Maine said he's not worrying about it; he wants to be in New York, but it's out of his control.

Odds & Ends: Astros, Royals, Abreu

By Tim Dierkes | September 4, 2009 at 9:11am CDT

Let's kick off the day with links…

Yahoo's David Brown caught up with Pedro Martinez as part of his Answer Man series.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle writes about the Astros' mistake of ignoring pitching.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chronicle notes that the Michael Bourn–Brad Lidge swap no longer looks lopsided. The Astros sent Lidge and Eric Bruntlett to Philly for Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo in November of 2007.
Rany Jazayerli has an open letter to Royals owner David Glass regarding the Dayton Moore extension.
Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times writes about Bobby Abreu's influence on the Angels' other hitters. In the article, Abreu says, "I definitely want to come back."
Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette discusses the legend of Garrett Jones. The 28 year-old Rookie of the Year contender has crushed 18 home runs in 237 plate appearances. What kind of numbers do you see him putting up next year?
Joel Sherman of the New York Post feels that Johnny Damon makes more sense for the Yankees next year than Hideki Matsui.

Athletics Claim Jon Meloan

By Tim Dierkes | September 2, 2009 at 3:01pm CDT

The Athletics claimed 25 year-old righty Jon Meloan off waivers from the Pirates, according to CSN Bay Area (via Twitter). The A's are Meloan's fourth club this year, after he bounced around from the Indians to the Rays to the Pirates. And last year he went from the Dodgers to the Tribe in the Casey Blake deal. At three different Triple A stops this year he compiled a 4.57 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 28 walks in 65 innings. Meloan was considered a "potential power set-up man" for the Dodgers by Baseball America a few years ago.

Odds & Ends: Posey, Maybin, Penny

By Tim Dierkes | September 2, 2009 at 1:12pm CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Due to Bengie Molina's injury, the Giants have changed their mind and called up top prospect Buster Posey according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. So Posey's clock starts earlier than planned.
Speaking of service time, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith tells me Cameron Maybin's call-up gives him 129 days of service time after this year. That puts him on the fringe of Super Two status after the 2011 season.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick ranks the impact of trades made by contenders in July. He talked to an exec who thinks Matt Holliday "could make an extra $3MM a year as a free agent this winter because of his strong finish."
Yahoo's Gordon Edes has his trade deadline winners and losers.
Ryan Doumit's agent Matt Sosnick shot down recent negativity surrounding his client, while Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gets to the bottom of the catcher's recent benching.
Brad Penny still hates the Dodgers, a team he'll face twice this month according to Baggarly. Baggarly also has a quote from Penny ripping on the Marlins.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has more from Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy, who knows he gained trade value when the team delayed his free agency.
J.C. Bradbury of Sabernomics wonders whether the Braves should pick up Tim Hudson's $12MM option for 2010. Hudson has the right to void that option, not that he would. Back in January Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the Braves "fully intend to exercise it, barring some unexpected turn of events."
Dave Cameron of FanGraphs notes that Kendry Morales has matched the production of the Angels' former first baseman, $180MM man Mark Teixeira.
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has comments from Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes on the team's Jon Rauch–Kevin Mulvey swap. Piecoro says the D'Backs have about $23MM to work with this winter as they presumably look to add pitching.
Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times guesses Ken Griffey Jr. will retire after this season.

Pirates, Phillies & Dodgers DFA Minor Leaguers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 31, 2009 at 1:12pm CDT

The Pirates designated pitcher Jon Meloan for assignment to create roster room for Daniel McCutchen, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. The 25-year-old righty has played in the minors for the Pirates, Indians and Rays this year. In total, he's allowed 68 hits and 28 walks in 65 innings, striking out 60.

Meanwhile, the Phillies designated minor leaguer Brad Harman for assignment, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Harman hasn't played in the majors this year, but he batted 11 times in a brief call up last year. The 23-year-old, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, has played around the infield in his minor league career.

The Dodgers designated Jesus Castillo for assignment, according to MLB.com. (Hat Tip: Diamond Leung) Castillo, a 25-year-old righty, has allowed 150 hits and 55 walks in 146.0 innings at AA this year, striking out 85.

Pirates Increase Offer To Sano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 31, 2009 at 9:09am CDT

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears that the Pirates "substantially increased" their offer to top Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano. The Pirates, who made Sano an offer when the international signing period first began, remain the lone team to offer the shortstop a deal, according to his agent. Sano claims to be 16 years old, but an MLB investigation concluded that his age is "undetermined."

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