Pirates Rumors

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."

Pirates Sign Jorge Julio

By Mike Axisa | August 30, 2009 at 4:33pm CDT

According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, the Pirates have signed righty Jorge Julio to a minor league deal. He's been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Julio, 30, had been released by the Rays earlier this month after posting a 5.96 ERA in 22.2 IP with their Triple-A affiliate. With the Brewers earlier this year, Julio had a 7.79 ERA in 17.1 IP.

Perrotto’s Latest: Twins, Damon, Franklin, Penny, Dye

By Nat Boyle | August 30, 2009 at 12:08pm CDT

John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus brings us his latest from around the leagues:

When they come off the DL, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins will be used in relief. So, the Twins are hoping to add a starter who can pitch in the playoffs. This means they have until tomorrow at midnight to do so.
The Yankees would like to re-sign Johnny Damon to a one year deal and give Austin Jackson a second year to develop at Triple-A, while pursuing Matt Holliday and Jason Bay in the offseason.
The Marlins and Giants are frontrunners to land Brad Penny.
The Cardinals expect to exercise Ryan Franklin’s $2.75MM club option and then sign an extension with their closer for 2011.
The Royals want to extend G.M. Dayton Moore who is signed through 2010.
Perrotto says the Cubs are likely to deal Milton Bradley this winter, even if it means eating a large portion of the $21MM owed to him through 2011.
Jermaine Dye will more than likely not see his $12MM option exercised by the White Sox after a dip in production in tandem with the salary demands of Alex Rios and Jake Peavy.
For the postseason, the Dodgers are seeking “a left-handed bat with power” for their bench.
The Nats are auditioning Livan Hernandez as a veteran innings eater for 2010.
The Diamondbacks may non-tender Conor Jackson.
Brewers manager Ken Macha said G.M. Doug Melvin “scoured the area for pitching” before the deadline but was unable to add a starter because he refused to trade Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
After making seven trades this year, the Pirates are the youngest team in the MLB.

Odds And Ends: Santana, Sano, Zambrano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 26, 2009 at 1:09pm CDT

More links, with less than a week remaining for contenders to add pieces…

Pete Abraham of the Journal News says the Brian Cashman and the Yankees were smart not to trade for Johan Santana, even though it seems likely that the Mets will get their ace back.
Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs argues that Santana won't likely be worth the $90MM-plus remaining on his extension.
Ryan Zimmerman's extension has worked out well for the Nationals, and Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors believes the team deserves some credit.
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that talks between the Pirates and Miguel Angel Sano have stalled. The Pirates made a formal offer at the beginning of July, but pulled it back more than a month ago.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says Carlos Zambrano's next meaningful start will come on Opening Day 2010.
It looks like top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi will play in Japan, as Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker shows.
Jerry Ford of PerfectGame.org says Bryce Harper has been overhyped. But has his ability been overrated? Not at all – Ford says he has tons of potential. Check out the entire piece for a wide-ranging discussion of the top prospect.

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