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Pirates Add Two Prospects

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According to George Von Benko of MLB.com, the Pirates have acquired outfielder Jeff Corsaletti from the Red Sox and pitcher Randy Newsom from the Indians, both for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Both prospects will be assigned to Double-A Altoona. Benko writes,

"The 26-year old Corsaletti was batting .128 at Triple-A Pawtucket. In 13 games, the left-handed-hitting outfielder had no home runs and one RBI. Newsom, a 27-year old sidearming right-hander, was 2-0 at Double-A Akron with a 2.45 ERA and one save in eight appearances."

Odds & Ends: Rays, Gorzelanny

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Links for Sunday…

  • Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburgh Times says the Rays are lacking the "joie de vivre" that perpetuated their success last season. Is this from the Rays offseason personnel changes and loss of clubhouse guys like Cliff Floyd, Eric Hinske, or Jonny Gomes? Gabe Kapler was supposed to help fill this void. Maybe the Rays need to begin winning consistently before they look like they're having fun, not the other way around?
  • Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny has been recalled, according to Dejan Kovacevic. Tyler Yates was put on the 15-day disabled list due to right elbow inflammation, making room for Gorzelanny.

Signing Sano Risky For Pirates

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We've been keeping a watch on Dominican top prospect Miguel Angel Sano recently. The 16 year-old is reportedly coveted by all 30 teams and expected to land a signing bonus over $3MM when the international signing period begins July 2. The Pirates are reported as having the inside track but Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the signing is "fraught with risk."

According to Kovacevic, dealings between Major League Baseball and Latin American systems are done "mostly through unwritten, unspoken agreements" and the Pirates would be throwing out an established pay scale. Further, the Pirates have never committed anything close to $4MM in a bonus for a Dominican player, and to do so for a 16 year-old carries obvious risk. Lastly, Kovacevic notes the Pirates spent $9.8MM on last year's draft. If they continue to spend more, they'll risk damaging their draft class.

On the other hand, not signing Sano could result in dispirited talent evaluators "effusive in their praise of Sano's potential," as well as a loss of participation in "special tryouts" in the D.R. should the Pirates come off as unserious buyers.

Gammons On Ackley, Red Sox, Relievers

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ESPN's Peter Gammons has a new blog post up.  Let's take a look.

  • Gammons writes in praise of North Carolina's Dustin Ackley, who is likely to be chosen by the Mariners at #2 in June.  Ackley may wind up at center field or second base.
  • The Red Sox don't appear willing to trade young pitchers like Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and Nick Hagadone.  The Sox have looked at bats such as Colorado's Matt Murton and Ryan Spilborghs, but for now aren't desperate enough to trade pitching.  Gammons wonders if, for the right bat, Boston would part with Manny Delcarmen.  He believes Delcarmen could close in the NL.
  • Gammons says the Mets think they could have Carlos Delgado back by August if he has hip surgery, allowing them to stay in-house for his replacements.
  • The Dodgers, Indians, Yankees, and Twins are looking for relief help.  Gammon names Jose Valverde, Huston Street, Danys Baez, Russ Springer, and John Grabow as future trade candidates.

Pirates Acquire Hacker For Sanchez

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2:21pm: According to MLB.com's Noah Coslov, the Yankees will receive right-handed reliever Romulo Sanchez.  The 25-year-old was one of the Pirates' first cuts this spring.  As of Friday, he had a 4.38 ERA and 15/5 K/BB ratio in 12 1/3 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis. 

1:17pm: According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic, the Pirates have acquired minor league right-hander Eric Hacker from the Yankees.  It's not yet clear who, or what, the Yanks were given in return.

Hacker, 26, was designated for assignment by the Yankees last Saturday.  He posted a 2.43 ERA and a 115/37 K/BB ratio in 144 1/3 innings last season between Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton.  He was tried at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season and had a disappointing 7.88 ERA in three starts, prompting his departure.

Possibilities For Pirates At No. 4

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The Pirates have the fourth pick in the June draft.  Who are they considering?

According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, GM Neal Huntington scouted pitcher Alex White, first baseman/outfielder Dustin Ackley, and catcher Tony Sanchez yesterday.  White and Ackley are considerations for the Bucs at #4, though Ackley has a good chance of being picked by the Mariners at #2.  Scott Boras will be advising Ackley and White.

In yesterday's mock draft, Baseball America projected righty Kyle Gibson as Pittsburgh's pick.  ESPN's Jason Churchill linked the Pirates to Ackley as well as pitchers Shelby Miller, Jacob Turner, Aaron Crow, and Tanner Scheppers.

Pirates Have Inside Track On Miguel Angel Sano

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We wrote about 16 year-old Dominican shortstop Miguel Angel Sano earlier this month.  He's in line for a huge bonus when the international signing period begins July 2nd.

According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates "have an inside track" on signing Sano.  Kovacevic believes Sano could challenge Michael Ynoa's record bonus of $4.25MM.  Before they commit, though, the Pirates are conducting a rigorous investigation as to whether Sano is really 16.  Sano's agent Rob Plummer on the Pirates' chances:

"The Pirates are one of many teams interested, and they've got as good a shot as any team as long as the money is there.  There's no question they're interested, just as there's no question this is a special talent."

So as long as the Pirates pay the most they've got a chance.  Got it.

Odds & Ends: Oliver, Amaro, Scheppers

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Links for Thursday…

  • ESPN's Keith Law has the latest on the battle between Andy Oliver and the NCAA over whether players can have agents and still be eligible for the draft.
  • Yahoo's Gordon Edes writes about the ascension of Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.  Edes notes that the Phils still do not have a full-time statistical analyst.
  • Former D'Backs pitching coach Bryan Price landed a minor league consulting gig with the Phillies, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says it's "believed though not confirmed" that Tanner Scheppers has granted the Pirates permission to draft him again if they choose.  The Pirates did not sign him last year due to health concerns, but now he's looking like a top-ten pick.
  • A couple of powerful prospects got the call: Nolan Reimold with the Orioles and Mat Gamel with the Brewers.  For the Brewers, Brad Nelson now has to decide whether to accept a Triple A assignment.  The Orioles and Brewers are risking Super Two status with these call-ups, but only if the players are not sent back down.

Pirates Not Influenced By Sanchez Vesting Option

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked Pirates president Frank Coonelly whether recent days off for second baseman Freddy Sanchez were related to the player's 2010 vesting option, which is based on plate appearances.  Coonelly was offended by the suggestion, saying contractual clauses do not have a bearing on the manager's lineup decisions.  Kovacevic explains Sanchez's option:

If he makes 635 or more plate appearances this season, or if he makes 600 plate appearances and is chosen for the All-Star Game, his $8.5 million option is automatic. If he does not break those thresholds, the Pirates still can pick up the option if they choose.

Despite Coonelly's annoyance, it's not out of line to wonder if a last place, cost-conscious team would have an eye on an $8.5MM vesting option.  Sanchez is off to a fine .317/.361/.528 start in 133 plate appearances.  Assuming he doesn't make the All-Star team, he needs 502 more PAs in the team's 130 remaining games.  Since Sanchez is averaging more than 4.15 per game as the team's #2 hitter, he's on track to trigger the option.

Pirates Sign Adam Melhuse

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According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Pirates signed catcher Adam Melhuse and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Melhuse is a 37-year-old switch hitter who caught part-time for eight seasons, most recently with the Rangers and Rockies last year. The move gives the Pirates depth behind Jason Jaramillo, who has surprised with an .847 OPS since starting for the injured Ryan Doumit.

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