By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are one of five teams in serious talks for free agent reliever Derrick Turnbow. A large-market team among those five made a Major League offer to Turnbow. Kovacevic says Turnbow could sign before Christmas.
The Rockies, Giants, and Tigers have also been linked to Turnbow, who stopped pitching in July of this year due to a slight labrum tear. We’ve also heard the Marlins are in the mix.
By Tim Dierkes | at
10:56am: Correction – the Pirates have offered a minor league contract to Bootcheck, but no agreement has been reached.
12:15am: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates signed free agent reliever Chris Bootcheck. It’s a minor league deal paying $700K for time spent in the Majors. Bootcheck pitched 54 innings this year at various levels. He missed time with a strained oblique and forearm.
Bootcheck went to the Angels with the 20th overall pick in the 2000 draft; he was advised by Scott Boras. If Bootcheck is still represented by Boras, this move could be viewed as a sign that the Pedro Alvarez drama did not have a lingering effect. Bootcheck hasn’t done much in the Majors, but he does average about 93mph with his fastball.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates might not be able to trade shortstop Jack Wilson this offseason. Even if the Dodgers miss out on Rafael Furcal, their Plan B is Orlando Cabrera. The A’s, Royals, and Blue Jays have not expressed interest in Wilson. Kovacevic says the Blue Jays are definitely not interested. You may recall that J.P. Ricciardi went out of his way to deny interest in Wilson in July of last year.
By Cork Gaines | at
Jenifer Langosch tidies up a few rumors we have heard previously concerning the Pirates…
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates inquired in free agent Jerry Hairston Jr. John Perrotto mentioned this connection Sunday. Other known suitors include the Mariners, Phillies, and Reds. Hairston, 33 in May, hit .326/.384/.487 in 297 plate appearances for the Reds while playing second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield positions. He missed time with a broken thumb and strained hamstring.
By Tim Dierkes | at
10:42pm: The fourth team is the Braves, according to Ken Rosenthal. Kinzer told Rosenthal the Braves are "in deep" and Furcal is seriously considering their offer. Rosenthal believes it’s a three-year offer with a vesting option. Rosenthal spoke to an exec who felt the same as Joel Sherman, that Furcal does not want to sign with the A’s.
Adding Furcal would give the Braves a middle infield surplus. Good shortstops are hard to find and the Braves would have two.
4:40pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer, who said his client will sign by Tuesday. He’s mulling offers from the Dodgers, Royals, A’s, and…a mystery team.
1:32pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Blue Jays have dropped out of the bidding for Furcal (now confirmed by Furcal’s agent). Sherman adds that Furcal prefers the A’s the least but they are offering the most money.
1:10pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the A’s offered four years and $40MM, up about $4MM from their previous offer.
8:10am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the A’s appear to be the frontrunners for free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. Joel Sherman said the same on Friday. Rosenthal says the A’s have upped their initial four-year offer to Furcal, and it appears to be the only four-year proposal on the table. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan suggested on Wednesday that the Royals believe it will take four years and $44MM to sign him. The A’s were reportedly in the $35-40MM range previously.
The Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Royals were identified as other finalists last week by Furcal’s agent. Those teams all have issues coming up with the money or years Furcal desires. Rosenthal suggests Orlando Cabrera, Angel Berroa, and Jack Wilson as possible alternatives for the Dodgers.
By Tim Dierkes | at
6:36pm: The Pirates contacted Cabrera’s agent this weekend, so they’re one of the many teams considering him. Powers told Rob Biertempfel he has "two firm offers" in hand. Dan Connolly notes that the Blue Jays and Nationals have shown interest in the past.
3:32pm: The Baltimore Sun’s Dan Connolly talked to Daniel Cabrera’s agent Mike Powers, who says eleven teams have expressed interest in his client. One even offered a multiyear deal. Cabrera, 28 in May, was non-tendered by the Orioles on Friday.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Indians, Giants, Pirates, and Reds have expressed interest in new free agent Ty Wigginton. Dejan Kovacevic confirms Pittsburgh’s interest. Neal says the Twins have admired Wiggy for years as well. He adds that Wigginton was nearly dealt to the Giants before being non-tendered. Ken Davidoff thinks the Mets should look into it.
What will it take to sign Wigginton? Casey Blake’s three-year, $17.5MM deal might be optimistic, but Neal figures Wigginton could get a similar average annual salary. Still might take two years to sign Wigginton though. Beyond Joe Crede, there’s not much else out there for third base.
By Nat Boyle | at
Ken Rosenthal has his latest article up. Let’s go through it.
By Tim Dierkes | at
FRIDAY, 1:51pm: Kovacevic says the Vazquez signing is official at two years and $4MM.
THURSDAY, 11:37pm: Dejan Kovacevic says the Pirates have agreed to the framework of a contract with Vazquez. The contract is not signed yet, and Vazquez needs to take a physical. Another note: the Twins’ signing of Nick Punto reduces the already-weak market for Jack Wilson. Kovacevic says the Dodgers have leverage if they want to go after Wilson as a Rafael Furcal fallback.
12:32am: Vazquez’s agent told Kovacevic they’re "very, very close" but not done. Neal Huntington also said it’s not done.
10:51am: Dejan Kovacevic phrases it as "trying to sign" Vazquez.
10:12am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Pirates are on the verge of a two-year, $4MM deal with infielder Ramon Vazquez. Vazquez should be able to step in at either middle infield position if the Bucs manager to trade Freddy Sanchez or Jack Wilson. He needs to sit against lefties though.
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