Pirates Rumors

Tazawa Headed To MLB

By Tim Dierkes | September 11, 2008 at 11:51am CDT

As expected, amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa has decided to forego Japanese baseball and sign with an MLB team. The Braves, Tigers, Red Sox, Pirates, Mets, and Yankees are thought to be in on him. Patrick Newman has a slew of links and videos on Tazawa here.

I am curious what NPB fans think of this development.

Odds and Ends: Sabathia, Pavano, Penny, Burnett

By Tim Dierkes | September 11, 2008 at 9:24am CDT

Random links to start the morning…

Ben Shpigel says Billy Wagner’s $10.5MM for ’09 is not covered by insurance, making the Mets unlikely suitors for K-Rod (hat tip to MetsBlog).
The Padres claimed knuckleballer Charlie Haeger. You have to like the move; he’s only 24.
Ken Davidoff writes about Nationals pitcher Tim Redding, who dreams about returning to the Yankees one day.
Davidoff also says that contrary to popular belief, C.C. Sabathia did not buy a home in Southern California.
In another post, Davidoff lists the worst trades of ’08.
Nats GM Jim Bowden will probably bring in a veteran first baseman next year due to health concerns with Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young.
Not much cooking on the Pedro Alvarez front…Bud Selig testified yesterday, and the next part of the hearing isn’t until September 23rd.
Andrew Baggarly explains Bengie Molina’s contentious relationship with the Giants.
From Saturday: Carl Pavano’s side of the story. Can Pavano be a useful pitcher next year?
Larry Borowsky would like to see the Cardinals enterain an extension for Todd Wellemeyer. He’s eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
Joel Sherman isn’t sure the Yankees will invite Andy Pettitte back next year.
Brad Penny says he pitched through a shoulder injury because of uncertainty around his ’09 option.
Interesting fact…A.J. Burnett is second in MLB with 3286 pitches thrown (Sabathia jumped into the lead last night). Many of the ’07 leaders in pitches thrown came down with injuries this year.
Michael O’Keefe sits down with agent Scott Boras.
ESPN’s Buster Olney notes that the Blue Jays will pursue a shortstop this winter.
All you ever wanted to know about Dr. James Andrews.
Jed Hoyer explains where Curt Schilling learned his negotiating tactics.

Odds and Ends: Pettitte, Hampton, Tazawa, Blalock

By Tim Dierkes | September 10, 2008 at 10:25am CDT

Let’s round ’em up…

Chat today, 2pm CST.
Andy Pettitte seems to want to play next year, but Peter Abraham believes he may have to take a pay cut.
Gerry Fraley writes about the Rockies and Mike Hampton. It’s safe to rule out a return to Colorado for Hampton, who is currently auditioning for his next team.
The Royals dismissed their scouting director Deric Ladnier, offering him another position in the organization. Craig Brown reflects on Ladnier’s tenure.
More Royals linkage: Rany Jazayerli defends the Gil Meche signing and implores the team to lock up Zack Greinke this winter. Jazayerli would also like the team to pick up knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, recently designated for assignment by the White Sox.
Patrick Newman continues to update us on Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa, who is coveted by several MLB teams. If Tazawa starts a trend, an interesting debate could follow. Newman also has a running list of Japanese free agents for this winter.
Bobby Valentine may be clashing with his boss over in Japan.
Will the Rangers cut Hank Blalock loose, or exercise his $6.2MM option? Blalock’s ability to play third base remains a question mark, but he will try to improve his arm strength this winter.
Neither the Pirates nor Pedro Alvarez’s people will be present at today’s hearing. ESPN’s Buster Olney says Alvarez can’t win – he’s either villified in Pittsburgh or forced into next year’s draft. In the latter case, Alvarez could lose money down the line.

Odds and Ends: Pujols, Isringhausen, K-Rod

By Tim Dierkes | September 9, 2008 at 11:15am CDT

I am going to toss up some links as I come across them, so check back on this post.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has an excellent piece on the Pedro Alvarez situation, including quotes from Scott Boras and Max Scherzer. The grievance will be heard tomorrow, but the entire process could take months.
The big news of the day is not hot stove related. Albert Pujols is considering offseason Tommy John surgery, which would require seven to nine months of recovery time. It could cause him to miss April of ’09. UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal’s sources say Pujols does not intend to have the surgery this offseason.
In the same article, reliever Jason Isringhausen says he hopes to be ready for spring training after elbow surgery. He spoke of getting "an incentive-based deal with someone."
Joel Sherman doesn’t buy into the speculation that the Mets will be aggressive in pursuing Francisco Rodriguez due to Billy Wagner’s injury. K-Rod has had 61 save opportunities this year, 14 more than anyone else. No other pitcher has reached 60 opps this decade. Rodriguez may pursue a five-year, $75MM deal.
SI.com’s Tom Verducci looks at the dumbing down of bullpen roles.
Andrew Baggarly offers a possible explanation for Conor Gillaspie’s call-up: a "predraft understanding." Gillaspie signed for slot as the 37th overall pick. Adding him to the 40-man roster now is less than ideal.
RotoWorld’s Matthew Pouliot predicts destinations and contracts for free agent pitchers. His article also includes non-tender candidates.
Cork Gaines gives a rundown of the Rays’ 2009 commitments.
This week’s chat has been moved to Wednesday at 2pm CST.

Frank Coonelly MLB.com Chat

By Tim Dierkes | September 3, 2008 at 5:05pm CDT

Pirates president Frank Coonelly chatted with fans at MLB.com today. Highlights:

The Pedro Alvarez drama will not prevent the Pirates from drafting a Scott Boras client in the future. Coonelly’s history with Boras was not a factor in the negotiations.
Coonelly is confident Alvarez will be a Pirate soon, and doesn’t think the contract can be voided. He adds, "under no circumstance could Alvarez be granted free agency."
The Pirates will not be spending $10MM+ per year on a free agent starting pitcher.
Coonelly insists the Pirates were not shopping Ian Snell at the trade deadline. Jayson Stark and Jon Heyman said Snell was available, with the Bucs asking for Franklin Morales and two other prospects from the Rockies.

Odds and Ends: Soto, Joba, Colletti, Tazawa

By Tim Dierkes | September 3, 2008 at 11:08am CDT

Let’s dig in with today’s links!

As you know, the Steinbrenners want Brian Cashman back for ’09. Now it’s up to him.
Geovany Soto was discussed as a throw-in on the trade that ultimately sent Sammy Sosa to Baltimore back in ’05. One that did get away that year: Ricky Nolasco (in the Juan Pierre deal).
Michael Gluckstadt interviewed ESPN’s Buster Olney.
CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler takes a look at the deep free agent class of starting pitchers. Dave Cameron considers this "the greatest collection of free agent arms to hit free agency at the same time in the history of the game."
Joel Sherman disagrees with the ’09 Joba Rules.
Ned Colletti, the game’s best GM? It’s hard to tell if T.J. Simers is being entirely serious here.
Nick Piecoro gives a scout’s take on Chad Beck, who the D’Backs sent to Toronto for David Eckstein.
The Red Sox, Braves, and Mets are eyeing Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa, and Patrick Newman has more details.
John Perrotto says Pedro Alvarez is coming across as a punk.

Latest On Pedro Alvarez

By Tim Dierkes | September 1, 2008 at 9:30am CDT

Following along with the Pedro Alvarez saga…

If you missed Cork’s update yesterday, start with that.
Scott Boras fired back at Frank Coonelly, calling one of Coonelly’s comments "patently absurd." Dejan Kovacevic talked to GM Neal Huntington, who doesn’t expect a ruling until late September or early October.
Huntington also noted that the Pirates will not renegotiate Alvarez’s deal, if that is somehow allowed.

Latest On Pedro Alvarez

By Cork Gaines | August 31, 2008 at 12:40pm CDT

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a source that claims the Player’s Association will only focus on the status of Pedro Alvarez’ contract and not on the contract of Eric Hosmer. Kovacevic says the MLBPA will argue that Hosmer’s contract was only delayed so the Pirates could have more time to negotiate with Alvarez.

However, Jonathan Mayo obtained a copy of the grievance filed by the union which suggests that Alvarez’ contract will not be the sole focus (emphasis Mayo’s).

The Commissioner’s Office, without notice to the MLBPA, unilaterally determined to permit Clubs to negotiate with drafted players after the August 15, 2008 deadline, and unilaterally determined to accept agreements by Clubs after the August 15, 2008 deadline.

Mayo feels that the use of plurals in the grievance indicates the union is contesting more than one contract. Mayo says the grievance, combined with MLB not allowing Hosmer to play until this issue is resolved, suggests that this is about more than just the contract status of Alvarez.

Mayo also speculates that part of the desire to make Alvarez the top-paid draftee, may stem from Buster Posey’s decision to go with an agent other than Boras. Mayo wonders if Boras is in-part driven to prove Posey made a mistake.

Other notes…

In the above article, Kovacevic also indicates a third team may have submitted their agreement after the midnight deadline. However, Kovacevic does not name the team. Of the teams to announce their agreements to the public after the midnight deadline, includes the Padres (Allan Dykstra), Rangers (Justin Smoak) and Giants (Posey). Could a third player be dragged into this mess?
Kovacevic has a second piece in which he details the contentious history between the Pirates and Boras, and how this may have led to the current rift between the two sides.
Kovacevic is also reporting that Pirates’ president Frank Coonelly fired another shot at Boras, blaming the agent for getting Hosmer involved.
Baseball Prospectus has a list of incidents that could be used as precedents in the Alvarez case.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Latest On Hosmer, Alvarez

By Tim Dierkes | August 29, 2008 at 5:49pm CDT

5:49pm: Disappointing development for the Royals – Hosmer cannot play until the grievance is resolved. The hearing takes place September 10th, so he won’t miss too much time.

9:08am: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provides his analysis of the Pedro Alvarez situation. How much of this is due to the rivalry between Pirates team president Frank Coonelly and agent Scott Boras? Is Alvarez making a mistake by letting this drag on? Peter Gammons blames Bud Selig, Don Fehr, and Boras for this mess.

Kovacevic does not believe Alvarez will be eligible to return to college in the fall. Independent ball would be the most likely path, if his contract with the Pirates does not stand. Meanwhile, the Royals are trying to keep Eric Hosmer out of the crossfire.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Pedro Alvarez

By Cork Gaines | August 29, 2008 at 1:36pm CDT

Let’s take a look at what is being written about the Pedro Alvarez-Scott Boras-Pirates situation in the Blogosphere…

The Pittsburgh Lumber Co. feels this situation is more about Boras versus MLB than Alvarez versus the Pirates. They feel it is too early for Pirates fans to turn against Alvarez and suggest this will all be forgotten next summer.
Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke? wonders if this is not about getting more money for Alvarez. They wonder if Boras has a more sinister motive, to set a precedent for allowing negotiations after the August 15 deadline, in essence making the deadline meaningless.
Bucs Dugout wonders if the Alvarez situation will cause problems for Rangers’ prospect Julio Borbon.
Babes Love Baseball says Alvarez is just the latest soul to be claimed by Boras.
Walk Off Walk normally sides with the players against the owners, but even they think Boras has gone too far this time.
Pirates beat writer Dejan Kovacevic has details about the grievance, which will focus on Alvarez.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

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