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Pirates Still Chasing LaRoche, Tracy

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tells us that Pirate GM Dave Littlefield is under pressure to acquire a power bat before the season begins. The two main targets are still Adam LaRoche and Chad Tracy, but will Littlefield include a second Major Leaguer along with Mike Gonzalez?  And if Kovacevic’s report of Littlefield’s mandate is true, isn’t that leak detrimental to the GM’s efforts?

The Bucs still refuse to include Chris Duffy or Paul Maholm in a two-for-one deal.  Kovacevic speculates that another reliever might represent a compromise; if the Pirates need to include Salomon Torres they should do it.  While it would decimate the bullpen it still makes sense to trade relievers for sluggers.

The article also mentions that trading for Ryan Church or signing Trot Nixon wouldn’t fulfill the team’s goal and seems unlikely.  Options such as Geoff Jenkins or Jacque Jones could be pursued, however.

Bucs Still Looking For Hitter

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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are mulling options other than Adam LaRoche, as talks have stalled somewhat. Trot Nixon appears to be off the radar as a free agent signing. No more Melky Cabrera talk either.

Existing possibilities include Chad Tracy for Mike Gonzalez and another player, or a deal for Ryan Church, Casey Kotchman, or Geoff Jenkins.

Meanwhile, Bucco Blog weighed in on the team’s need to keep Chris Duffy and also suggested Kotchman as a realistic possibility. Jake "heard through the grapevine" that Kotchman could one day entertain a long-term deal with the Bucs.  I haven’t spoken to Jake on this topic recently, but just connect the dots a bit here.

Pirates Targeting Elijah Dukes?

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Bucco Blog reports that the Pirates and Devil Rays are talking, and the Bucs may be targeting 22 year-old first baseman/outfielder Elijah Dukes.  Jake’s informal poll of writers and scouts seemed to indicate that such an acquisition would require either Tom Gorzelanny or Mike Gonzalez.  To me, Gorzelanny would make the most sense. As you probably know, Dukes has a world of talent but some makeup issues.

Gorzelanny had a scare last year with August elbow stiffness, though he came back to make three starts after that.  For 2007, the 24 year-old southpaw is projected at a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 153 innings by ZiPS and a  4.27 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 168 innings by RotoAuthority.

Pirates Still In On Ohka

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According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "The Pirates are among the two or three teams that have offered a two-year deal to free-agent pitcher Tomo Ohka. However, Ohka’s agent is holding out for a three-year deal."

Three years for Ohka sounds like a bad idea.  But hey, can’t blame a guy for trying.  As far as the two or three teams, it seems possible that they might be the Mets, Nationals, and Mariners.

Pirates, Braves Still Talking Swap

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The Mike Gonzalez for Adam LaRoche trade rumor lives on.  However, as we’ve read at Bucco Blog numerous times, John Schuerholz has always wanted to add Paul Maholm or Jose Castillo to the deal.

Bucco Blog recently sat down with an NL East scout to discuss LaRoche and whether he’d be a good fit in Pittsburgh.  Take a look.

Pirates/Yankees/Braves Deal About Complete

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Bucco Blog is reporting tonight that the oft rumored three-team trade between the Yankees, Braves, and Pirates is all but complete.

Mike Gonzalez is taking a requested physical for the Yankees today and, if he passes, it looks like he will be a Yankee for Christmas. The Pirates will be getting Adam LaRoche and the Braves will get Melky Cabrera and at least one unidentified Pirate who is thought to be either Nate McLouth or Jose Castillo. There are a couple versions of this trade running according to Bucco Blog so more as we hear it.

Latest On Adam LaRoche

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This thing just won’t die.  John Perrotto reports that the Pirates’ talks with Atlanta about Adam LaRoche are "picking up steam again."

The Braves originally wanted Paul Maholm, but are backing off and could go for Mike Gonzalez and Jose Castillo/Chris Duffy.  Bucco Blog has been on this one for a long time.  Perrotto writes that the Bucs want Kyle Davies in there if it’s going to be a four-player trade. 

Meanwhile, the Yankees wouldn’t include a second player for Gonzalez and the Red Sox aren’t offering anything interesting.

Pirates Back In Mix For Suppan

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According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates, Brewers, and a mystery team are the top suitors for Jeff Suppan.  One team, not the Brewers according to Dejan Kovacevic, has already made an offer to Suppan.  Could be the Bucs with their two-year idea to get negotiations rolling.

The Pirates have the cash, and a homecoming could be enjoyable for the fans.  Suppan has said he probably won’t sign until after Zito does.

Latest On Yankees and Mike Gonzalez

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A baseball source indicated to MLBTradeRumors.com that the Yankees and Pirates are working on a trade that could be Mike Gonzalez and Nate McLouth for Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera.  This is backed up by our good friend Jake at Bucco Blog, where Gonzalez, Kennedy, and Cabrera were mentioned in a recent podcast.

Of the four, the player with which I was least familiar was Kennedy.  The right-handed starter celebrates his 22nd birthday today.  Baseball America ranked Kennedy fifth among Yankee prospects.  BA’s John Manuel indicates Kennedy has excellent command with an upper 80s fastball and a sinking changeup.  He manages to keep the ball down.  Kennedy is still a ways off from the bigs and should start ’07 at high Class A.

I should note that as a 2006 draft pick, Kennedy can’t be traded until one year after he signed, which would be approximately July 15, 2007.  Given that a player to be named later must be named six months in advance, the Pirates and Yankees would have to wait about a month to make such a deal official.  After speaking to a couple of baseball guys, I can tell you for a fact that there is precedent for agreeing to trades in December involving June draft picks from the same year.  Kennedy is fair game for discussion.

Melky Cabrera To Braves?

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday has amended yesterday’s Melky for Mike Gonzalez rumor.  The latest one is Melky Cabrera to Atlanta, Mike Gonzalez to the Yankees, and Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh.  See, everyone’s happy.  Melky could handle LF for the Braves in 2007 and then switch to center after that.

Davidoff mentions that such a deal could pave the way for one more year of Bernie Williams.  Not sure if the Bucs could get more, but I think snagging LaRoche and his 35 HR potential would be a fine return.  LaRoche would still have three years of service time under the Pirates’ control.  The team could return to contention in 2008 if the young pitchers come along.

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