Pirates signed LHP Brian Tallet to a minor league contract.
We assume the veteran will probably receive an invitation to spring training. Tallet suffered through an injury-plagued 2011 campaign and posted an ugly 9.45 ERA and 2.18 WHIP over 19 appearances for the Cardinals and Blue Jays. He has an outside shot at cracking the Opening Day roster.
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The Pirates’ arbitration hearing with Casey McGehee is set for February 16.
Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the two sides have “continued to negotiate,” but it’s not clear if they’re close to coming to an agreement. It seems unlikely, though, that they would trade for the infielder and then go to an arbitration hearing with him. McGehee requested $2.725 million and was offered $2.35 million from the Pirates when figures were exchanged last month.
Source: post-gazette.com
Tagged as: Casey McGehee, news, Pirates
Pirates signed RHP Juan Cruz to a minor league contract.
He’ll also get a spring training invite. Cruz, 33, posted a 3.88 ERA and 46/28 K/BB ratio over 48 2/3 innings with the Rays last season. He has a decent shot of winning a spot in the Bucs’ bullpen.
Source: twitter.com
Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez suffered a broken jaw earlier this offseason in a bar brawl.
“Tony continues to develop as a player,” Pirates GM Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, refusing to elaborate on the details of the fight. “As with any young player, there are good days and days when we need to make adjustments. We are expecting Tony to come into spring training ready to go and ready to have a great season.” The former No. 4 overall pick batted just .241 with a .658 OPS in 118 games last year with Double-A Altoona. He was suspended three games in May for criticizing umpires on his personal Twitter account.
Source: pittsburghlive.com
Tagged as: news, Pirates, Tony Sanchez
Pirates signed RHP Daniel Cabrera to a minor league contract.
It’s not clear if the deal includes a spring training invite. Cabrera, now 31 years old, sat out the entire 2011 season following Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing right-hander hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2009 as a member of the Diamondbacks and owns an ugly 5.10 ERA for his career, so our expectations are pretty low.
Source: candeladeportiva.com
Tagged as: Daniel Cabrera, news, Pirates
Pirates GM Neal Huntington told a radio station that it would take a “drastic overpay” for another team to acquire outfielder Andrew McCutchen via trade.
The Bucs have McCutchen under control through 2015 and are hoping to compete in that time frame. There’s simply no reason to move him. ‘Cutch posted an .820 OPS, 23 home runs, 89 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 2011. He’s a Top 3 fantasy center fielder.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Andrew McCutchen, news, Pirates
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, two GMs think retirement is a “viable option” for Derrek Lee if he doesn’t find the right deal before spring training.
“It has to be the perfect situation and the perfect fit at the right dollars,” said one GM, when asked what Lee is looking for. The 36-year-old first baseman batted just .267 with a .771 OPS last season, but showed some signs of life by hitting .337/.398/.584 with seven home runs, 18 RBI and a .982 OPS over 113 plate appearances following a mid-season trade to the Pirates. He could still produce for a number of teams, but given the multitude of aging sluggers available in free agency, it’s unlikely he would get much of guarantee. Lee hinted at retirement last year, so he may ultimately decide that this is the appropriate time to walk away.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Derrek Lee, news, Pirates
Garrett Jones requested $2.5 million and was offered $2.25 million from the Pirates when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.
Jones, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time, batted .243/.321/.433 with 16 home runs, 58 RBI and a .753 OPS last season. With only a very small gap between the filings, we expect a deal will get done eventually.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Garrett Jones, news, Pirates
Casey McGehee requested $2.725 million and was offered $2.35 million from the Pirates when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.
McGehee, who was acquired from the Brewers in December, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after batting just .223/.280/.346 with 13 home runs, 67 RBI and a .626 OPS in 2011. We doubt the Pirates would take a newly-acquired player to a hearing, so look for the two sides to meet at the midpoint in the coming days.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Casey McGehee, news, Pirates
The Pirates and RHP Evan Meek avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract.
Meek was arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. The 28-year-old right-hander was limited to just 24 relief appearances last season due to a shoulder injury, posting a 3.48 ERA and 17/12 K/BB ratio across 20 2/3 innings. He’ll function as a set-up man for closer Joel Hanrahan in 2012.
Source: twitter.com