Friday, November 6, 2015

The Week's Notes: Starling Gets Award, Radhames & Lambo Out, Gift In, Brandon & Casey Off 40-Man, MLB Qualifiers, MiLB & Staff Moves

  • Starling Marte won his first Fielding Bible Award as baseball's best left fielder, snapping the three-year reign of KC's Alex Gordon.
  • SS Gift Ngoepe, 25 (he'll be 26 during the season), was added to the 40 man roster; he's a younger Pedro Florimon with a nice back story and maybe a bit more upside. It also protects him from exposure to this year's Rule 5 Draft.
  • RHP Radhames Liz, not too surprisingly, had his $2.5M option for 2016 refused by the Pirates, tho he did pocket a reported $250K buyout consolation prize. The Bucs brought him back after a strong overseas showing, but he proved to be a AAAA pitcher in the US. 
  • The Bucs tried to sneak Andrew Lambo through waivers; it didn't work, as the Oakland A's claimed him.
  • RHP Casey Sadler, who had an injection in July, followed that procedure with off-season TJ surgery, leaving the Bucco organizational rotation depth Twiggy thin for a second season. Both he and Brandon Cumpton have been assigned to Indy in a paper move after clearing waivers, clearing two spots on the 40-man as first reported by Pirates Prospects. Neither will be ready to go until 2017 at best.
  • A-Ram made his retirement official this week and said that he'd like to continue working in baseball in some capacity. Anyone looking for a hitting coach? 
  • A record 20 players received qualifying offers today worth $15.8M each and a first round pick if not accepted. Pitchers who were perhaps on the Pirate wish list include Brett Anderson, Wei-Yin Chin, Hisashi Iwakuma, Ian Kennedy, John Lackey and Jeff Samardzija. The Pirates have a handful of FA's - Jay Happ, Joakim Soria, Joe Blanton, Antonio Bastardo and S-Rod, along with Corey Hart and retirees AJ & A-Ram. None were offered qualifiers.
  • Good news for the position players in the Arizona Fall League - UTIL Adam Frazier joined Team USA as injury replacement while C Reese McGuire & CF Austin Meadows made the All-Star team. The Fall Stars Game will be played at 8 PM Saturday and broadcast by the MLB Network. As for the pitchers, well, no All-Star performers in very limited innings.
  • IF Steve Lombardozzi signed with the White Sox. The super-utility guy got a cup of coffee with this year's Bucs, but couldn't oust the versatile S-Rod in the FO's eyes.
  • Clint's clubhouse gang appears to be coming back intact; NH said in an interview that he didn't anticipate any coaching changes, although he wouldn't confirm that all the guys had inked a contract for 2016 yet.
  • Tony LaCava, one-time Central Catholic & Pitt infielder who played a bit in the low minors for the Bucs, was named the interim GM of Toronto.
  • The Buccos announced this year's Pirate Fest dates: Saturday, December 12th session's is free and open to the general public from 10 AM - 7 PM at the Convention Center. Sunday, December 13th is reserved exclusively for 2016 season ticket holders.
  • Consol won't pick up its option for naming rights for the Washington PA Wild Things ballyard after 2016.

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