Notes: Pirates Add Another Wild Child, Some Moves & News

Peek-a-boo camp, I see you...

• The Bucs sent LHP Daniel Zamora, 24, and cash to the Mets in exchange for 29-year-old LHP Josh Smoker in a swap of relievers. Smoker was DFA'ed after a line of 4-2, 5.02, in 72 outings (71-1/3 IP) with 93K/36BB in two Big Apple campaigns, another in a Bucco parade of high-whiff, high-walk pick-ups. Zamora has been effective and was a Florida State League All-Star last year, but only has three innings beyond A ball. Smoker, btw, was a first round draft pick in 2007 by the Nats; Zamora was the Buc's 40th round selection in 2015.

Josh is still here... (image via Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Josh Harrison and the Mets appear to be a thing no more; the teams can't agree on terms, and NY is pretty thin in the minors to work up a Plan B.
• Fangraph's Paul Sporer has his list of the Top 100 MLB pitchers. Jameson Taillon heads the list at #46 but with a nice review; Chad Kuhl, Joe Musgrove and Trevor Williams also made the cut. Ivan Nova was relegated to the "tired old veteran" tier.
• John Sickels of Minor League Ball released his Top 20 Pirates Prospects list with their grades and those of the close-but-no-cigar crowd.
• RHP Luis Heredia, 23, signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. The Buccos inked him as a 16-year-old in 2010 for $2.6M in 2010, the biggest bonus ever given to an international player by Pittsburgh. He spent the last two years as a reliever, reaching Altoona, and was released by the club in November.
• The Rangers inked Jon Niese to a minor league deal as an NRI; the White Sox did the same with Jeanmar Gomez. 

Looking for some pixie dust... (2016 Topps)

• The A's reaquired Brandon Moss (he was w/Oakland from 2012-14) in a trade with the Royals. In the past four years, Moss has played for four teams while hitting .224, but launched 94 dingers over that time. 
• Remember the whole Mark Appel 2012 draft drama? Despite the hype, he never made it to the majors and has been dogged by injuries, so he decided to take a break from baseball. The Stanford grad will pass on this season to attend business school.
• Mike McKenry has retired and joined his alma mater, Middle Tennessee State U, as director of player development.

The Fort has hung 'em up (2012 Topps)

• About time: MLB announced all 30 teams will have netting that reaches to the far end of the dugout in all ballparks this season. The Pirates had previously committed to the extra netting.
• Tribune-Review Pirates beat man Rob Biertempfel has jumped leagues; he's now the Bucco guy for the on-line, pay-for-view sports journal The Athletic PIT.