Hot Stove, Player Notes...

In the past couple of days...

• Travis Sawchik of the Tribune Review reported the Pirates had some interest in Lance Berkman, per his agent, who added that Berkman is leaning toward retirement.
• With the trade of Prince Fielder to the Rangers, there has been speculation that 1B/OF Mitch Moreland may be on the Pirate radar. It also deflates any thoughts the Bucs may have had in trying to swing a deal for SS Jurickson Profar.
• There hasn't been much noise yet, but a couple of reports say that the Bucs are still interested in Cubs OF Nate Schierholtz as the LH half of a RF platoon. They were looking at him before pulling the trigger on the Marlon Byrd deal last season.
• Michael Clair of Yahoo!Sports has a list of pitchers that he thinks are good options for 2014; we're not so sure we agree, but hey...
• John Dreker of Pirates Prospects posted that Andrew Lambo is playing first and the outfield in Venezuela Winter ball, keeping him in play for both positions with the big club while broadening the options the FO has for off season deals.
• Charlie Wilmoth of Bucs Dugout argues that the Pirate position players did carry their weight offensively last year, but the pitchers' dismal batting - 15th in the NL - short circuited their efforts.
• Joe Lemire of Sports Illustrated has an update article on Joel Hanrahan, who after his surgery is playing a waiting game in free agency.
• The Giants added RHP Hunter Strickland, who was claimed on waivers from the Bucs last season, on their 40 man roster even though he had TJ surgery last year.
• LHP Mike Zagurski signed a minor league deal with the Indians with an invite to camp.
• Former Pirate #1 pick (and fourth overall) LHP Daniel Moskos signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers with an invitation to camp. He joins 1B Clint Robinson, who the Pirates traded for last season and later released.
• If any of you like to to stuff Christmas stockings with tickets, the Pirates will host Pedro Alvarez (May 24th) and Cutch (June 28th) bobblehead nights in 2014 to go along with their other game promotions. Single game tickets go on sale November 29th.