Notes: Peace & Health in 2017 and the Bucco News This Week...

The FO is in a holiday lull, tho a couple of guys have made moves...

• Apparently, the Bucs haven't been blown away by Cutch suitors, tho his name will pop up from now until the deadline and perhaps beyond. So far Detroit, the Yankees, the Blue Jays and some configuration w/the White Sox and Quintana have been mentioned as interested to varying degrees. But as Willie Sthe Bard once noted, so far it's all "...sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Willy is movin' along - Bowman 2014 Prospects

• The Pirates DFA'ed Willy Garcia, 24, to create a roster spot for Ivan Nova. Willy, MLB Pipeline's #15 Pirates prospect, slashed just .245/.293/.366 at Indy in 2016 but showed power potential and a rifle arm as a projected corner outfielder. Plate discipline issues (812 K/779 games), a flat line at Indy and a logjam of OF'ers cost him.
• John Sickels of Minor League Ball selected his Top 20 Pirates prospects and includes 47 players he considers worth watching.
• Cup-of-coffee Pirates C Wyatt Toregas is carving out a new career with the Bucs as a minor league skipper. A little of his tale is passed on by Derek Redd of the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Ross is goin' way East - 2011 Topps Gold

• RHP Ross Ohlendorf signed a one-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese League for $1.5M plus $400K in incentives. Ohlie tossed for Pittsburgh from 2008-11; he was with the Reds last season.
• LHP Jonathan Sanchez signed minor league deal with the KC Royals. He hasn't pulled on a MLB uni since the Bucs cut him loose in 2013.
• The Cubbies added a couple of old Pirates on minor league deals - LHP Daniel Moskos, who was the Buccos first round pick (fourth overall) in 2007 and got his only MLB taste with Pittsburgh in 2011, along with depth C Ali Solis, who toiled at Altoona & Indy in 2013.

Daniel Moskos 2011 Topps Gold

• The Pirates and their landlord, the Sports & Exhibition Authority, are at it again. The Buccos claim PNC need repairs; the SEA said whoa, you want improvements. Since the ball club pays for upgrades and the SEA for repairs, it's kinda a mess, so cue the lawyers.