Notes: Hot Stove a Few Logs Shy of a Flame...

And the news of the past couple of weeks:

Player News:

• As expected: The Pirates tendered contracts to their arb-eligible players: Gerrit Cole, George Kontos, Jordy Mercer and Felipe Rivero.
• The Giants are checking in on Andrew per Jon Morosi as a Plan B if they lose out in the Giancarlo Stanton derby. We suspect Cutch will be in-play for quite a few clubs after Stanton sets the market free. Speaking of  McCutchen, congrats are due - he and Maria became the proud parents of Steel Stefan McCutchen this week.

Will he stay or will he go... (Topps 2017 Opening Day)

• If you're curious, GM Neal Huntington said the Pirates are in on the pursuit of Japanese superman Shohei Ohtani, along with the rest of planet.
• The Bucs claimed LHP Sam Moll from Oakland. But it was a quick visit. Pittsburgh put him on waivers (apparently they hoped he'd clear so they could take him off the 40-man roster) and Seattle claimed him three days later. Easy come...
• The Pirates released RHP Angel Sanchez to allow him to pitch in Korea. KBO club SK Wyvern inked him to a $1.1M deal.
• Kang Jung-ho has been released by his Dominican Winter League club, Aguilas Cibaenas, after batting .143 with a home run and 10 RBIs in 24 games. Kang also booted four balls at the hot corner. That doesn't make any difference in his visa situation although it does show the effects of a long layoff from live action.
• MiLB has named it's Pirates organizational All-Star team for 2017.

Mitch Keller 2017 (photo via MLB Pipeline)

• RHP Mitch Keller, the Pirates top minor-league arm, was named to the All-Arizona Fall League Team with a 4-0/1.52 slash in six starts. His four wins were the AFL's most this season.
• Trevor Williams announced that he'll wear No. 34 next season to honor Cory Hahn, his former roommate and teammate at Arizona State University. Hahn, who wore No. 34 at ASU, had his career cut short in 2011 when he fractured his neck and was paralyzed from the chest down while sliding headfirst into second base. Adam Berry of MLB.com has the tale.
• Felipe Rivero has left Scott Boras and taken on Francis Marquez of Magnus Sports as his agent per Liz Bloom of the Post-Gazette. The agency reps Aroldis Chapman, so they can line up some big bucks for their guys, too.

FO/Baseball News:

• No reunion for the Bucs and Jim Benedict. He went over to the dark side and became a Special Assistant for Baseball Operations in Cubbieland.
• The Bucs may have got away easy by losing Rene Gayo. The Braves had a dozen Latino prospects declared free agents for their signing shenanigans and their former GM, John Coppolalla, was given a lifetime ban from baseball. Looks like the buscone biz finally crossed MLB's line. Junior Vizcaino was named director of international scouting. Vizcaino, a former Pirates minor leaguer and Red Sox suit, will replace Gayo.
• The FO added Justin Meccage to major league staff as assistant pitching coach, named Steve Williams pro scouting director and bumped Greg Smith to special assistant to the GM. Meccage was highly regarded as the Bucs MiLB pitching coordinator and may be Uncle Ray's heir one day. 
• Expansion in the air? What would a 32-team MLB looklike? Tracy Ringolsby of Baseball America gives a preview.

Old Buccos News:

• One of Gayo's guys, Rudy Guzman, a once highly-touted outfielder, is suing the Bucs for $10M per Diario Libre, a Dominican newspaper, for breach of contract. He never made it out of the Dominican because he couldn't verify his age.
• Jared Hughes was non-tendered by the Brewers. He was 5-3-1 with a dozen holds and 3.02 ERA for the Crew last season.

Jared Hughes looking for a new home (photo 2016/Pittsburgh Pirates)

• The Orioles signed RHP Jhan Martinez (0-1, 3.18 w/Pittsburgh last year) and RHP Joely Rodriguez, who the Bucs sent to the Phils for Antonio Bastardo after the 2014 season.
• Rob Scahill inked a minor-league deal with the White Sox. He tossed for the Bucs in 2016 and then moved on to the Brewers.
• The Padres signed 25-year-old RHP Colten Brewer. The 2011 4th-round Pirates pick was converted to the pen last year and worked three minor-league levels with a combined 3-1-14/2.82 slash & 69 K in 60-2/3IP.
• Philadelphia and SS Pedro Florimon agreed to a minor-league deal. He played some for the Pirates in 2015-16 and spent time with the Phils last year.
• RHP Mark Appel passed through waivers, proof positive that it's better to be lucky than good (sometimes).