Notes: NYY Talks Continue; Cutch, Starling; People Signed; Exes on the Move

More stuff from the past couple of weeks;

• The NYY/Gerrit Cole talks are back on track after a lull. So far, it appears that the Bucs have conceded they won't get Gleyber Torres, but the deal might be expanding with Josh Harrison's name being thrown into the mix.

Our hot stove Yule Log (image Positively Pittsburgh)

• The Point of Pittsburgh has heard from a little birdie that Cutch is looking for an extension of five years at $22M per to carry him through his age 35 campaign.
• Starling Marte suffered a sore paw after being spiked on the base paths in winter ball and the Bucs decided to call it a day for him. Martay finished with a .277/.333/.438 slash in 30 games and went 9-for-9 in steals. Jose Osuna ended a little early too, but for R&R reasons. His line was .321/.376/.538 in 22 games, including a 17-game hitting streak.
• Jake Depue of Twin Cities ESPN Radio 1500 has a report on new Bucco Rule 5 purchase Nick Burdi. He's a dice roll due to past injury issues but has MLB stuff if he can stay in one piece.
• The Pirates have signed C Jackson Williams and RHP John Stilson to minor league + camp invite deals. Williams has a little MLB time (14 games/.208) and split last year between Indy and Altoona, hitting .201. Stilson bobbed between AA and AAA for Toronto last year with a combo line of 2-5-2, 3.19 in 38 games and has a shot at breaking camp as a middle reliever.

C Jackson Williams 2017 (photo MLB.com)

• Another hit on the Latino circuit - the new Twins minor league field coordinator is Edgar Varela, 37, who was a highly-regarded Latin American hitting coordinator for the Pirates before being hired away by the Twinkies.
• Also moving is Kevin Riggs, who was hitting coach at Altoona from 2015-2017. He's joining the Reading Fightin' Phils in the same role, a lateral move as they're also an Eastern League AA club.
• IF/OF Alen Hansen has signed a minor league deal with San Fran; OF Danny Ortiz ditto with the Phillies.
• RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (Indians ) and RHP Radhames Liz (Brewers) signed minor-league deals with an invite to camp.

Zachster 2011 Topps Big

• The Twins signed Zach Duke, 35, to a major-league deal. Duke went 1-1/3.93 as a Card LOOGY last year, returning to the mound in July after 2016 arm surgery.
• SS Zack Cozart inked a deal with the LA Angels for three years/$38M. It was thought the Pirates had some interest in him as a bridge for the Jordy-Cole/Kramer hand-off, but the contract he signed is longer and dearer than the Pirates were looking to take on.
• No ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for the Buccos this year; fame is so fleeting.