Monday Off Day Stuff - Pitchers the Pirates Are Looking At & Notes

The Bucs could use some pitching; a starter who slots in two-three spot of the rotation behind Jamo and another seventh-inning type reliever would fill the bill. They're not, at least that it's leaked out, looked at any position players, satisfied that the pipeline is full and they have internal replacements close to major league-ready.

The Orioles Brad Brach, who was considered a Pirates target, went to the Braves for $250K in international bonus pool money; while the price was right, the Pirates apparently shied clear because of his rental status. Reports say that the Bucs, instead of looking at a Kevin Gausman-Brach package as previously thought, have shifted their sights to a Gausman-Mychal Givens combo. Gausman is a starter whose stuff is better than his record and Givens a set-up guy. Gausman has two more years of control & Givens three. The Birds are said to be looking for an infield/pitching prospect package in return. Baltimore's asking price is high, and that could thwart any deals.

Likewise, some recent reports have the Pirates as part of the Chris Archer sweepstakes; though having a down year, he would slot with Jameson Taillon at the top of the Bucco rotation. Spoiler - whether they've just kicked his tires with an inquiry or are actual contenders is up in the air. Archer is a popular commodity, as he's under team control for three more seasons for $27.5M. There hasn't been much noise in the Keone Kela bidding war, and the Pirates have been reported to have some interest in another Texas bullpen piece, Jose LeClerc, a middle-inning arm.

Decisions, decisions...(photo via Amherst College)

There's also been some additional wisps of smoke that the FO might check in on Sonny Gray and Zack Wheeler, but it doesn't appear that the New York clubs are terribly tempted to move any of their pitchers at the moment. The Mets are asking a sky-high return for Wheeler, while Gray could enter the market late as the Yankees are still in pursuit of pitching. They've also been said to snooping around the Padres arms, though no specific target(s) has come to the surface.

The list, of course, isn't complete and may be more smoke than fire; the Bucco FO rarely publicizes its wish list, so many deals Neal makes drop from the blue. We'll know in 24 hours or so what he has up his sleeve. One thing we hope is that he deals to shore up the club and not to make a PR point.

The recent hot streak and a rash of injuries have all but removed the Bucs from the sellers' market, unless someone is sniffing at J-Hay, and the Pirates, with some depth to their minor league system, are now looking to add controllable pieces, as is their wont - no rentals need apply.

Notes:

• Jung Ho Kang, who's been out with a wrist injury for the past month, is expected to begin rehab this weekend.
• The Mariners traded two minor leaguers to the Twins for Zach Duke. Even at 35 and with 2016 TJ surgery, the Zachster is still hangin' in there as a LOOGY.