What happens in Vegas doesn't necessarily stay in Vegas...
- John Dreker of Pirates Prospects took a look at who were potential targets in the Pittsburgh system for Rule 5 draft, primarily consisting of pitching prospects. No one was lost on the Pirates end (the Reds selected utility guy Connor Joe from the Dodgers; he was a first-round Buc pick in 2014 who was traded for S-Rod last year; this is his third organization since leaving the Pirates), although there was quite a bit of action during the minor league swapfest; Pittsburgh claimed a pair of farmhands and lost a pair (rundown via Jerry DiPaolo of the Trib).
- In their first move of the winter meeting, the Pirates sent 31-year-old vet Ivan Nova to the White Sox for 19-year-old Dominican right-hander Yordi Rosario (rundown via Nick Caporoso of Rumbunter) and $500,000 in international bonus space.
- They also signed RHP Jordan Lyles, 28, to a one-year/$2.05M deal that will become official when he passes his physical.He's a guy with not much of a track record (31-52-2/5.28) despite eight years in the league. He did have a solid 2018 from the pen, has a teeny L/R split and increased use of curves and sinkers seems to have upped his game.
- John Perrotto of DK Sports Pittsburgh reports that Arizona SS Nick Ahmed may be on the Pirates radar; Jason Rollison of Bucs Dugout expands on the news.
- From a hodgepodge of sources: RHP Ross Stripling of the Dodgers is gaining traction (by the media, at any rate) as a possible Bucco target. In three years, he's slashed 16-20/3.52 but hasn't worked over 122 IP in any one season mostly due to injuries. He'd be under team control until 2023, and da Bums are looking for a catcher (cue Amore)... Anibal Sanchez is also showing on the radar.
- NH told the beat gang that the Pirates might be open to some bullpenning next year; that's one way to address a thin rotation.
- Jordy Mercer agreed to a one year, $5.25M + $250K in incentives deal with Detroit, per Fancred's Jon Heyman, ending his seven-year run with the Buccos.
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| Cutch finds a new home 2017 Topps Now |
- Cutch signed a three-year/$50M deal + option year with Philly, landing on his feet after a 118 OPS+ campaign that was split between the Giants and Yankees. FWIW, that OPS+ was exactly the same as his Pirates replacement, Corey Dickerson, posted.
- Ex-Bucco/Astro RHP Charlie Morton and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a two-year/$30M deal, sources told Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
- The Yankees have reportedly signed a two-year/$34M deal with LHP JA Happ, another value-rebuilt ex-Bucco.
- The Red Sox have agreed to a minor league deal with 31-year-old OF Gorkys Hernandez. Hit .234/.285/.391 and played all three outfield spots for the Giants in 142 games last year. He’d make a salary of $1M if in the big leagues, per Alex Speier.
- Alex Dickerson re-signed with the San Diego Padres on a minor league deal. The Pirates third round pick in 2011, he was flipped to SD in 2015 for Miles Mikolas and Jaff Decker. Alex was on the verge of winning an outfield spot when injuries took away his last two campaigns.
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| Tito changin' addresses (photo: Sports Icon Wire/Getty) |
- The Mariners signed 24-year-old OF Tito Polo to a minor league deal. Tito was once a toolsy Buc prospect who was sent to the Yankees as part of the Ivan Nova trade. He has good, center field speed and gets on base, but has no power and hasn't advanced past AA yet.
- And yay, he's gone: Kansas City came to terms with Billy Hamilton on a one year/$5.25M deal with a reported mutual option for 2020.
- Tim Neverett, old Bucco broadcaster, has left his Boston Red Sox booth after three years following some disagreements with flagstaff station WEEI.
- Lee Smith and Harold Baines were elected to the HoF by the Today’s Game Era Committee. If Baines, who was a very good player, can get in, maybe there's hope for the Cobra, Scoops and Mad Dog after all... (data from Baseball Reference; wRC+ from Fangraphs)
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