Pirates Week One of the Offseason: Dates, TV, Draft, Players

Life goes on after the season is done:

• Events upcoming: free agency after the World Series (the Bucs only have Frankie, Melky & Lonnie to worry about w/options available for Starling & Archie), the skipper search (could end tomorrow, but we suspect it will last past the postseason until the higher profile vacancies are filled), the Rule 5/40-Man roster shuffle (they have to make room for eight returnees from the IL and up to four or five minor league hands by November 20th), and the winter meetings December 8-12th.
• The Pirates and AT&T Sports Network announced a "multi-year extension" of their TV rights deal. Terms and length of the extension were not disclosed.

• Josh Bell was the Pirates nominee for the 2019 Henry Aaron Award, given to the most valuable offensive player in each league.
• OF JB Shuck filed for free agency, as did RHP Rookie Davis.
• The Pirates draft 7th this year, behind the Tigers (47-114), Orioles (54-108), Marlins (57-105), Royals (59-103), Blue Jays (67-95), and Mariners (68-94). The Pirates (69-93) nosed out the Padres (70-92), Rockies (71-91) and Angels (72-90).
• Atlanta's playoff roster: Fran Cervelli, Mark Melancon, Matt Joyce, Tyler Webb and Adeiny Hechavarria. Tampa's: Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow, and Austin Meadows. Others in the hunt: Gerrit Cole, JA Happ, Russ Martin, David Freese, Hunter Strickland, Daniel Hudson, and Miles Mikolas. Joakim Soria, Robbie Grossman and Jordan Lyles made to the Wild Card game.
• Ouch - September's AL Pitcher of the Month was Gerrit Cole and the AL Player of the Month was Austin Meadows.
• Dom Pieto, Central Catholic HS's QB, committed to play baseball at Long Island University, a Division I program that competes in the Northeast Conference. Pieto is a third baseman, catcher and pitcher for the Vikings.