Winter Meeting Notes: Not Much Shakin'

The winter meetings had a Christmas-like theme for the Bucs: "...Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

• Ben Cherington said not just Starling but everyone on the roster is at least worth a listen in trade talks. Per the Post Gazette's Jason Mackey, it seems 2B Adam Frazier is drawing some strong interest around the league, and Rob Biertempel of The Athletic tweets ditto for RHP Joe Musgrove.

Fraze is a hot item - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• FA catchers associated speculatively with the Bucs: Jason Castro, Robinson Chirinos and Austin Romine (Romine just signed with the Tigers and the other pair are pretty popular per the rumor mill).
• The Pirates signed RHP Hector Noesi, 32, to a minor league deal with an invite to camp. The starter has worked for five MLB clubs, the Dominican League and Korea, and is a MiLB depth builder.
• After passing on and losing no one in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft, Pittsburgh selected RHP Alex Aquino in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft. He tossed for the Braves GCL team last year. The 23-year-old converted infielder went 1-0/3.60 w/22 K in 20 IP. They lost 26-year-old 1B/OF Jerrick Suiter to the Cubs; he hit .236 for the AA Curve last year.
• Per The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel, Rangers bullpen coach Oscar Marin interviewed for Pirates pitching coach gig. Holdover Justin Meccage is in the running for the job; he could also keep his old ass't title.
• Bryan Reynolds got some love from Jared Wyllys of The Sporting News.
• *knock on wood* Gregory Polanco is currently on track to be 100% for camp.
• You can go home again. Stephen Strasburg signed a deal with the Washington Nationals for seven years/$245M. Not to be outdone, Gerrit Cole agreed to a nine-year/$324M contract with the Yankees, the largest ever for a pitcher and just a smidge less than Bryce Harper's $330M record deal of last year.
• This year's Pirates Fest is set for Saturday, January 25th, at PNC Park. It starts at 9AM for season ticket holders and noon for the hoi polloi.

Mad Max is now a Met - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• The Mets signed IF Max Moroff to a minor league deal. The Pirates sent him to the Indians in the prior off season as part of the Erik Gonzalez deal.
• RHP Josh Lindblom inked a three-year/$9.125M deal w/the Brewers, and could almost double if he meets the available bonuses. In two seasons with Doosan, Lindblom was 35-7/2.68 ERA in 56 starts w/346 strikeouts in 363-⅓ IP and was Korea's MVP Pitcher. Josh tossed four times for the Bucs in 2017 before heading overseas.
• LHP Joely Rodríguez and the Rangers agreed on two-year/$5.5M contract pending his physical. Rodriguez pitched for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan in 2018-19, where he went 3-7 but with a 1.85 ERA and 103 K in 87-2/3 IP. He was in the Bucco org through 2014 before being traded to Philly for Antonio Bastardo.
• The Home Run Derby in 2019 wasn't because of a juiced ball, sez the white-coats. The MLB study concluded that it was due to an erratically lower seam and that pesky launch angle thingie.
• MiLB players will no longer be tested for marijuana, joining their MLB brothers.