Notes: NRI's, Random Stuff & Exes on the Move...

And this week was another pretty quiet one:

• The Bucs invited 11 minor-league guys not on the 40-man roster to camp: RHP's Montana DuRapau, Luis Escobar, Tom Koehler, James Marvel and Nick Mears; LHP's Williams Jerez, Nik Turley and Blake Weiman; C's Jason Delay and Christian Kelley; and OF Jared Oliva. They also have depth players C JR Murphy, CF Socrates Brito, 3B Phillip Evans, IF Jake Elmore and RHP's Miguel Del Pozo & Hector Noesi signed with invites to camp. 
• Pablo Reyes, who was DFA'ed to make room on the 40-man for OF Guillermo Heredia, cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy.

Pablo on the outside lookin' in - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• Jason Mackey of the Post Gazette wrote that the Bucs may fill Steve Blass' old talking head role by committee. He reports that Michael "The Fort" McKenry, Kevin Young and Matt Capps could get some time in the rotation, and that there are some other yet-unnamed guys still in the mix.
• Chris Harlan of the Tribune Review speculates on the chances that West Allegheny HS OF Austin Hendrick, the top-rated prep player by Baseball America, will end up the Bucs #1 pick in the draft.
• Some pretty sweet tees being given out on Fridays this year...
• RHP Yefry Ramirez, 26, signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He tossed for the O's and Buccos (nine games/14 IP/7.71 ERA) in 2019.
• CF Trayvon Robinson signed a minor league deal w/the White Sox after spending 2019 at Indy, where he hit .297. The 32-year-old was a feel-good story, coming back from three years of indie ball to become an International League All-Star.
• Atlanta IF Adeiny Hechavarría, 30, agreed to a one-year/$1M contract. He played for five teams in 2018-19, including Pittsburgh, before being re-signed by the Bravos.
• The Tigers signed RHP Iván Nova, 33, to a one-year/$1.5M deal with undisclosed incentives. He was 11-12/4.72 for the White Sox last season.

Ivan still back endin' - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• The Cubs acquired RHP Casey Sadler, 29, from the Dodgers.He was a Bucco until 2018, held back by injuries, but had a bounceback 2019 with Tampa Bay and LA.
• RHP Juan Nicasio, 33, and the Rangers agreed to a minor league contract/camp invite. He hasn't posted a strong campaign since 2017 when he was with the Bucs (and Phils and Cards...).
• OF Travis Snider, 31, signed a minor league agreement w/Arizona; he played for their PCL-AAA Reno club last year. He hasn't been in the show since 2015, his last hurrah as a Bucco.
• The Cubs announced that former Altoona manager Michael Ryan, who was let go by the Bucs at the end of the year, will manage their Class AA farm club at Tennessee.