The Trade:
- In his first big-boy trade, GM Ben Cherington sent Starling Marte and $1.5M to Arizona for 19-year-olds SS Liover Peguero, RHP Brennan Malone and $250,000 in international signing capacity. Peguero is a good glove guy with a promising but inconsistent stick, while Malone, a first-round pick (#33), spent much of the past year at Bradenton's IMG Academy, where the Bucs presumably could keep an eye on him.
 |
| The Marte Partay has switched ports - image 2019 MLB Network |
- As for replacing Marte, the Bucs are looking outside the system (Travis Swaggerty and Jared Oliva, the Bucco CF prospects, both played A Ball last year, and shifting Bryan Reynolds would just create a void in left). Jon Heyman of MLB.com posts "Free agents Kevin Pillar, Billy Hamilton and Cameron Maybin are among the CF candidates that the Pirates are considering. Pillar would seem to be pricier than the others (but) GM Ben Cherington knows him from Toronto. Adam Berry has a more comprehensive list of candidates the FO may be considering.
Signings:
- The Bucs signed free agent UTIL JT Riddle for a reported $850K. Riddle, 28, comes from the Miami organization and has played SS & CF for the Fish, batting .229 in 223 games from 2017-19. He should stick - he signed a MLB deal and is out of options. That leaves Pittsburgh with three SS's (Kevin Newman, Eric Gonzalez), although Fraze's trade/trade him not status has the middle of the infield muddy at this point.
- The Pirates and LHP Robbie Erlin, 29, have agreed to a one-year minor league deal w/invite worth $1.5M at the MLB level; he has an opt-out if he doesn't break camp with the Bucs. Erlin's been around, having worked for the Padres for parts of several years, and is one of those guys whose peripherals outperform his counting numbers. Being a southpaw is worth bonus points, too.
 |
| JT Riddle signed a MLB deal; these guys are all NRI's - image Pittsburgh Pirates |
- LHP Derek Holland has agreed to a a minor league contract with the Bucs a camp invite. He'll get an invite to spring training with an opt out if not on opening-day roster. Since 2015, he's gone 5-8/5.00 for four teams and his peripherals pretty much match up with his performance, although he did have a nice 2018 campaign for the Giants, going 7-9/3.57 in 30 starts. Dutch Oven has started and relieved, though the Cubs used him mainly from the pen last year. The Pirates, from early indications, hope to return him to the rotation.
- C Andrew Susac and OF Charlie Tilson were signed and invited as NRI's to camp. Susac, 29, has played 113 MLB games over parts of five years, hitting .229, and was hurt most of last season, which he spent in AAA Omaha. Tilson, 27, has 96 MLB games over three years with a .246 BA. The lefty has played all three outfield spots for the White Sox.
Other stuff:
- Apparently the Pirates are OK with the rotation. The pre-season MLB.com picks to start the year for all 30 teams is out, and Pittsburgh's lines up as Joe Musgrove, Chris Archer, Trevor Williams, Mitch Keller and Stephen Brault, with Chad Kuhl, JT Brubaker and a blue-light special or two as challengers.
- The Bucs have a zillion theme nights, so if you want to take the pooch, sip some wine, gab with the alums or just hang out with like souls, here's the Buccos 2020 PNC schedule of special stuff.
 |
| Jordy returns to Motown - image AT&T SportsNet |
- SS Jordy Mercer, 33, has rejoined the Tigers, agreeing to a minor league contract w/invite to camp. Injuries limited him to 74 games last season.
- The Orioles have agreed to a minor league contract with 35-year-old LHP Wade LeBlanc with an invite to camp. He'll earn $800K if he makes the team.
- OF Matt Joyce, 35, reportedly signed an undisclosed deal with Miami; he was with the Bucs in 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment