Notes: Leyland In; Winter Meeting Underway; Pirates Moves; Ex-Bucs In the News

Winter meetings begin...

Notes:

• The Winter Meetings started Sunday, with the Amateur Draft lottery for final draft position being held on the 5th and the Rule 5 Draft on the 6th to close the shebang. The Pirates may lay the groundwork for trades, which GM Ben has said they're interested in without naming any targets. We'll see if they have any specific FAs in mind or are just going to wait out the market (maybe they could start w/Cutch; we're not sure what's delaying that deal.)
• The Bucs released RHP Thomas Hatch, who reportedly has a deal to play in Japan next year. The 29-year-old multi-role reliever was on the 40-man but out of options, and may be trying to revive his career as a starting pitcher in the Nippon League. He slashed 1-1/4.03 last season in a dozen outings.
•  Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Bucs most tradeable player is closer David Bednar. He was a hot commodity last year, too. He is a controllable and popular local All-Star, but we're not really sure yet what direction the FO is taking for the short term yet, so maybe...

David Bednar - 2023 Pirates photo

• The team claimed RHP Roddery Munoz, 23, from the Nats, where he was a Top Ten prospect. He slashed 4-6/5.42 w/a K per inning at the AA-AAA levels. The starter (caveat: the Braves used him from the pen in the first half of the season) is another guy with "electric stuff" but a fire-and-forget arm who walked six guys per game in '23.
• C Ali Sanchez, who caught at Reno (AAA - Arizona) last year and became a FA after the season, signed a split deal ($745K/$120,600) w/the Bucs. He is out of options, meaning he can't be called up and down w/o facing waivers. Makes you wonder if the suits are building depth or maybe debating the Endy-Henry duo as the future behind the dish...
• The club suits tinkered with the game times - night games start at 6:40, weekday day games at 12:35, Sunday games at 1:35 and Saturday games at 4:05 until the All Star break, when they'll begin at 6:40, the same time as the other night games. Check the sked first, though - there are a couple of outliers for TV, promos, travel and other odds & ends.
• The Pirates hired Sarah Gelles of the Astros to be the team’s Ass't GM. A Pirates intern in 2009, she worked her way up to Director, Research & Development in Houston. She's considered a top gun at evaluation and development, areas that the club has had questionable results with in the past.

Jim Leyland - Pirates image

• Pirates, Marlins and Tigers skipper Jim Leyland was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Class of 2024 as Jim earned 15 votes from the 16-man selection committee. The induction ceremony will be held July 21st.
• RHP Cameron Junker, who spent most of the year at Altoona and played in the AFL and a bit at Indy, was elected as one of two minor league reps to sit on the MLBPA board. Junker, 26, was taken in the 10th round of the 2019 draft out of Notre Dame. The reliever has worked in all five Bucco farm levels, from Lo A to AAA, so he should have a handle on the issues.
• The Tigers signed corner IF/OF Ryan Vilade to a minor league deal as an NRI. He hit .270 at Indy last year and was one of the multi-positional depth guys the Buc FO likes to stash.
• The Oakland A’s agreed to a minor league contract with utility player Hoy Park. He played every position for the Pirates in 2021-22 except first, pitcher and catcher but only hit. 201. He spent last year in the Atlanta Braves system. 
• Dave Clark was named the first base coach for the 'Stros. 
• On the celebrity front, former Buc SS Cole Tucker and Vanessa Hudgens got married in Tulum, Mexico this weekend per her agent.