Pirates Sign Hanrahan For 1 Year

The Pittsburgh Pirates and reliever Joel Hanrahan, agreed to a 1 year deal worth $1.4M, to avoid arbitration. 

Joel Hanrahan

Hanrahan, acquired, in 2009, from the Washington Nationals, has been solid since coming to Pittsburgh. In 2010, he appeared in 72 games, finishing with a 4-1 record with 100 strikeouts, a 3.62 ERA and  1.206 WHIP. The increase in salary was well deserved, he, along side of Evan Meek, were the two more reliable arms coming out of the bullpen, and are the two candidates for the closer role, which Hanrahan held in Washington.


The Pirates are still in negotiations with Ross Ohlendorf, who became arbitration eligible with his Super-Two status. It isn't expected that he will receive as much of an increase, to his salary, as Hanrahan did, due to an injury prone season.

Pirates Still Pursuing Pavano

Carl Pavano

It has been reported be Jon Heyman, of Sports Illustrated, that the Pirates are still actively pursuing Carl Pavano, who prefers the Twins, and is in active negotiations with. Pavano, 35 years old, wants the chance to be a staff ace, on a competitive team. At 35 years of age, being a staff ace, seems to be a bit of a stretch, for the Twins, but with the Pirates starting rotation, he would clearly hold that distinction. 


Being a pivotal part of the 2003 World Series Champions Marlins, he successfully reached the goal of all baseball players. While he may want to play with a competitive team, he is using the open market to obtain one final contract, worth a large sum. After signing a $1.5M contract, in 2009, with the Indians, he was traded to the Twins, where he excelled and was rewarded with a $7M contract for 2010. It is a common practice to show interest in one team, in attempt to increase the offer from another.


Contract negotiations have, reportedly, been going on for nearly two weeks, between Pavano and the Twins. It has been known, for some time, that he is looking for 3 years, at nearly $10M a year. The Pirates have the room to add that much to the payroll, for the 2011 season, and very well may add, just not with one player though. 


The pursuit of Pavano will not end, until he is officially signed with the Twins.

Pirates Sign RHP Jose Veras

The Pirates and RHP Jose Veras have come to terms, on a Minor League contract and an invite to Spring Training. The contract could be worth $1M, plus incentives, if he makes the big league squad, and $15K a week, in the minors.

Jose Veras

Veras, a 5 year veteran, will be 30 years of age for the 2011 season, and has been a part of 3 teams; the Yankees, Indians and Marlins. He is known for his mid to high 90's fastball and his slider. Initially, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in 1998, as an undrafted free agent, and spent time in the, Rays, Rangers and Yankees farm system, until he debuted with the Yankees in August of 2006. In his remaining years with the Yankees, he spent time on both, the big league squad and in the minors, until he was traded to the Indians. His 2010 season was spent within the Marlins organization, where he signed a minor league contract, made the major league squad and later designated for assignment to make room, for now Pirate, Chris Leroux.


These kind of signings are expected to happen, for the remainder of the off season. Huntington was able to build a good bullpen, through minor league signings. With the Pirates main focus, now, on pitching, there will be several more relievers signed, and quite possibly, a possible starter, to add a little competition for the 5th spot in the rotation. 


Career Stats: 11-6/4.25 ERA/150 K/3 SV/1.271 WHIP

Pirates Sign RHP Reliever Jorge Julio

Today, the Pirates signed RHP Jorge Julio (Jorge Dandys Julio Tapia), to a minor league contract, with an invite to spring training. Julio, 32 years old by opening day, is a 9 year veteran, in the major league, though, in 2010 he played for the independent Bridgeport Bluefish. He was also played winter ball, in Venezuela, with Tiburones de La Guaira, where he post 1.88 ERA, 22 SO and 12 BB in 28.2 IP. During his 9 year stint in the majors, he appeared with 8 different teams, and finished 3rd for American League Rookie of the Year, in 2001.

Jorge Julio 

Julio's release, in early 2010, was triggered by inconsistency and lack of control. He seems to have gotten the lack of control taken care of, by looks of his winter league stats, but it is not a large enough sample to judge on his inconsistency. The Pirates have said they are looking for more left hand pitching, but if this signing works out, for the better, it could end up being a great deal. If it appears, that he has still problems with inconsistency, the Pirate merely will have added organizational depth, where he would be able to attempt to regain his control. 


Career MLB Stats: 17-34/4.43 ERA/99 SV/233 BB/488 K/1.435 WHIP

2011 Starting Rotations: NL Central

There have been many acquisitions, this off season, of starting pitchers, in the NL Central. Milwaukee, acquiring Zack Greinke, and Chicago, acquiring Matt Garza, made two huge acquisitions. The Brewers, finishing in 3rd place, had struggled with pitching, early in the 2010 season, while the Cub's, finishing in 5th place, pitching struggles lasted throughout the year, primarily with Carlos Zambrano working out of the bullpen, for most part of the year.


The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, pitching, were solid throughout the entire year. Each of these two teams, starting rotation's, were backed by a bullpen, equally as good. The Reds and Cardinals, respectively, finished in 1st and 2nd places, as this should be the primary example, on why pitching wins games.
While the Houston Astros pitching struggled, throughout the year, they traded away their staff ace, Roy Oswalt, to Philadelphia. Our Pittsburgh Pirates, as we all know, finished last, and was plagued, throughout the year, with terrible starting pitching.


The Pirates, who saw four starting pitchers (Maholm, Duke, Ohlendorf, and Morton) with 10+ losses, had a strong bullpen. At the trade deadline, they traded several relief pitchers, in return for propects, and one, major league ready, starting pitcher, James McDonald. McDonald, who had struggled early in the year in Los Angeles, came to Pittsburgh and posted some very bright numbers; 4-5, 3.52 ERA, 1.297 WHIP.  The 2011 starting rotation, as listed by PIRATES.COM, appears to be; McDonald, Maholm, Correia, Ohlendorf and Morton, and is subject to change, due to performance in Spring Training and/or injuries. Correia, an off season, free agent signing, is just one of a few, the Pirates are hoping to still pull off this year.


The free agent market is slowly dwindling, and the Pirates are trying to be suitors for several different pitchers. The most recent rumors involve, starters, Jeff Francis and Carl Pavano, and reliever, Brian Fuentes. Francis or Pavano, would be a welcomed addition to the rotation, though Pavano is said to be in negotiations to re-join, the Twins. Fuentes, a closer by trade, would take that same role in Pittsburgh, still leaving Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek as set up men, and once again giving them a strong bullpen. **As I have said in prior posts, these were just rumors, and can not be relied on.


As it stands, I see the rotation, for next season, to be a slight upgrade with McDonald and Correia. An addition of Franciso or Pavano, would, most likely, be the inevitable trade of Paul Maholm.


Below, I have put together the NL Central teams, by placement, and their newest starting rotation. The depth's were taken off of each teams website and stats are from BASEBALL-REFERENCE.COM. Teams with more than 5 players listed, will be totaled, with the top 5 players, according to the team's website. ITALIC = Division Leader

Cincinnati Reds: 

J. Cueto: 9-14, 21 G, 4.81 ERA, 178 H, 29 HR, 1.414 WHIP

E. Volquez: 4-3, 12 G, 4.31 ERA, 59 H, 6 HR, 1.5 WHIP

B. Arroyo: 17-10, 33, 3.88 ERA, 188 H, 29 HR, 1.145 WHIP

H. Bailey: 4-3, 19 G, 4.46 ERA, 109 H, 11 HR, 1.36 WHIP

T. Wood:  5-4, 17 G, 3.51 ERA, 85 H, 9 HR, 1.081 WHIP

M. Leake: 8-4, 24 Games 4.23 ERA, 158 H, 19 HR, 1.496 WHIP

-Totals: 39-34, 4.19 ERA, 1.3 WHIP

St. Louis Cardinals:

C. Carpenter: 16-9, 35 G, 3.22 ERA, 214 H, 21 HR, 1.179 WHIP

A. Wainwright: 20-11, 33 G, 2.42 ERA, 186 H, 15 HR, 1.051 WHIP

J. Garcia: 13-8, 28 G, 2.70 ERA, 151 H, 9 HR, 1.316 WHIP

J. Westbrook: 10-11, 33 G, 4.22 ERA, 203 H, 20 HR, 1.337 WHIP

K. Lohse: 4-8,  18 G, 6.55 ERA, 129 H, 9 HR, 1.783 WHIP

-Totals: 63-47, 3.82 ERA, 1.333 WHIP

Milwaukee Brewers:

Z. Greinke: 10-14, 33 G, 4.17 ERA, 219 H, 18 HR, 1.245 WHIP

Y. Gallardo: 14-7, 31 Gl 3.84 ERA, 178 H, 12 HR, 1.368 WHIP

S. Marcum: 9-7, 25 G, 3.39 ERA, 126 H, 21 HR, 1.163 WHIP

R. Wolf: 13-12, 34 G, 4.17 ERA, 213 H, 29 HR, 1.391 WHIP

C. Narveson: 12-9, 37 G, 4.99 ERA, 172 H, 21 HR, 1.378 WHIP

-Totals: 58-49, 4.11 ERA, 1.309 WHIP

Houston Astros:
W. Rodriguez: 11-12, 32 G, 4.78 ERA, 183 H, 16 HR, 1.287 WHIP
B. Myers: 14-8, 33 G, 3.14 ERA, 212 H, 20 HR, 1.243 WHIP
J. Happ:  6-4; 16 G, 3.40 ERA, 73 H, 8 HR, 1.374 WHIP
B. Norris: 9-10, 27 G, 4.92 ERA, 151 H, 18 HR, 1.484 WHIP
N. Figueroa: 7-4, 31 G, 3.29 ERA, 84 H, 10 HR, 1.269 WHIP
R. Rowland-Smith: 1-10, 27 G, 6.75 ERA, 141 H, 25 HR, 1.692 WHIP


-Totals: 47-38, 3.91 ERA, 1.331 WHIP

Chicago Cubs: 

M. Garza: 15-10, 33 G, 3.91 ERA, 193 H, 28 HR, 1.315 WHIP

R. Dempster: 15-12, 34 G, 3.85 ERA, 193 H, 25 HR, 1.319 WHIP

T. Gorzelanny: 7-9, 29 G, 4.09 ERA, 136 H, 11 HR, 1.496 WHIP

C. Zambrano: 11-6, 36 G, 3.33 ERA, 119 H, 7 HR, 1.45 WHIP

C. Silva: 10-6, 21 Games, 4.22 ERA, 120 H, 11 HR, 1.274 WHIP

C. Coleman: 4-2, 12 G, 4.11 ERA, 56 H, 3 HR, 1.421 WHIP

-Totals: 56-53, 3.89 ERA, 1.396 WHIP

Pittsburgh Pirates:

J. McDonald: 4-6, 15 G, 4.02 ERA, 70 H, 4 HR, 1.381 WHIP

P. Maholm: 9-15, 32 G, 5.10 ERA, 228 H, 15 HR, 1.565 WHIP

K. Correia: 10-10, 28 G, 5.40 ERA, 152 H, 20 HR, 1.490 WHIP

R. Ohlendorf: 1-11, 21 G, 4.07 ERA, 106 H, 12 HR, 1.385 WHIP

C. Morton: 2-12, 17 G, 7.57 ERA, 112 H, 15 HR, 1.732 WHIP

S. Olsen: 4-8, 17 G, 5.56 ERA, 93 H, 10 HR, 1.481 WHIP

-Totals: 26-54, 5.232 ERA, 1.511 WHIP 

My 2011 Starting Rotation Ranks:
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros

Wil Ledezma Claimed By Toronto

Today, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed Wil Ledezma, off of waivers. Ledezma was designated for assignment, on December 23, by the Pirates. This will be the 7th team he has played for, in his, soon to be, 9th year in the majors, and by the start of the 2011 season, he will be 30 years old.

Wil Ledezma

The Pirates were hoping Ledezma would clear waivers, and accept the assignment in Indianapolis. New Pirates manager, Clint Hurdle, wanted more left handed relievers, while he was still with the team, will more than likely still be looking to add more left handed depth, with his departure. With the Pirates, rumored to be, interested, left handed starter, Jeff Francis, his acquisition would most certainly put Scott Olsen, in the bullpen.

Pirates Trade Martinez for Cash or PTBNL

It was just announced that the Pittsburgh Pirates sent RHP Joe Martinez, to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations or a player to be name later. Martinez, acquired in the Javier Lopez trade, during the 2010 season. He appeared in 5 games with the Pirates, putting forth a 0 - 0 record with a 3.12 ERA. 

Joe Martinez

With this transaction today, John Bowker is the only player remaining, that was required from San Fransisco in the Javier Lopez deal. Though Martinez wasn't given much chance to show any possible upside, Bowker was, and will have more chance to show upside in the 2011 season.