A busy couple of weeks of moves for the Buccos. The Bucs signed Ryan Church to a 1yr/1.5mil deal as a fourth outfielder. I like the move. Could be a good bench guy. He is a good fit for the Pirates. He hits left handed, something they desperately need. He also plays solid defense and could play everyday if Jeff Clement doesn't work out at first base and they have to move Garrett Jones there. He was often injured last season, splitting time between the Mets and Braves, combining to hit .273. Church only hit four homers last season, but did hit 15 in 2007 with Washington. Not a splashy type of signing, but teams need good bench guys also.The Bucs also signed a couple relievers in D.J Carassco and Brenden Donnelly. Carrasco is 32 and will earn a 950k base salary if he makes the squad. He had a god year with the White Sox last season, posting a 3.76 era in 93.3 innings pitched. Intresting that Carrasco and Brian Bass (who also signed a minor league deal with the Bucs) were 1&2 in the majors last season in innings pitched by relievers.
Donnelly was signed to a major league deal for 1yr/1.35mil. He is a bit of a risk, coming off Tommy John surgery in 2007. He saw his first big league action since 07 last year with the Marlins and was very effective, posting an era under 1.5 in slightly over 25 innings pitched.
The Bucs are also very close to signing Octavio Dotel.
The Pirates also cleared a spot for Donelly on the 40 man roster by dealing Brian Bixler to the Indians for ss Jesus Brito. I don't know much about him but he is 22 and hit .353 combined between the Indians Rookie and Short Season teams.
I believe for Dotel to be signed, another spot on the 40 man must be cleared. The likely guy in my mind to be released or dealt is Steve Pearce.
Again, not big named relievers, but the bullpen should be a bit more reliable this season.
One funny note is that with the signings of Donnelly, Carrasco and Chris Jakubauskas- that gives the Bucs three pitchers that used to pitch in the Frontier League. Probably three too many.
wow 3 frontier league members. that's sad. is brett grandstrand gonna be the shortstop? can't be any worse
ReplyDeletematt i have to agree. for small minor signings, the bullpen has to be better, especially if they get dotel, although i would have taken a run at valverde.
ReplyDeletechurch isnt a bad player either and they helped themselves up the middle with aki.
what's the church signing do for brandon moss? especially since we will that Rule 5 outfielder also and delwynn young can play outfield also
what happened to ankeil. id rather have him
ReplyDeletewell ankeil and scott boras priced themselves away from the Bucs. I'd rather have church anyways. He will be a bench player that can start if needed. ankeil wanted an everyday job.
ReplyDeleteRemember that tabata could be up around June or July, providing Clement struggles and Jones is at first or vice versa.
The Pirates actually have good depth in the outfield throughout the system. they don't need ankeil nor the headache of dealing with Boras in this situation
As far as Brandon Moss, he could be in trouble for playing time. I have to think he makes the roster and they go with an outfield of Jones, Cutch, Milledge, Church, John Raynor (the rule 5 guy) and Moss.
ReplyDeleteThat scenerio may leave Delwyn Young as strictly a backup second baseman, which I don't really like.
Another scenerio could have raynor not making the team at all and either get offered back to the marlins or NH would work out a deal so they could send him to the minors. Similar to the situation with Evan meek 2 seasons ago. I do know they love raynors speed so they would be hard pressed not to have him on the roster.
And yet another scenerio could have Moss being traded. The outfield is crowded and he had a long look. i don't think he is all together that bad. he hasn't been in the big leagues long. i would hate to give up on him, but he is clearly moving down the depth chart. I need to see more consistency out of Moss
matt
ReplyDeleteassuming dotel winds up signing, who would you rather have close?
wow 3 frontier league members. that's sad. is brett grandstrand gonna be the shortstop? can't be any worse
ReplyDeleteHa very funny stuff. cant believe we are bringing in former frontier league players.
maybe they will trade mccutchen and bring in chris sidick to play center field
dave,
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of hanrahan. I liked him with the Nats and he did a good job in the WBC as well. davey johnson showed alot of faith in him.
I thought he did a great job after the Bucs dealt for him and the numbers support that.
having said that, if Dotel signs, it will be to close. I could see a 1yr deal and him probably getting dealt at the deadline, hanrahan would take over then.