The Pirates won't spend as much on free agents as their division rivals, the Brewers and Cardinals, but they're still being aggressive. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are gaining momentum with Octavio Dotel, though talks with Rick Ankiel aren't progressing as well.
The Pirates, who made initial inquiries on Jose Valverde and Kevin Gregg before talks with the two relievers slowed, have offers out to Dotel and other relievers. As Ed Price reported yesterday, the Pirates are interested in Dotel's former teammate, D.J. Carrasco.
The Pirates aren't willing to promise any free agent – including Rick Ankiel – a starting job. The outfielder's agent, Scott Boras, hopes to find a full-time role for his client, so talks aren't developing, though the Pirates are open to signing the one-time pitcher.
Kovacevic also updates us on a couple former Rays. In this article, we hear that Akinori Iwamura has a release clause in his contract that allows him to become a free agent before he has six years of service time. He'll hit the open market after this year year if the Pirates don't lock him up. Also, the Pirates aren't interested in Jonny Gomes.
Everyone should be interested in Jonny Gomes. He his is a prime low risk high reward candidate.
Yeah, it’s really weird how him and Kiko Calero are both getting just about ignored.
I’d love Calero to be added to the Pirates roster. He’d immediately bolster their putrid looking bullpen. However, as great as Gomes is with the bat, he’s right there with Dunn and Cust when it comes to glovework.
I can’t think of a single team that couldn’t use Calero.
For Gomes, if his defense gets THAT BAD, he can DH in the AL or be a hell of a bench bat in the NL.
A lot of us Pirates fans feel Akinori Iwamura is hear for the short term anyway. We fully exspect him to be traded at the deadline and Andy to be moved to 2nd base full time.
Ankel doesn` t do a whole lot for me we have a bunch of Of right now as it is. Milledge,McCuthen and Jones are the starters and guys like Young,Moss,Bixler, and the kid we got from Flordia will be fighting for the bench jobs.
i would love to have Dotel here as a teacher to our young closers in waiting. Meek I still think is a year away and Hangerhan needs to be pushed.
Glad to see the pirates and royals making moves. Even though they aren’t making huge splashes at least they’re trying to put a competitive team on the field. If they fall out of contention they will have some valuable trade chips at the deadline.
I would love to have Octavio Dotel has our Closer. He would sereve 2 fold 1 as a mento to our young Bullpen guys like Grabrow did and 2 he would push Hanerhan and Meek.
D.J. Carrasco dont know much about him his bio says he might be a decent starter.
Rick Ankiel where would he play. Milledge,McCuthen and Jones are going be our opening day starters. Young,Moss and the kid from Flordia will compete for 2 bench spots. Not to mention Tabata and Herndez down on the farm who might get a look this year more likely for Tabata but still.
I would like them to sign a 1st basemen to push Clement cause if his d is not ML ready after St we can still send him to AAA if we need an have a rental at 1st that we can flip with Duke for a couple decent Prospects at the Deadline.
Akinori Iwamura was brought here for a short term fix. He will be traded at or near the deadline and Andy will asume 2nd. This will allow Alverez once ready to take over 3rd.
Dejan, from the PPG, says that the Pirates have really zeroed in on Dotel. That’s good news, imo, and Dotel would be a big boost to the bullpen.
I don’t think we need a 1B to push Clement, at this point. With Tabata close to the bigs, he might push Jones to 1B while taking the OF spot, which in turn would put pressure on Clement. Same with Alvarez, if he can’t stay at 3rd. So, I’d say Clement is being pushed plenty!
I m really curious to see what happens to Iwamura if he stays healthy and plays well. If they don’t flip him, then Andy goes to the bench. If they do, then you have 2 question marks in the field, Andy at 2B and Pedro at 3B. Be interesting.
Kiko Calero Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
What’s so funny? Kiko Calero is really good. Last two years, he’s had FIPs of 2.06 and 2.56. Pitchers like that don’t grow on trees.
he pitched in 5 games in ’08 and last year was the first decent year he has had since he posted a very average 3.41 / 1.28 ERA / WHIP in ’06. Pitchers like that do grow on trees.
I would love to have Octavio Dotel has our Closer. He would sereve 2 fold 1 as a mento to our young Bullpen guys like Grabrow did and 2 he would push Hanerhan and Meek.
D.J. Carrasco dont know much about him his bio says he might be a decent starter.
Rick Ankiel where would he play. Milledge,McCuthen and Jones are going be our opening day starters. Young,Moss and the kid from Flordia will compete for 2 bench spots. Not to mention Tabata and Herndez down on the farm who might get a look this year more likely for Tabata but still.
I would like them to sign a 1st basemen to push Clement cause if his d is not ML ready after St we can still send him to AAA if we need an have a rental at 1st that we can flip with Duke for a couple decent Prospects at the Deadline.
Akinori Iwamura was brought here for a short term fix. He will be traded at or near the deadline and Andy will asume 2nd. This will allow Alverez once ready to take over 3rd.
Until he can learn to have better command, give up less runs and hits, Keven Gregg will be nother more than a middle reliever. He wants to much money, and anyone that inquires on him is laughing at his price.
Ankiel, if healthy can be very affective, he has proven this.
Dotel also has proven when he can be good, he can be one of the better relievers in baseball, but when he is in his “bad streak” time, he is horrible. That’s why the FA market is “Buyer Beware”