The Pirates have exercised their 2013 club option for Pedro Alvarez and declined for Rod Barajas, reports Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter). The team also released southpaw Hisanori Takahashi.
Alvarez will earn $700K next season and would have remained under team control as a pre-arbitration eligible player had Pittsburgh declined the option. Barajas, 37, hit .206/.283/.343 with 11 homers this year and will receive no buyout rather than a $3.5MM salary. Takahashi, 37, was due to hit free agency so his release is just procedural. He pitched to a 5.54 ERA in 50 1/3 innings split between the Angels and Pirates in 2012.
Goodbye Rod you called some good games but you can’t hit or throw to second
It’ll be interesting to see if the Pirates look for a no. 1 catcher to replace Barajas and use McKenry as a backup or if The Fort assumes that role and the Bucs find his backup or promote Tony Sanchez. I hope they find an upgrade to Barajas and McKenry is the backup.
Napoli and Pierzynski are probably the only 2 catchers available that project as regular starters. The odds that the Pirates end up with either are slim to none. David Ross has been productive, but I don’t see him being an everyday player and having the same amount of success. Russell Martin could be an option, but I wasn’t too impressed with his numbers and his power is inflated by playing in Yankee Little League Stadium.
What about Alvarez for Haren? Needs being filled….
Too much of an overpay. Haren is a guy who everyone knows they want to get rid of and Alvarez, albeit inconsistent, is a blossoming young 3B. 30 home run bats don’t grow on trees.
Well the bat is made of wood…so…
Get real. Alvarez is an up and coming star with 40 HR power under team control for several years. Haren is 32, coming off a terrible season and would only be under contract for one more year if the Angels pick up his option and trade him.
If you want Alvarez for Haren, let’s work one out for James McDonald for Mike Trout…
I wonder if Mike Napoli would be a fit in Pittsburgh? He can be the primary catcher and play first when he needs a rest, pretty much split catching duties 50/50 between the two.
Jones can take the outfield and they can spell him vs some tough lefties, but maybe Jones can play a little more this coming season since he proved himself. Napoli’s season where he batted .330 was an obvious fluke but he still has a potent bat, especially for a catcher.
Jones, Napoli, Cutch, Alvarez would all be 30 HR potential bats, along with Walker who may hit 15 or so.
I think Napoli would make more sense for the Red Sox than the Pirates. Napoli can catch, DH, or play 1B as needed for the Sox, allowing Boston to possibly deal either Salty or Lavarnway.
Napoli is not as good as the fort if you give the fort a whole season he will bash 25-30 homers and have a 250 avg.
The Fort would hit 25-30 homers a year if he played his home games in Colorado. He won’t do it with the Pirates because he can’t or won’t be given the opportunity.
If the price isn’t very high, I’d like for them to trade for Salty or Arencibia of Toronto. They are certainly flawed players as each are hackers at the plate, but they’d be a cheap 20+ HR bat and a big upgrade from Barajas. He doesn’t get a free pass because he catches for Burnett.
I’m confused you want to split catching duties 50/50 between Napoli and the Fort? What a waste of money that would be.