4:39pm: Vogelsong receives a $2MM guarantee and can earn up to $3MM worth of incentives, according to MLB.com’s Adam Berry (Twitter link).
3:00pm: The Pirates have announced a one-year deal with free agent righty Ryan Vogelsong. Contract terms have not yet been reported, though a source tells MLBTR that it’s an incentive-laden deal that can max out at $5MM.
Vogelsong, 38, had seemed to wrap up his MLB career after a stint with the Bucs in the early and mid-2000s. But he returned with new vigor after a stint in Japan, and has played with the Giants for the past five seasons.
Last year was not the best season for the veteran. He logged a rough 4.67 ERA with 7.2 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9. And ERA estimators saw that earned run mark as a more-or-less accurate reflection of his actual contribution on the hill.
But there are still some positives. Vogelsong threw 135 innings over 22 starts and 11 relief appearances, and has a good track record of reliability. His velocity actually trended up slightly, with an average fastball of 91 mph.
For a Pirates organization that entered the offseason looking for rotation options with limited resources, it’s easy to see the appeal in the steady veteran. Pittsburgh recently dealt away Charlie Morton after acquiring Jon Niese, so the need is still there, and further staff additions still seem likely.
He sucks
Great contribution my friend, your insight is second to none
It was a reasonable comment. Certainly no worse than “nice signing” or “I wish they had gotten someone better.”
Nice Signing
I wish they had gotten someone better.
He’s a pitcher.
How about the old classic “now that’s the move that’s going to put them over the top”?
Wtffffffffffffffff
Good for him. He was a good Giant.
If signed on the cheap, maybe just a stop gap till Glasnow is ready or a swingman out of the Penn like Blanton?
** oops out of the pen
So now Niese, Locke & Vogelsong are all nice stopgaps for Glasnow….
Only we only need one.
Remember that Burnett retired?
You need depth.
Very true, especially considering all the other potential replacements at AAA not named Glasnow or Taillon are hurt. Hopefully this signing doesn’t preclude a signing of Latos.
You have the order correct in the rotation and Vogelsong is prob gonna be the swing guy. This is as of now. I still think 1 other guy is going to be traded for or signed that will be above all 3 of these guys and then they all become depth guys eventually as the young guys come up.
Perfect reclamation project for the Buccos coaching staff.
He’s going to be 39 next season, how much is there to reclaim?
One season, exactly one season worth reclaiming
We already reclamation projected him in SF
I know he’s no AJ Burnett…but he was 36 when he joined the Pirates…just sayin’
The Pirates love these guys who rely on their two seam fast ball.
He might not be another Happ but he could be another Worley.
On the other hand, he could be another Vogelsong.
I mean I forgot he was even still in the league, but I’m sure this was on the ULTRA cheap so if he can bring anything to the table it’s a plus while we wait for Glasnow and eventually Taillon.
Mid nineties huh? This guy has been playing in the majors since he was 13!
Finally the Pirates see a return on their Jason Schmidt deal from 2001
Better late than never. If Bobby Hill ever comes out of retirement and becomes competent, we might even get a return on the 2003 Aramis Ramirez trade.
Now if we could just get Jon Lieber back we would be on a roll. Back to the future!! Jon Lieber for Brant Brown… Ugh
We could do a lot worse, and spend probably a lot more money, for a 5th starter. Come to think of it, we have done a lot worse and probably spent at least some more money.
Vogelsong was not that good as a spot starter, He’s been a SP for a number of seasons now, and flubbed those early spot starts.
However, once he was permanently in the rotation, next 15 starts, 3.48 ERA. Luck involved with low BABIP, but shows that he can hold the rotation spot for an extended period.
Unfortunately, as in prior seasons, he has petered out late in the season. But if you acknowledge his strengths and weaknesses, and use him in light of his history, you can get very good value out of him.
And he did much better with his relief work later in the season, handling the swapping between roles better. It was reported that Righetti helped him make the adjustments necessary later in the season to help him better adjust to it.
I think it could also have been a matter of acceptance of his new role on the team. I’ve read a number of accounts of relievers who discussed their transition to relief and a common theme I’ve seen is that they are bad as relievers until they mentally accept that they are not a starter anymore, and fully accept their new role as a reliever.
Vogie has been great for the Giants and I think he can be a good pitcher for another team, but with the two signings of Cueto and Samardzija, and the cheaper availability of Heston, plus the upcoming Blackburn, Beede, Blach, Mejia and maybe Stratton, unfortunately there was no space for a great Giant, one who will always be remembered fondly by Giants fans. I hope that he makes the Giants Wall of Fame when the time comes, I think he should.
I was really mad at first.. then they updated with the cost.. $2million +another possible $3 million worth the risk… but really? Would be nice to have more of a sure thing.
Still only 3 rotation spots filled (Cole Liriano and Niese) with 2 pitchers a maybe (Vogelsong and Juan) Would be nice to get more of a sure thing.
So I guess the next signing is gonna be either Ian Snell or Jason Bay.
BREAKING: Pirates now in talks with Al Martin and Randall Simon after talks with Jason Kendall reach an impasse.
Scott Kazmir / Yovani Gallardo / Mike Leake / Doug Fister / Ian Kennedy
The better guys available.
Josh Johnson / Mat Latos
Scary but they may be attractive to team who wants upside.
Kyle Lohse / Jeremy Guthrie / Aaron Harang / Bronson Arroyo
Inning eating veterans.
The Pirates do have options,
Good depth signing