Here’s the latest on some veteran players signed to minor league contracts are faring in their bids to make the Opening Day roster…
- The Indians reassigned outfielder Brandon Barnes, catcher Tim Federowicz, and infielder/outfielder Mike Freeman to their minor league camp, MLB.com’s Mandy Bell reports (Twitter link). Catcher Dioner Navarro will remain with the Tribe’s MLB Spring Training camp for now, though he has also been informed that he won’t be on Cleveland’s Opening Day roster. It isn’t yet known if any of this group will opt out of their minor league deals in order to pursue opportunities elsewhere, though Bell hears that Federowicz will “check with his agent.”
- Francisco Liriano can opt out of his minors deal with the Pirates on Wednesday, though The Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel (via Twitter) believes the veteran southpaw will break camp with the team. Liriano hasn’t exactly excelled this spring, posting a 5.14 ERA over seven innings while allowing more walks (six) than strikeouts (five). Still, Liriano has an advantage since Pittsburgh has just two left-handed pitchers (closer Felipe Vazquez and Steven Brault) on the 40-man roster, creating the need for more southpaw depth in the bullpen. Should Liriano crack the big leagues, he’ll earn a guaranteed $1.8MM, with another $1.5MM available in potential incentives.
knowing the Pirates, Liriano being more expensive would make him a longshot to make the roster even after an astronomically great spring.
…so we get to watch Brault ‘figure it out’ for a third year in a row… ugh.
I like Brault,and he is a good enough hitter to be used as a pinch hitter.
I think that he is a capable pitcher,he looked excellent in AAA in 2017,but he lacks consistency.He has again walked way too many in ST from what I read.He seems to pitch very well for stretches then poorly.
I think that as a guy that does not have overpowering stuff I would think that he should have good control for all of his pitches by now.
And,no,this will be his fourth chance as he pitched for them in 2016 also.
I always wonder whether guys like him and Kingham would fetch much in a trade.
I feel like Brandon Waddell is capable of similar production to Brault but what I’m really hoping for is Elvis Escobar or Blake Weiman to take off this season and give themselves a real shot to crack next season’s opening day lineup as a homegrown and sorely needed reliable lefty in the pen. Also players like Brault and Kingham will probably only fetch an A ball lottery ticket and not the Oneil Cruz types that have a couple great raw tools to dream on.
Thanks Jimmy.It seems like they are hoping that Burdi is that lefty.Perhaps he is one of the rare rule 5 players that make it and blossom.
You may be right on Brault and Kingham,too,but,if you are,what does that say about the Pirates hopes that these two guys will blossom as solid major league pitchers?
Good point on Burdi. They have enough depth to not need Liriano. Let’s see what the newer guys have. I am excited for Burdi.
Yeah Budi is throwing well and has to on the opening day roster or offered back as rule 5 guy
You need to read the Pirate code pamphlet. Liriano takes the role of SRod. Thus exempting the save a dollar rule. It happens every year to 1 lucky veteran beer league talent player who hits .110 or Era above 8.0.
SRod takes a lot of heat from many fans.
He was bad for part deux,2017-2018.
He was very good for part one,2015-2016.
One only has to recall the AAAA utility men that the Pirates had in 2013-2014 to fully appreciate Hurdle’s Swiss Army Knife.
I wonder how much his autobile accident injury had to do with the precipitous decline.
This is one area where NH absolutely failed the whole team and fans.He could have had several qulaified lefty receivers for no more than he would pay Liriano but he had to try to get a deal.
I am surprised that no mention was made of Lyons who used to be a decent pitcher.
If Birdi is as good as hoped they are probably better off with nursing him for two months until they can send him to the minors.
Right now Burdi looks like one of the 7 best relievers on the team, so “keeping him up” shouldn’t be too much of a problem. But I totally agree that better options were available and NH whiffed on the whole offseason. It’s the same thing with Lyles, Chisenhall, Gonzalez. Replace those 4 with Tony Sipp, Clay Buchholz, Carlos Gonzalez, and Jose Iglesias, all of whom could’ve been had for about same if not less money, and this would be a much better team.
I agree JT.
Thank you for the comment on Burdi as I was unaware of how he was pitching in Spring Training.
I think that NH has put himself into a rut and cannot get out.
I do not believe that Nutting could have any problem with those additions as they would not add much to the overall salary structure.
Granted the Pirates canot make too many mistakes but I think that NH is afraid of making any,even minor ones,and the 2 or 3 games that he loses as a result could mean playoffs or not.
Let Liriano go! This guy is finished!
They won’t release him, but Liriano may opt out. I wouldn’t if I were him. I don’t think he’s going to get any interest from another MLB team on more than a MiLB contract.
This team is going to be awful
Nah, just mediocre. Even though I know you are a Pirates fan based on previos poting history my response works for both teams.
Why did the Indians let Aguilar go? They are unintelligent…..
Living life in hindsight you could say that about every team.
Just based off the title, I was really hoping this article was going to say something along the lines of “Max Moroff, Jordan Luplow and Erik Gonzales all have no shot at a roster spot” simply because that trade at the time seemed like both GM’s just decided to say hey let’s swap our extraneous fringe roster players and hope it works out. Though as a Pirate fan, I’m glad Tahnaj Thomas is now a part of the orgnization and is able to realize his potential.
I think that a big reason that that deal was made by the Pirates was to open up one roster spot also as you imply.
Is it still a 25 man roster? Or is it now a 26 man roster?
I believe the 26 man begins next year?