Alvarez Among Many Moves Made Today By Pirates

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

As expected, the Pirates are going to have a few new faces as well as a few others we have already seen earlier this year when they take the field for the final few weeks of the 2011 season.

Several moves were announced earlier today that should give Pirates’ management and us, the fans, a good look at some minor league talent for next season.

Among the call-ups today was Pedro Alvarez, who we really don’t need to reference too much.  We all know the story.  The guy has amazing pedigree and potential, but thus far, has been a huge disappointment.  That being said, with the Indians’ season over, the Pirates had no choice but to call him up for the final few weeks of the Pirates’ season. 

Daniel Moskos and Aaron Thompson were both also recalled from AAA today.  Moskos, of course, was the Pirates’ fourth overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, and has already been up with the club multiple times this season due to injuries to other relief staff members.  Thompson made his debut with the Bucs on August 24, 2011 in an afternoon game against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching 4.1 scoreless winnings as the Pirates downed the Brew-Crew, 2-0.

Evan Meek was also activated from the 60-day disabled list today.  Coming off a huge season in 2010, which was also his first full season in the Majors, Meek has struggled with injury throughout the majority of this year, and hasn’t pitched for the Pirates since June.

Left-handed pitcher Jeff Locke and right-hander Jared Hughes were also called up and are expected to contribute for Pittsburgh as well in September.

To make room for the moves on the 40-man roster, Kevin Correia and Paul Maholm were transferred to the 60-day disabled list, officially ending their season.  Maholm and Corriea were the team’s top two starters entering this season, but were both on a steady decline since the All-Star Break, before landing on the disabled list.  For Maholm, amidst all the rumors about his contract and disappointing performance, he may never pitch for the Pirates again.

Neal Huntington said over the weekend that outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and infielder Matt Hague will not be included in the September call-ups.  The Pirates’ GM referenced Derrek Lee, Ryan Ludwick, as well as the other returning injury-plagued Buccos as main reasons why Hernandez and Hague won’t be sent up to the big club this month.  This tells me that the Pirates are seriously considering bringing Lee and Ludwick (definitely Lee) back to the team next year.  The final few weeks of this season and the offseason will prove to be monumentally important to the Pirates.

Be sure to stay tuned to Fans From The Stands for all of the progress on the club and its newest members.  Here’s to the Buccos finishing off the 2011 campaign on a positive note, hopefully carrying some momentum into the offseason and into 2012 Spring Training.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!