Pirates Interested In Rafael Furcal

Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The rumors keep on swirling around the Pittsburgh Pirates and their interest in potential players to fill the gaps they have in their starting lineup.  As we commented on last week, there were reports that Ramon Santiago was of interest to Pittsburgh, as well as Clint Barmes, whom Clint Hurdle coached in Colorado.  These are certainly still possibilities, but today, another name has arisen in the Pirates’ interest in regards to shortstop.

John Heyman of Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Bucs are looking at Rafael Furcal.  Obviously, with the manner in which this is phrased, we can’t be sure if this is a realistic examination of the possibility of Furcal actually coming to Pittsburgh.  But it has been made apparent, by the Pirates as well as the media, that the club is looking at all options at shortstop, with the exception of Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins.  For those fans who may disagree with this, there is zero chance of either one of those two players coming to Pittsburgh.  WAY too much money and plus, these guys want to win now and they’re used to big markets….not possible in Pittsburgh.  Let’s move on.

After Rollins and Reyes, though, Furcal is the next biggest shortstop available.  His age is certainly a concern (34), as his is health.  In fact, he’s played just 97 and 87 games in 2010 and 2011, and the odds that injuries increase with age is not on the Pirates’ side.  Plus, he’s looking for a multi-year deal and will want more money than the Pirates will be happy to offer (big surprise).  He made $12 million in 2011 as part of a three-year deal that was signed following his career year in 2008.  Rumors and speculations offer that he is looking to receive anywhere from $4 million to $7 million a year. 

That being said, he would be a huge offensive improvement in comparison to what the Pirates have grown accustomed to in the past.  Age will be a factor if the Bucs sign any of the above-mentioned players, as Barmes, Santiago, and Furcal are 32, 32, and 34 years of age respectively.  Santiago is clearly a defensive-minded shortstop, while Furcal is much better with the bat than the glove.  The possibilities of a strong season on both sides of the ball are with Furcal, who has the potential to be a great addition to the Pirates’ lineup.  There is one word, though, that absolutely does not accurately define Furcal, and that’s consistent. 

It doesn’t seem as though any of these moves will impress us fans, but we have to be realistic.  The Pirates CANNOT and WILL NOT acquire Reyes or Rollins, and that being said, they have to look at the second tier of shortstops.  These guys are that next level down.  The other option is Ronny Cedeno, whom hasn’t exactly been snatched up by any other teams.  If he’s not offered any good deals, Cedeno will be more than likely willing to re-negotiate and sign on with the Bucs for a lesser amount.  The fact that Hurdle doesn’t like Cedeno does play a role, though, and it does seem as though it’s time for a change.

It seems more like the Bucs to get Barmes or Santiago, and when considering the options and alternatives, this isn’t that bad of a deal.

Stay tuned to Fans From The Stands, as we’ll be reacting to the latest news and rumors surrounding the Pirates’ shortstop situation and more throughout the entire offseason.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Are The Pirates Interested In Alternative To Alex Presley?

Just yesterday on Fans From The Stands, we discussed the possibility of the movement of the Pirates’ outfielders.  On Monday, Jen Langosch reported that the Bucs may be interested in outfielder Josh Willingham, implying that the team may not be 100% satisfied with their current outfield.

Willingham was one of the players rumored to be of the Pirates’ interest during the 2011 Trade Deadline, during which they eventually acquired Ryan Ludwick.  Josh is 32 years old, and hits for power, not average.  In 136 games last year, he hit .246 with 29 homeruns and 98 RBI’s.  His homerun and RBI totals were higher than those of Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates’ leader in both categories. 

It has been reported that Willingham is looking to sign with a team that will guarantee him regular playing time.  Obviously, given the Pirates’ current situation with players like McCutchen, Jose Tabata, and Alex Presley, as well as up-and-coming prospects Starling Marte and Robbie Grossman, the outfield already seems pretty full.  That being said, rumors have swirled about the possibility of using Presley and Marte as potential trade bait, in such a case a regular-playing gig may be available.

This, of course, circles back to the question of Alex Presley.  He had an incredibly surprising and impressive run this past season after joining the big club in June, but with such a small sampling, it’s difficult to determine whether this was an accurate preview of what he can bring to the table consistently in the coming years.  With McCutchen and Tabata occupying two of the three spots in the outfield, and management clearly eyeing other possibilities, it’s apparent that the Pirates are necessarily sold on Presley being the solution at this point. 

The worst possible scenario, obviously, would be bringing in a guy like Willingham and having a repeat of what we saw this past year at first base with Lyle Overbay.  That being said, Willingham brings power to a lineup that sorely needs it.  It should be very interesting to see where Neal Huntington feels the most significance lies.  For now, though, it seems that Presley is still the third piece to the Pirates’ outfield puzzle.

Stay right here for reactions to the latest rumors involving potential Bucco-moves.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bucco Blurb: Trade Values & Rumors Circling Pirates' Outfielders?

One of the most impressive aspects of the Pirates’ 2011 season was the play of their outfielders.  Andrew McCutchen is quickly becoming a superstar, while Alex Presley and Jose Tabata were extremely productive in their limited seasons.  So why, in an offseason in which they have gaping wholes in other positions, are the Pirates being subjected to trade values and rumors about their outfielders?

There have been varying thoughts in the media and general population that have suggested pros and cons to trading each member of the Pirates’ outfield, including McCutchen.  Clearly, that doesn’t appear to be in the minds of management at this time.  After all, Cutch is the best player on the team, and, among other reasons, at this point, it would be very difficult for the Bucs to receive the proper return value for him.

Similarly, Tabata is staying put in a Pirates’ uniform for quite some time, as his new contract signed just at the end of last season has him under team control through the 2019 season.  In addition, he’s still in his low 20’s, with his numbers improving, suggesting that his best years are still ahead of him.

Alex Presley remains from the Pirates’ end-of-season starting lineup, and he seems to be the most likely candidate to be dealt this offseason.  Despite an impressive performance in the 2011 season, Presley is much older than Tabata (he’ll turn 27 next year), and there’s a very small sample of baseball to judge his long-term effectiveness at the Major League level.

Further, the Bucs have two outfielders, Starling Marte and Robbie Grossman, in the minors who are expected to be ready to contribute for the big club in the next year or two.  Certainly, as the past has suggested, it is more likely to expect one to meet expectations, so that leaves a decision to be made in the Pirates’ outfield.  But will it be made now by trading Presley in the offseason, or will it be made in a year or two once the team is aware of the development of Grossman and/or Marte?

Consequently, however, it has also been suggested by some, as was acknowledged by Jen Langosch last week, that there may be a strategy associated with dealing Marte for a power-hitting position player.  Neal Huntington has said in the past that the team would be willing to trade prospects for the right return, and considering the fact that Marte was rumored to be available for a deal around the Trade Deadline this past season, it would be reasonable to assume that is still the case this offseason.

As surprising and impressive as Presley’s play was this past season, it is definitely worth considering how small of a sample that was, and his age, when compared to the likes of the others that are in the running for the third spot in the outfield, he appears to be on the short end of the stick.  He could fall subject to a trade bundle along with a couple others in return for a veteran position player in the outfield or otherwise. 

At this point, Marte is expected to begin the 2012 season at the Triple-A level, while Grossman is expected to undergo surgery on his hamate bone this week, but he should be ready for Spring Training in 2012. 

Stay tuned to Fans From The Stands for reactions to the latest news and rumors surrounding the Pirates.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bucco Blurb: Latest Pirates' News & Rumors

The busy month of November continues for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as more roster moves and rumors of others have been made less than a month following the end of the 2011 postseason.  While it’s obvious that the Pirates will not make offers to the top tier of free agents, there are a number of other talented players that they could certainly benefit from signing.

Pirates Interested In Ramon Santiago? 

One of the biggest stories of the Bucs’ offseason thus far is the rumored interest in the Tigers’ Ramon Santiago.  Now that Ronny Cedeno is out of the picture, shortstop is a wide open position that the Pirates need to fill, and internal names like Chase d’Arnaud, Pedro Ciriaco, and Josh Harrison don’t seem to be at the level of an everyday player. 

Santiago isn’t exactly what is referred to as an “established everyday player,” which, in turn, could actually work to the Pirates’ advantage.  The price shouldn’t be too high, and all in all, he’s probably a better player than Cedeno.  He has the reputation as a strong defender, but he’s definitely better than Ronny with the bat.  The big question is whether or not the Tigers will want to re-sign him.  But even if they do, the Pirates may actually hold a higher card here because they would be offering an everyday position as opposed to a reserve/platoon spot with Detroit.

If Not Santiago, Why Not Barmes?

The Astros’ Clint Barmes is another shortstop that may be targeted by the Bucs this offseason.  Clint Hurdle managed Barmes while they were both in Colorado, so he may be willing to come to Pittsburgh.  Like many other shortstops, Barmes is definitely known for his defense more than his offense.  Again, Cedeno was much better with the glove than with the bat, so this wouldn’t exactly be devastating for the Bucs.  Barmes will be 33 years old by Opening Day 2012, older than both Cedeno and Ramon Santiago.  That, accompanied by salary issues and availability of other players, will determine if the Pirates seriously pursue Barmes.

Pirates Sign Minor Leaguers

The Pirates signed several minor league players last week, all of which are considered to be player-coaches.  Catchers Milver Reyes and Wyatt Toregas, as well as second baseman Keoni De Renne and third baseman Vince Harrison, were signed, as were outfielders Jason Cooper and Michael Ryan.  In other news, Steve Pearce is now officially a minor-league free agent.  Hopefully, not a single one of these players will ever see Major League time.  Of course, Toregas was up with the big club for a limited amount of time earlier this past season following injuries to Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit. 

Former Bucs In Contact With Other Clubs

Ryan Doumit has reportedly rejected a deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The offer was in the $3 million range, and with his reaction, it appears as though Doumit won’t be signing with anyone in the near future.  The Dodgers are rumored to be very close to a deal with Matt Kemp, worth a reported 8 year, $160 million.  As for Doumit, the Cleveland Indians are also apparently interested in making a deal…but as of yet, no offer has been made.

Also, former Pirates Rule 5 Draft Pick Donnie Veal signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox last week, and has been added to the team’s 40-man roster.  Veal’s time in Pittsburgh was mauled by injuries, and never really developed into a player the Pirates were interested in keeping in their bullpen.

Stay tuned to Fans From The Stands for reactions to the latest news and rumors surrounding our Battlin’ Buccos.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bucco Blurb: Future Of First Base?

There’s no denying the fact that the Pirates have a lot of questions to answer and decisions to make in regards to their prospective 2012 roster.  Perhaps the greatest question at this point, though, is who will occupy first base when the Bucs open their season in April?  With the tragedy that was Lyle Overbay in a Pirates’ uniform is a thing of the past, Derrek Lee’s brief stint was incredibly impressive, but factors including his age, salary, and interest level, have raised many doubts as to whether or not he will be a Pirate next year.

That being said, the Pirates have said that one of their priorities is to fill this hole at the corner, and while the free agent market is rather weak compared to previous seasons, there are some options available for the Pirates to acquire a seasoned veteran first baseman.

Yahoo! Sports contributor Lee Andrew Henderson’s November 2 article suggested ten first base options for the Bucs, and in reflection, some appear plausible, others are pipe dreams, while a few are nightmares.

Henderson’s top suggestion, according to the article, is Adam LaRoche?!  As we all know, LaRoche already had some time in Pittsburgh, and was one of the more frustrating Pirates in recent memory.  During his time with Pittsburgh, he hit .270 with 20 homeruns and 80 RBI’s, but for those of us who watched him play, he had no clutch gene, and the majority of his offensive contributions came at times when the game and/or the season was already out of reach. 

Other notables include Josh Willingham and Carlos Pena, two players who were rumors to be in negotiations with the Pirates prior to the trade deadline this past season.  Mark Reynolds was also mentioned, who, despite his incredibly high number of strikeouts, has seasons of 28, 44, 32, and 37 homeruns.  Andrew McCutchen led the Pirates last season with 23 homeruns.  Would the Bucs be willing to tolerate the strikeouts of a guy like Reynolds or Pena in exchange for the power?  They already sent a record last season for strikeouts, but they had no power in their lineup.

James Loney is certainly an attractive option, but, as stated in the article, there may be some bigger market frontrunners in line for him, and the Pirates clearly can’t compete with them.  The mention of Nick Swisher is a laugher. This guy will not end up in Pittsburgh. 

Finally, two of Henderon’s suggestions are players who have most recently worn a Pirates’ uniform:  Ryan Doumit and Derrek Lee.  He’s suggesting that Doumit could platoon first base with Garrett Jones.  We all saw how the platoon strategy worked with Jones in right field…it was horrible.  Doumit isn’t a great catcher, but he’s not the answer at first base either.  As for Lee, he put on a spectacular show in Pittsburgh following his acquisition at the trade deadline.  He is clearly aging but still has some good baseball left in him.  It appears as though the Bucs would be interested in bringing Lee back assuming financial factors are agreed upon and Lee wants to play next year. 

An internal rumor in Pittsburgh that is Pedro Alvarez will make the transition to first base, but after the horrid year he had in 2011, it seems ludicrous to add a position change to Pedro’s list of adjustments.  Regardless, the Pirates are (or at least should be) conscientious not to allow another Lyle Overbay-type situation as they did this past season.  Loney, Pena, Lee?  How about Logan Morrison of the Florida Marlins?  Pena seems to be the most plausible option, and he’s proven to be able to add a serious amount of pop to the lineup, something the Pirates desperately need going forward.

Stay tuned to Fans From The Stands for fan reactions to the latest Pirates’ news and updates.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bucco Blurb: Pirates' Roster Moves

Even though the World Series ended just a matter of weeks ago, we are still only a few months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Bradenton in February.  This is sure to be a busy offseason, and already, news and rumors are circulating regarding the Pittsburgh Pirates and their prospective roster moves.  Let’s get to the latest Pirates’ news right here on Bucco Blurbs:

Pirates Sign Rod Barajas: 

It was announced earlier today that the Pirates signed catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year contract with a club option for 2013.  Barajas will reportedly earn $4 million in 2012, while his 2013 club option is worth $3.5 million including no buyout.  Barajas is an 11-year veteran, hitting .230 with 16 homeruns and 47 RBI’s last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The 36-year old has played for six teams, hitting .238 for his career.  He joins a list of prospective starting catchers that includes Matt Pagnozzi, Michael McKenry, and Jason Jaramillo. 

This is another head-scratching move by the Pirates, similar to the club’s acquisition of Pagnozzi in the last few weeks of the 2011 season.  Are the Pirates buying time until Tony Sanchez is ready for Major League action?  That seems to be the only logical explanation.  While he has much more experience and success than Pagnozzi, at age 36, Barajas obviously isn’t the Bucs’ long-term answer as their catcher.  Regardless, it appears as though the starting catcher position is going to be a four-man race to begin the 2012 season.

Club Discourages Idea Of Harrison Starting At Shortstop:

Despite the freefall the Pirates and their fans endured the last two months of the season, one of the brighter spots was the inspired play of Josh Harrison.  He made his Major League debut in 2011, hitting .272 while scored 21 runs and playing as hard as any one of the team.  While his effort is unquestioned, general manager Neal Huntington has been upfront in saying that they expect Harrison to be no more than a utility player next season.  He filled in well in his role last year, whether it was relieving Neil Walker at second base or putting in reps at third base during Pedro Alvarez’s mess of a 2011 season. 

Speculation momentarily arose following the news that the Pirates were not going to exercise their option on Ronny Cedeno, suggesting that Harrison could take over the starting role.  Furthermore, Josh agreed to go to instructional league at the end of the Major League season to get repetition at short, but despite these factors, it appears highly unlikely he’ll be a starter for the Pirates next season.  Expect more platoon work for Harrison in 2012.  This, of course, means that the Pirates’ current starting shortstop position is vacant.

Five Bucs Sent To Triple-A:  

Though this news is a couple weeks old, the Pirates’ decision to option these players to Triple-A is worth discussing.  Brian Burress, Aaron Thompson, Kevin Hart, Brandon Wood, and Steve Pearce were optioned at the end of October, and all five players have been expected to test the free agent market.  All of these players have been ineffective in one form or another, and while there is a chance of re-signing any or all of them this offseason, but by making these moves, the Pirates clearly are looking elsewhere for contributions that they feel these players won’t be able to provide going forward. 

Pearce is by far the most frustrating and disappointing of these players, having never really given a clear shot to perform at the Major League level.  He’s certainly been injury plagued throughout his career thus far, and after a strong Spring Training and earning his spot on the 2011 Opening Day roster, appeared in only 50 games this past season.  In his five-seasons with Pittsburgh, he hit .232 in 185 games.  Wood, of course, was claimed off waivers in April, played in 99 games, hitting .220.  He was a former top prospect in the Angels’ system, and while many see the upside in a guy like Wood, he simply doesn’t seem to be in the Pirates’ interest to retain.  Burres and Thompson both achieved limited success in their stints with the big club, while Hart’s experience as a Pirate has been non-existent due to injuries. 

There shouldn’t be any major issues regarding these moves.  Wood and Pearce certainly had bright spots, but neither has proven to be consistent, while Burres and Thompson are replaceable in the bullpen.  With the dissention of five role players and relief pitchers, this only adds to the roster moves and acquisitions Pirates’ fans can expect from the team this offseason.

Bucs Decline Options On Cedeno, Maholm, Doumit, Snyder:

As had been previously expected and announced, the Pirates announced last month that they declined to exercise the 2012 club options on Paul Maholm, Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder.  All three were owed a ton of money, and their lack of production, accompanied by injury problems made these decisions to allow them to become free agents was expected and understood. 

The biggest surprise, however, centers on Ronny Cedeno, whose option was also declined.  The Bucs’ starting shortstop was due $3 million next season, which is a far lower amount when compared to the other three players.  It had become common knowledge during last season that Cedeno wasn’t exactly Clint Hurdle’s favorite player, and his mental lapses and inconsistent play, along with his apparent lack of production at the plate, no one can argue with the Pirates’ desire to seek better play elsewhere.  But without clear targets in mind to replace Cedeno externally, we all have to wonder what the future will hold at this position. 

If the Bucs end up negotiating with any of these four players later in the offseason, it would be on a contract worth less than the options that have been declined.  That being said, the Pirates will have competition.  The free-agent market is low in catching, shortstop, and pitching options, which will certainly increase the cost of those players that are available.

With the team’s signing of Rod Barajas, it appears clear that the Pirates will not seek to re-negotiate with Snyder or Doumit.

As we approach the middle of the month, there is a busy offseason ahead of us.  Other than a few concrete spots in the outfield and at second base, the Pirates’ prospective starting roster is wide open, and many questions will be answered over the coming weeks and months.

Stay tuned to Fans From The Stands for reactions to the latest Pirates’ news.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

FFTS Reacts To Penn State Situation

We at Fans From The Stands typically focus solely on the Pittsburgh Pirates.  However, in the wake of the events at Penn State, we felt it was necessary to share some thoughts regarding the recent happenings at the university.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the alleged events.

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