KentuckyPirate

I was not a person who thought that Jose Tabata was struggling in Pittsburgh because he wasn't trying or because he had a bad attitude or anything like that. I actually thought a trip to Indy might be good for him because he simply wasn't hitting the ball with authority anymore and I hoped a stint in the minors could help him fix things. Out of curiosity, I went to his milb.com page today to look at his stats and just look at his picture with the Indians. He honestly appears miserable. I hate to suggest that one photograph likely taken right after a demotion should be used as evidence of a players attitude but it just seems so out of character for Tabata who I thought was often smiling in Pittsburgh, even when he was struggling. Compare the picture linked in the title to his picture here taken while he was with the Pirates. Again, I feel stupid even suggesting that these pictures could actually be representative of anything and even if they are, I'm not sure what the solution is, but I saw such a difference, that I thought it was at least worth mentioning.

I'm sure this will show up in WTM's minor league recap but I saw it and decided to jump the gun a bit. Clement is now up to .307/.391/.536 (.927). Somebody said the other day that Clement had been good but not quite #freejeffclement good. Especially with the American League games and the DH on the horizon, it might be #freejeffclement time...

Maybe we should trade for him after all, haha...

Maybe I'm just looking at this through black and gold colored glasses, but I don't understand this at all. The league (and the officials) made it very clear that they weren't going to tolerate any more of the extracurricular stuff in this series. Then Rinaldo does something like this and nothing? Not only that but wasn't James Neal's status as a repeat offender from several years ago part of the reason he was suspended? Hmmm...if only Zac Rinaldo had a history of suspensions...

Apparently, Lee does not plan to retire and is saying that he still wants to play this year if he gets the right offer. I'm not suggesting the Bucs make a run at him (because I think it's pretty clear that he does not consider Pittsburgh an acceptable destination) but I am wondering if there is a time-limit on the Bucs getting a compensatory pick for him? Would he have to sign by Opening Day? By the Draft? I don't think so but maybe that ship has sailed and the Pirates already lost out on that potential pick. Just curious...

This just seems really surprising to me. I know Boras and Jackson were hoping for a big free agent contract but that doesn't seem to be in the cards. Still, E-Jax could probably land a 4/$40M deal. Maybe a great showing would set him up for a bigger deal next offseason, but that strikes me as a massive gamble especially since he'd be joining a pitching rich free agent class alongside Cain, Greinke, and Marcum, with Shields, Haren and Floyd all possibilities depending on their options. Maybe this is the time for the Pirates to jump in and offer him four guaranteed years with an option for a 5th...

This list is probably the most unique look at the Pirates farm system I've seen yet. Good writeups and at least decent logic to back up the order.

I don't know the site etiquette on linking another SB Nation story so Charlie or whoever can feel free to delete this if necessary. I just wanted to make sure everybody noticed it because I know I often glance over the stories linked on the side.

Obviously, just being mentioned as a possible fit is hardly a concrete link but this is more interesting than class. Floyd could fit nicely into our rotation for the next couple of years and the Sox haven't exactly been asking the world for their players so far this winter. Still, I think I'd rather go after Roy Oswalt for $8M for one year than Floyd for $8M/year plus prospects given the Pirates' current construction.

I know some are satisfied with the Pirates platooning Jones/McGehee/Evans at 1B but personally I'm still hoping that they get a true "starter." As others have said before, there is nothing in the rules against having good bench players and McLouth, McGehee, McKenry, Jones and Navarro would be a good bench...

Ok, so now Ciriaco might not leave right away because Ludwick's back is acting up and he, apparently, might wind up on the DL. If this is the case, these are the moves I make after todays game. 1) Send Aaron Thompson back down to Indy. He is the extra pitcher. 2) Call up Alex Presley to take over for Ludwick in left field. 3) DFA Pedro Ciriaco. He is a waste of a roster spot. Not just on the 25-man roster but on the 40-man roster. All he does is pinch run and we would have Paul and Harrison (if he's not starting) available to do that anyway. What, are we going to have to pinch run for a pinch runner? 4) Add Matt Hague to the 40-man roster and call him up. I am not saying he's the answer at 1st or at 3rd. I'm not saying he's a starter. I'm not even saying he's definitely a replacement level MLB player. I am saying that he's more useful than Pedro Ciriaco. The other option would be Chase d"Arnaud but he hasn't been great since coming off the DL and I'd rather he get to play at SS every day in Indy right now.

Apparently it seems likely that he will clear waivers tomorrow. Yeah, giving a 3 year $36M deal to a 32 year old who has lost about a MPH on his fastball over the past 3 seasons seems like a gamble. Still, his production is very good, his peripherals are solid, he's left handed and he's more talented than Paul Maholm (who might be done as a Pirate pending his visit to Dr. Andrews). If the Ted Lilly deal is any indication it's unlikely we'd be able to sign another veteran starter for much cheaper without looking at Kevin Correia types, so it's something to think about.

DK points out the obvious when he says that the price would be astronomical. The question is how high should the team go for a bat they'd control for next year as well? Using the Jason Bay trade as a template (the two guys are actually fairly similar), it would include at least one top level prospect as well as some toolsy guys. If the asking price is Allie, Marte and Moreno, do you pull the trigger? It's possible this should have just been part of the trade thread, so I might be breaking the rules a bit but I thought it was at least brought up by a decent source so...