Pirates Sign Herrera, Kuwata

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 18, 2006 3:11 PM EST in News

The Pirates signed Cuban pitcher Yoslan Herrera and Japanese pitcher Masumi Kuwata, the Post-Gazette reports. Herrera gets a three-year major-league deal that will essentially pay him the league minimum salary, plus a $750,000 signing bonus and possibly a bit extra in incentives. Little is really known about him except that he's supposedly relatively young and was decent in Cuba, but that he's been away from competitive baseball for a while. It will take a bit of time before we see any results from this deal, if we ever do. He's not supposed to be much more than a fourth starter, but the Pirates aren't paying for more than that.

Kuwata is 38 and has been horrible in Japan for several years running, so it's unlikely that he'll make an impact in the majors unless he can use his funky delivery to baffle hitters the first time they see him. This deal is probably less about Kuwata himself and more about the Pirates trying to establish a presence in Japan, which seems like a worthy goal.

To make room for Herrera, the Bucs designated Craig Stansberry for assignment. This isn't a huge deal - Stansberry was already only a marginal prospect before having a terrible season in the Arizona Fall League. But he is still a prospect, and a number of players the Pirates currently have on the 40-man roster (fellow infielder Javier Guzman comes to mind) aren't. Anyway, this brings the number of pitchers on the 40-man roster to a staggering 24.

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Interesting math

Of the 16 position players on the roster, four (Brad Eldred, Javier Guzman, Rajai Davis and Nyjer Morgan) clearly have no chance of opening the season with the major league team. Cota serves little purpose if Doumit is also on the team. And it wouldn't make much sense to carry both Gerut and McLouth, since they're very similar, LH-hitting 4th outfielders. So, if you're making sensible decisions, at most you can get 10 position players for the major league team out of the current 40-man roster. Cool, a 2-man bench.

You can, however, construct a 14-man bullpen out of this roster.

by WTM on Dec 18, 2006 3:34 PM EST reply actions

Timing

I think someone called this a while back, but in case anyone wondered why the Herrara signing was "held up", here's your answer. I don't think there was ever any visa or physical issues. They just wanted to wait and see if they got the Japanese pitcher so the announcement of international signings would be splashier.

Like Charlie alluded to, not a horrible thing, if the splash is for visibility toward making more int'l signings. But I get the feeling it's so they can tell the fans and media "look, we're really doing something here."

azibuck

by azibuck on Dec 18, 2006 4:09 PM EST reply actions

Well, the official site . . .

. . . refers to "Cuban sensation Herrera." Obviously, the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox couldn't afford the $1.92M the Pirates shelled out for the next Pedro Martinez.

by WTM on Dec 18, 2006 4:23 PM EST reply actions

Sometimes...

after eatting fried plantains i have a "Cuban Sentation."

by bryanzane on Dec 18, 2006 5:40 PM EST reply actions

Win meter

One win for signing Herrera extremely cheap. Even if he only turns into a half-decent 4-5 starter in, say, 08-09, he's half-decent at league minimum. We see what mediocrity (thy name is Gil Meche) is going for these days. If he sucks, well, what do we have to lose except ballgames?

Bonus win for looking like this is part of a coordinated plan: No matter how badly Chacon pitches this year, he's gone after 07 and Herrera, if he's anything at all, can step in for 08, if not by, say, July.