Pirates Sign Mike Thompson, Miguel Perez to Minor League Deals

The Bucs have signed pitcher Mike Thompson and catcher Miguel Perez to minor league deals (the article also reports the signing of Michel Hernandez, but we've known that for a while). Thompson, 27, a starting pitcher in the minors, posted good ERAs there until last year, but with such low strikeout rates that it's hard to imagine how he could have much success in the majors. He got rocked for both the Padres and AAA Portland in 2007. Perez, 24, hit well last year for the Reds' Class A+ affiliate in Sarasota, but he made the transition from prospect to organizational catcher a couple of years ago.