Roster additions

by WTM on Nov 20, 2008 9:19 PM EST Comment 22 comments

Neil Walker, Jose Tabata, Jeff Sues, Steve Lerud and Ronald Uviedo.

The last two are obviously surprises. Lerud profiles as a backup catcher, but the lack of depth at the position makes it useful for them to have at least one young catcher on the roster in the minors. (Paulino is out of options and I think he's probably headed out.)

They probably consider Uviedo to have better stuff than Eric Krebs, and he's been healthier.

They clearly have reservations about Jamie Romak, given his problems making contact. I doubt he'll get selected. The last thing he needs is to waste a year on the end of the bench. It'd probably be a serious setback to his prospects.

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

But...

we now have 5 catchers on the 40 man…only Twins and Philthies have that many. If uniform numbers were to mean anything…Walker would make the team…he’s listed as getting #5. Tabata getting #31, Pedro 53…and the other three listed above as 61,63 and 64 in that order.

I agree Paulino is on the way out…or they non-tender Chavez when it comes that time.

by Thunder on Nov 20, 2008 8:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Uviedo I can certainly understand, but Lerud is a head-scratcher. I don’t see the point of gambling on Romak, given the other flotsam on the roster. You’re right that it would probably be a bad idea for a team to Rule 5 him, but the flip side of that is that it would be very bad for the Pirates as well.

I’m surprised Kyle Bloom didn’t make it. I’d think he’d be a threat to be selected.

by Charlie on Nov 20, 2008 8:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bloom

I also thought that Bloom had secured a spot on the roster based on his performance in AA and HWB this year. I can understand not basing a roster decision purely on his performance in the Hawaiian league, but as it was a continuation of a trend in the second half of his AA season, I’d have had more confidence in it.

by Dignan on Nov 21, 2008 2:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they’ll non-tender Chavez and try to sign him to a minor league deal, AND ditch Paulino unless he’s a different guy in March. Hence the need for depth.

NH’s explanation for Lerud on the official web site was that young catchers are scarce so he’d be more of a risk to get selected than you’d think. NH said they wanted to buy time with him.

by WTM on Nov 20, 2008 8:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

it’s also easier to hide a rule 5 catcher on the roster if you’ve got a dependable starter. this is just my gut feeling, but the average backup only makes 40 starts, hits about .220 and is traditionally the last pinch hitter off the bench.

by johnnycuff on Nov 21, 2008 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, and Lerud being pretty good defensively means he could probably sneak by just fine.

by WTM on Nov 21, 2008 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There's a very interesting draft-eligible catching prospect.

James Skelton of the Tigers. He’s not a great defender, though, so he’d be a challenge to hide.

by Vlad on Nov 21, 2008 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that’s unfortunate. It’d be tough to have a lefty who doesn’t play good defense backing up Doumit. I love the hitting numbers, though.

by Charlie on Nov 21, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lerud?

Huh, how ’bout that? Not as odd as Belisario last year, but still kind of a surprise.

I have a good feeling about Uviedo. I probably would’ve rostered Romak, but I think they have a decent chance at slipping him through the Rule 5, as lost as he looked at AA and in the AFL so far.

by Vlad on Nov 21, 2008 1:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Braves rostered Todd Redmond

I.e. the guy we gave up for Tyler Yates.

by Vlad on Nov 21, 2008 3:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What do you guys think...

…about Eduardo Morlan as a potential Rule 5 pick for us?

I can’t decide between targeting current utility (i.e. someone like Morlan) or ceiling (someone like, say, Chuck Lofgren).

by Vlad on Nov 21, 2008 3:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know much about Lofgren, but in the case of Morlan, I’m not sure the utility/ceiling thing is either/or. He could be good right away AND be a dominant reliever down the line.

by Charlie on Nov 21, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting article about Lofgren here.

by Charlie on Nov 21, 2008 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Donald Veal is another possibility.

by Charlie on Nov 21, 2008 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lofgren is a major head case,the guy I like is Cleveland’s Hector Rondon…..

Check out my blog at thoughtsofrs@blogspot.com

by Count Vertigo on Nov 21, 2008 4:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Indians added Rondon to the roster.

by Charlie on Nov 21, 2008 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin Whelan of the Yankees would be an interesting pick, if he lasts that long.

by WTM on Nov 21, 2008 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The 40 Man Roster

If it is currently full, how can we add anyone at the winter meetings?

I thought you could only add players if your roster was less than 40.

The Pirates kept way too many players on the 40 man prior to last year’s winter meetings, like JVB, Bullington and others who couldl NEVER contribute to the Pittsburgh product.

It looks like the same will hold true this year.

$50,000 is a pretty cheap price to pay to select a player at the draft. Of course, it once again all comes down to solid player evaluation, an area in which the Pirates have greatly underachieved over the past 15-20 years; however, I will admit that I am somewhat encouraged (though not greatly) by the decisions over the past year.

But the jury is still way out!

by thegunner on Nov 24, 2008 12:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rosters aren't exactly frozen.

You aren’t allowed to add any players from within your system, but you’re still allowed to cut guys, and I think you can sign external FAs and make waiver claims as well. A lot of teams sit on a 40-man roster until the morning of the draft, and then cut whoever they’re going to cut to make room – it keeps from tipping their hand about making a choice, and it gives them better odds of slipping the cut player through waivers.

by Vlad on Nov 24, 2008 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't Know, But I Don't Think That You Can Play Those Games ...

Teams have to submit their rosters by a certain date, prior to the Rule 5 draft. Once submitted, I don’t think they can make changes until after the draft. If the submitted roster has 40 players, I don’t think that a team at 40 can draft anybody.

Incidentally, I do not understand how the Cubs were able to draft Josh Hamilton in 2006 and then move him to the Reds. There are so many shenanigans that baseball turns a blind eye to.

by thegunner on Nov 25, 2008 12:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Last year the Pirates’ roster stood at 40 going into the Rule 5 draft. Just before the draft they released Jose Castillo, then they drafted Evan Meek.

The Cubs sold Hamilton’s rights to the Reds. Teams often do that. Rule 5 players can be sold or traded just like any other, except the acquiring team has to keep the player on its major league roster.

by WTM on Nov 25, 2008 1:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, exactly.

During the Littlefield era, we actually drafted and traded Rule 5 picks at least twice – Matt Roney in 2002 (whom we sold to the Rockies) and and Luis Ugueto in 2001 (whom we sold to the Mariners). It’s totally legit, and it happens all the time.

If they don’t stick, Rule 5 picks also have to clear waivers before they can be returned to their original club. That’s how Jose Bautista played for four teams in 2004 – he kept getting claimed on waivers.

by Vlad on Nov 25, 2008 9:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs