We missed again...

by Brakeman8 on Dec 18, 2009 12:08 PM EST

Here's another minor league free agent I thought would have been a good gamble for the Pirates.

Tampa Bay has signed 1B Ryan Shealy to a minor league contract. The deal includes an invitation to spring training. Shealy, 28, has a .271/.335/.429 batting line over parts of four major league seasons and has always perfformed well in the minors. If we are intent on putting Clement at 1B in Pittsburgh, this would have been a great plan B to have at Indy. And an inexpensive one at that.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Eh.

I’m not going to cry about not signing Shealy. He’s not really significantly better than our 1Bs at Indy last year.

by Vlad on Dec 18, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions

I agree its not a big deal, but he does seem like one of those players that just needs to be given a chance. I think he has the potential to be like Jack Cust if given an opportunity. At 30 he certainly wouldn’t be someone to help us long term.

by Brakeman8 on Dec 18, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions

with jones, pearce and clement on the roster, he wouldn’t find that chance here.

by johnnycuff on Dec 18, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

He’s not getting in in TB either. It’s a minor league deal. You didn’t read what I posted. I thought he would make a great plan B to stash at Indy in case Clement fails. I hope he doesn’t, but let’s face it…we don’t knoiw if he can play 1B very well (Shealy can’t either) and so far he has yet to prove he can hit major league pitching (Shealy has mashed RHP).

Agagin, not a big deal, but when we are looking for cheap solutions, this seemed like a safe bet.

by Brakeman8 on Dec 18, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

i’m assuming you’re saying he needs to be given a chance at the major league level (since he’s had plenty at AAA) and he won’t find that as plan B at indy. he’s more likely to find some ML at bats in tampa or any AL team because of the DH, where his defensive liability won’t matter.

by johnnycuff on Dec 18, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

If I were going to give a 1B a chance...

…I really don’t see any more upside in giving it to Shealy than to, say, Tagg Bozied.

Let’s check the projections really quick (writing this without knowing the answer). Shealy’s 2010 ZiPS is .249/.320/.391. Bozied’s is .260/.332/.440. Tagg probably gives some of that back on D, but even so…

by Vlad on Dec 18, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

And now we’ve gone and missed Kameron Loe as well…

by God Loves on Dec 18, 2009 1:26 PM EST reply actions

Season saved!!!

We signed LHRP Javy Lopez

by Brakeman8 on Dec 18, 2009 5:31 PM EST reply actions

Nice pickup.

We needed lefty relief, and he was a good one in ‘07 and ’08. The raw ML line from last year looks ugly, but his performance at AAA was good, and I think he would’ve turned it around in MLB if given enough innings. Boston just didn’t have the time to wait for him, with the pennant race and all.

by Vlad on Dec 18, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions