Pirates Cut Rudy Owens, Bryan Morris, Justin Wilson, Kyle McPherson

It's no huge surprise that Rudy Owens, Bryan Morris, Justin Wilson and Kyle McPherson have been cut, since all four were expected to begin the year in the minors. It wouldn't have shocked me if Owens had made a kamikaze run at the fifth starter job - the Pirates have an opening there, they love Owens, and there's a reasonable chance he could hold his own right away. But sending him to the minors is fine too. The article notes that McPherson was sent to Class A+ - he spent most of last season at West Virginia before making two starts at Bradenton, so he'll pick up where he left off there. Morris went to Class AAA, and Owens and Wilson will probably join him.