Notes: Pirates cut ties with Mesa

12/07/2005
DALLAS -- Predictably, the Pittsburgh Pirates effectively cut ties with free agent first baseman Daryle Ward and free agent pitchers Jose Mesa, Brian Meadows and Rick White on Wednesday by declining to offer any of them arbitration prior to the midnight deadline.
As per the Major League Baseball Basic Agreement, if a free agent is not offered arbitration by midnight, they cannot re-sign with their club prior to May 1. If offered arbitration, the player has until Dec. 19 to accept or reject arbitration.
Following the midnight deadline, the Pirates' pool of potential additions is expected to swell considerably, theoretically making it easier for them to address their needs on the right side of the bullpen, at third base and in right field.
"We've got offers out there and we're talking to a lot of different people," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield. "I imagine that there are a lot of people waiting to see who is offered arbitration and who is not. And I'm sure there will be some activity afterward."
Ready for Rule 5: When the Rule 5 Draft commences Thursday morning, the Pirates are not expecting to see the same kind of roster pillaging that they endured in 2003 when five Bucs prospects were selected among the first six picks.
Adam Boeve, a 25-year-old outfielder who has played 47 games above Class A and right-hander Wardell Starling, 22, who was 10-10 with a 5.22 ERA in 28 starts with Class A Lynchburg last season, head a thin list of Pittsburgh prospects who could be plucked.
Not that Littlefield would be particularly upset to lose any of his unprotected players this year anyway.
"You make decisions three weeks ago on the roster and you live with them. Those decisions are gone," said Littlefield. "We made the best decisions at the time and we'll live with what happens."
Despite the fact that their 40-man roster is already full, there are signs that the Pirates will make a pick in the draft for the first time since 2002.
Wilson and Wilson draw interest: Major League GMs are apparently targeting more than just the Bucs' talented corps of young starting pitchers. Pittsburgh has also received interest in shortstop Jack Wilson and outfielder Craig Wilson, the two longest-tenured players on the team.
"There have definitely been some hits from some of those guys," said Littlefield. "Most of us are in the same position. There are areas where talent is hard to find at certain positions. ... Everybody is always looking to catch somebody on a bounce back where they think you are going to sell low."
Jack Wilson, a 2004 All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, saw his batting average plummet 51 points to .257 last season after he returned from an emergency offseason appendectomy. Craig Wilson spent most of the 2005 season on the disabled list with two separate hand injuries after leading the club with 29 long balls the previous season.
Still shopping: The addition of Sean Casey and the subtraction of Mark Redman's $4.5 million contract are only just the beginning of what should prove to be a busy offseason for the Pirates. In fact, Littlefield sees the Redman deal as giving the team more flexibility in filling its needs.
"We had some pitching," said Littlefield. "We felt that it made sense to give us some relief financially because we could use those dollars in other areas. As we sit right now as a team, it makes the most sense."
Littlefield's preference would be for his right-handed relief additions to have some experience as a closer as insurance in the event that neither Mike Gonzalez nor Salomon Torres are up to the task of finishing games.
"We're looking at someone who's pitched effectively on the right side in the latter part of the game ... someone who's shown an ability to get hitters out in those tough situations," said Littlefield . "I don't necessarily feel like we need a full-fledged closer, but I think the lack of experience that Torres and [Gonzalez] have going into closing, that would be a help for us to have that person in the mix with those other two guys."
Antonio Alfonseca, a right-hander with 121 career saves under his belt, fits that bill and the Pirates have expressed interest in the 33-year-old. Alfonseca was 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA in 33 relief appearances with the Florida Marlins in 2005. His effectiveness was limited by weight problems and he is considered a health risk, so any contract Alfonseca inks would likely be incentive-laden.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/