Batting Around with Ty Wigginton

11/30/2005
MLB.com: Who was your favorite player when you were a kid?
Ty Wigginton: Pete Rose and Don Mattingly were my favorites. I liked the way Pete Rose played the game of baseball, and I thought Don Mattingly was the best hitter in the game at the time.
MLB.com: Who has been your biggest influence?
Wigginton: My dad for sure. He grew up a big-time fan of the game. He took me to all of the Padres games. He was a season ticket holder, and he still is.
MLB.com: What's your favorite movie?
Wigginton: All of the "Rocky" movies, one through five. Nobody was better than Rocky Balboa. I like Mickey, too.
MLB.com: What is something fans might be surprised to know about you?
Wigginton: I totally enjoy all types of water sports and motorcycles.
MLB.com: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen in baseball?
Wigginton: I didn't see it, but I heard this story when I played in Pittsfield my first year. There was a blooper to right field and a couple of players dove for it but the ball could never be found. There wasn't a gopher hole. It was the vanishing ball. Supposedly, it's true. One of my coaches was playing in the game and the ball just disappeared. And if it went into somebody's shirt, nobody would admit it even at the end of the year.
MLB.com: What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Wigginton: Probably getting knocked down by a Gary Sheffield ball when he was with Atlanta. He hit a ball about 129 MPH right at my shin. I caught it and it propelled me into left field. I threw it and it rolled right about to the mound.
MLB.com: What's the best practical joke you've ever seen?
Wigginton: I've seen a guy get all of his clothes frozen into a big block of ice. It was to get back at somebody. It was at Triple-A, and two guys were playing games back and forth with each other. Finally, one guy took the other guys clothes, froze them and put them in a box.
MLB.com: When did you realize you could be a Major League player?
Wigginton: During my Double-A season, I started to think that I was going to be able to get there. Then, I went to the Arizona Fall League and the Dominican after that. Once I played in the Dominican against some of the big league players like Bartolo Colon and Miguel Tejada, I realized I had a good chance to get there.
MLB.com: Who would you most like to meet, past or present?
Wigginton: Probably Babe Ruth, just because of the whole mystique about all of the Ruth stories.

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

Pirates hire Cox as third-base coach

11/30/2005
PITTSBURGH -- Following a search that lasted nearly two months, the Pittsburgh Pirates finalized their big league coaching staff Wednesday by hiring Jeff Cox as the club's third-base coach.
The Pirates' Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate also announced Wednesday that manager Trent Jewett would be returning to lead the Indians again during the 2006 season.
Cox, 50, spent the past four years as a coach with the Florida Marlins, first working as a bench coach and bullpen coach before taking over the third-base coaching duties in 2004 and 2005. Cox also had big league coaching experience with the Kansas City Royals (1995) and Montreal Expos (2000-01) before joining the Florida staff.
Cox, who appeared in 61 games as an infielder with the Oakland A's in 1980 and 1981, amassed a 736-863 record in 13 seasons as a Minor League manager in the Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Atlanta and Montreal farm systems. He led the Bucs' Class A Watertown affiliate to a division title in 1987.
"Jeff Cox has a lot of experience at the Major League level as a coach and he's done a variety of things," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield. "He loves baseball, has a lot of passion for the game and puts a lot of energy towards helping players improve."
With the addition of Cox, new manager Jim Tracy's coaching staff will include bench coach Jim Lett, pitching coach Jim Colburn, hitting coach Jeff Manto, first-base coach John Shelby and bullpen coach Bobby Cuellar. Lett, Colburn and Shelby were members of Tracy's coaching staff with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manto, who had served as the Pirates' roving Minor League hitting instructor, was promoted from within the organization.
"I'm pleased to have the staff together, particularly with the people that we have," said Littlefield. "The timing of it was really not an issue. We spent some time trying to fit what Jim Tracy was looking for. We're happy with that."
Jewett, 41, has spent 14 seasons in the Pirates organization, including eight as a Triple-A manager. He led Indianapolis to a 78-66 record and a birth in the International League Championship in 2005 before being swept in three games by Toledo.
"I'm looking forward to another great season in Indianapolis," Jewett said. "We had a really nice run in 2005 and I hope we can take that a step further in 2006. With all the good things that happened to us last season, we still ended up short of where I wanted us to be. I really think this organization has enough talent to win an International League championship, and that's what we'll be shooting for this time around."

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

Pirates Winter Meetings checklist

12/02/2005
This year's Winter Meetings in Dallas move from a weekend to a weekday schedule, beginning on Monday, Dec. 5 and ending on Thursday, Dec. 8. While there were very few fireworks at last year's event, there could be more wheeling and dealing this year due to the relatively thin group of free agents.
Look for general manager Dave Littlefield to attempt to use the team's abundance of young starting pitchers and his additional financial resources to land the big bat the Pirates need in the middle of their lineup. And be sure to check back at MLB.com and pittsburghpirates.com regularly to find out the latest about the Bucs as we bring you the news as it happens from Dallas.
2004 Finish: 67-95, sixth place, NL Central
Deals so far: Traded OF Tike Redman to the New York Mets for cash; traded INF Bobby Hill to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later; released OF Michael Restovich; signed LHP Dave Williams to a one-year deal; bought out the contract of RHP Jose Mesa for 2006.
Players eligible for arbitration: RHPs Kip Wells, Josh Fogg and Ryan Vogelsong, LHP Oliver Perez, 3B Ty Wigginton, OF Jody Gerut and INF/OF Rob Mackowiak and Craig Wilson.
Free agents: RHPs Mesa, Brian Meadows and Rick White and 1B Daryle Ward
Needs: The Pirates are seeking to add at least one legitimate run producer to the lineup, preferably a corner infielder or right fielder. The free agent losses of Mesa, Meadows and White have created the need for additional right-handed arms in the bullpen.
Dealing strengths: The Pirates are loaded with young, left-handed starting pitchers. Perez, Zach Duke and Paul Maholm will all likely be high on the wish list of many potential suitors. While it is highly improbable that Duke would be included in any deal, Perez, Maholm, Williams and prospect Tom Gorzelanny could be used as bargaining chips in a trade for a power hitter.

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

Bucs might be more active at meetings

12/02/2005
PITTSBURGH -- For armchair general managers everywhere, there is no better time during the Hot Stove months than the annual Winter Meetings.
With all of baseball's movers and shakers assembling in Dallas this year from Dec. 5 until Dec. 8, the possibilities for blockbuster trades and prominent free agent signings are seemingly endless.
"When you look at the way it goes, people make more deals [during the Winter Meetings] than at any other time," said Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. "There's generally a lot of action because of the dynamics of everybody being together."
While Littlefield has typically been restricted in his ability to participate in this annual beehive of activity due to the Pirates' financial limitations and a lack of depth on his roster, it appears as though the Bucs camp could be more active in Dallas this year. The team's ownership group has announced plans to bump the payroll to nearly $50 million for 2006, and Littlefield has been charged with using the additional resources to address the club's most glaring needs.
"As we have said consistently, we need to upgrade our offense at first base, right field and third base, and we'd like to see if we can strengthen ourselves in the bullpen," said Littlefield.
"[The payroll increase] gives us a lot of different options in that we can look at a lot of different scenarios that we haven't had an opportunity to in the past."
In addition to signing Jason Bay to a long-term contract extension and piecing together a coaching staff for new manager Jim Tracy, Littlefield has been in regular contact with his counterparts around the Major Leagues in an effort to gauge their interest in his players and set a foundation for potential offseason deals. Not surprisingly considering the lack of overall pitching depth in the big leagues, most of the inquiries have been in regards to the availability of the Pirates' young arms.
"We've got a pretty good number of good-looking, young pitchers, and that's where most of their interests are," said Littlefield.
"It's hard to predict [if any moves will be made]. But we've certainly been very active in talking to people and we will continue to be."
"I'm just a not a believer in the 'big splash.' The 'big splash' is only effective when it's for good players to improve your team," said Littlefield. "We've got to make decisions to help us get better and that's what we're working to do."
And whether or not the Pirates are able to land a big bat or bullpen help at the Winter Meetings isn't as important to Littlefield as finding the best available fits for his club, regardless of when the deals occur.
"The best team isn't the team that makes the most moves at the Winter Meetings," said Littlefield. "It's the ones who make the moves that make the most sense and strengthen your team whatever time of year it happens."

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

Bay honored as top Canadian player

12/02/2005
PITTSBURGH -- For the second time in as many seasons, Canadian-born Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Jason Bay has been chosen as his country's top baseball player.
On Friday, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum named Bay as the 2005 winner of the Tip O'Neill Award. The award is presented each year to "the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals."
Bay won the Tip O'Neill Award in 2004 after becoming the first Canadian and Pirates player to earn the Rookie of the Year Award. The Trail, B.C., native followed up his impressive rookie showing by leading the Pirates last season with a .306 batting average, 44 doubles, 32 home runs, 101 RBIs, 110 runs and 21 stolen bases, while becoming the first Canadian to appear in 162 games in a single season.
Bay also ranked among the top 10 hitters in the National League in batting average, runs, doubles, hits (183), walks (95), multihit games (54), total bases (335), on-base percentage (.402) and slugging percentage (.559).
"It's obviously nice to be recognized by your country," said Bay. "Most Canadians are very patriotic, and I'm no different."
Chicago Cubs closer Ryan Dempster was the runner-up in the 2005 Tip O'Neill Award voting, followed by Oakland A's starter Rich Harden, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and Colorado Rockies starter Jeff Francis.
Bay joins nine-time winner Larry Walker and two-time winner Eric Gagne as just the third multiple recipient of the Tip O'Neill Award, which is named in honor of the Woodstock, Ont., native who was among one of baseball's top starters in the late 19th century.

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

Bay, Perez plan to play in WBC

12/05/2005
DALLAS -- In the first significant announcement of the Winter Meetings, it was revealed Monday that Pirates players Jason Bay, Salomon Torres and Oliver Perez could be changing uniforms at some point next spring.
However, Pirates fans need not worry that some of their top players are destined to be shipped out of town at baseball's annual swap meet. Bay, Torres and Perez have simply agreed to participate for their countries, if asked, in the inaugural World Baseball Classic to be held next March during Spring Training.
Bay, who was presented with the Tip O'Neill Award as Canada's top player following each of his two full big league seasons, will be counted upon to anchor a Team Canada lineup that could also include former Bucs outfielder/first baseman Matt Stairs, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and Blue Jays third baseman Corey Koskie.
"I'm definitely looking forward to participating in this with all of the guys that we have," said Bay, who in 2004 became Canada's first Rookie of the Year Award winner. "It's something new, it will be fun and it's good for the game."
Perez, who is coming off of a disappointing 2005 campaign after leading all Major League starters in strikeouts per nine innings the previous season, could be one of the top starters for his native Mexico. And because Canada and Mexico are both in Pool B, along with United States and South Africa, Perez and Bay could square off early on in the tournament.
"That will be interesting if it happens. There will definitely be bragging rights on the line," Bay said of his possible matchup with Perez.
Torres, the Bucs' top right-handed setup man and a part-time closer a year ago, and former Bucs closer Jose Mesa were among those who have agreed to participate on what should be a powerful Dominican squad.
More Pirates players, including Mexican native Humberto Cota, could be added to World Baseball Championship rosters at a later date. Sixty-man rosters must be submitted by Jan. 17 with the ultimate 30-man rosters finalized 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament. The final rosters must include a minimum of 13 pitchers and three catchers. MLB has committed to using 60 percent of Major League-affiliated players. All the players announced on Monday have the blessings of the players association and the MLB owners, who have collectively spent months in the initial culling process.
The inaugural World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will take place March 3-20 and feature the world's best players competing for their home countries and territories for the first time. Fans will be able to follow all the games live exclusively online at MLB.com.
First-round action will be played at four sites. Pool A, consisting of Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, will meet at the Tokyo Dome, March 3-5. Pool B, featuring USA, Canada, Mexico and South Africa will play at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Scottsdale Stadium, Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants, March 7-10. Pool C is Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama and the Netherlands, and will play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 7-10. Pool D, featuring the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy will play at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, March 7-10.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, which takes place March 12-15 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico and Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The semifinals and finals will be held at San Diego's PETCO Park, March 18-20.

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

Notes: Plenty of talk in Dallas

12/05/2005
DALLAS -- On the surface, the first day of the Winter Meetings was a pretty quiet one for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Bucs made no trades or free agent signings, and none appeared imminent as of the early evening. The most newsworthy item of the day for the Pirates was the announcement that Jason Bay, Oliver Perez and Salomon Torres would be representing their countries during the inaugural World Baseball Classic next March -- not exactly the kind of head-turning news that keeps the Hot Stove fires burning brightly back in Pittsburgh.
Behind the scenes, however, the Bucs were actively pursuing what they consider the missing pieces of their personnel puzzle, namely a first baseman, a right-handed reliever, a right fielder and a third baseman.
"We have been active and talking to a lot of teams," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said during his daily media session, adding that he was in negotiations with "a half-dozen of so" potential suitors for each of his team's areas of need.
"We've got a bunch of offers out there," said Littlefield. "You're always just a phone call away in that situation."
While Littlefield would not comment specifically on any trade negotiations, he made no secret about the fact that most potential trading partners have shown particular interest in his pitchers. The Bucs GM added that his pitching depth has resulted in the Pirates getting more substantial offers this offseason than in years past.
"It definitely opens up more doors," said Littlefield. "There are more opportunities and more discussions philosophically of how to improve the team."
Whether or not those newly opened doors will result in a trade this week remains unknown. Littlefield insists that he won't make a deal for the sake of making a public relations splash.
"We don't want to be driven to get something done just to get something done," said Littlefield. "It has to make sense."
Overbay in the mix? One player the Pirates have targeted to fill their top priority at first base is Lyle Overbay of the Milwaukee Brewers, who has become available because of the emergence of top prospect Prince Fielder. Overbay, 28, is a left-handed-hitting first sacker who batted .276 with 19 home runs and 72 RBIs a year ago.
"We've had conversations with [the Pirates]," Brewers GM Doug Melvin said. "They're in the market for bats."
Milwaukee is looking for bullpen help, particularly from the left side, and they are reportedly intrigued by Bucs southpaw John Grabow. The Brewers are reportedly not interested in right-handed starters Kip Wells or Josh Fogg, both of whom are heading into contract years.
"We're reluctant to trade for a guy we're only going to have for one year," Melvin said. "Whoever gets Overbay will get him for three years."
The Pirates are looking to add a first baseman because they are not certain that Brad Eldred is ready to play regularly in the big leagues.
"Contact and defense are areas [Eldred] needs to improve," said Littlefield. "We would like to have him be our starting first baseman, but he has to prove [he deserves] it. You have to show consistency."
Blalock watch: Littlefield has targeted a left-handed-hitting third baseman among their biggest offseason needs. Unfortunately for the Bucs GM, this could be his toughest position to fill. The free agent market is weak at third base beyond veterans Joe Randa and Bill Mueller. And there just aren't many young third basemen out there with power from the left side of the plate.
One notable exception is Texas' Hank Blalock. Although the Rangers are not actively shopping Blalock, it is believed that Blalock would be available in a deal for Oliver Perez, a pitcher the Rangers have long coveted. The Pirates, however, have apparently balked at parting with a pitcher who topped all Major League starters in strikeouts per nine innings two seasons ago.
No rush for free agents? The Pirates will not likely be active in the free agent market during the Winter Meetings because the lower and mid-level free agents that the Bucs tend to pursue typically wait until the big-named stars establish the market.
When the Pirates do begin to engage in serious negotiations with free agents, Littlefield does not believe his team will be as difficult to sell to players as in years past.
"The three factors [in attracting free agents] are money, winning and opportunity," Littlefield explained. "Definitely there is a view among baseball people that we are getting better. There is a little more buzz, an easier sell, or whatever you want to call it."
Bucs bits: The Pirates will not offer free agents Jose Mesa, Daryle Ward, Brian Meadows and Rick White salary arbitration before the Wednesday deadline for doing so. If they are not offered arbitration, then they cannot re-sign with the club prior to May 1, 2006. ... Littlefield said Monday that he expects to offer arbitration to RHP Josh Fogg prior to the Dec. 20 non-tendering date.

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

Pirates close to bringing Casey home

12/06/2005
DALLAS -- The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are in the final stages of completing a deal that would send first baseman Sean Casey to the Bucs for left-handed starter Dave Williams.
The trade is contingent upon both players passing physicals, and neither team is expected to make an official announcement until Wednesday, at the earliest. However, Williams told MLB.com Tuesday night that Pirates GM Dave Littlefield contacted him about the imminent deal.
"He said thanks for all the hard work and we said our peace to each other," Williams said. "I'm waiting for the [Reds] GM to call."
The Pittsburgh native Casey, 31, did not want to discuss the details of the deal until after returning to Pittsburgh to complete his physical with the club. But he did express initial disappointment upon hearing his name included in trade rumors this winter.
"I want to retire with the Cincinnati Reds. I don't want to go anywhere," Casey said. " I love Cincinnati, the fans, the team and the charitable work that I do. If I have to go, and I hope I don't, Pittsburgh is the best place because that is where I was born and raised."
By adding Casey, the Pirates address their need for a left-handed run producer at first base to bat behind All-Star Jason Bay. A three-time National League All-Star, Casey has a .305 career batting average with 118 home runs and 605 RBIs in nine big-league seasons, eight of which he spent in Cincinnati.
Casey batted .324 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs in 2004 but saw his power numbers fall off significantly last season after he sustained a left shoulder injury in May while diving for a foul ball. Casey was batting .312 with nine home runs and 58 RBIs when he suffered a season-ending concussion at PNC Park on Sept. 16 following a collision at first base with Pirates catcher Humberto Cota.
Most of Casey's experience at PNC Park has been considerably more enjoyable. In 29 games in front of his hometown fans, Casey has batted .355 with five home runs and 24 RBIs. He often said that the highlight of his big league career came when he took Todd Ritchie deep on April 9,2001 for the first hit in PNC Park history.
"I was so pumped up for that game," Casey recalled later. "Opening Day in my hometown. The beautiful new ballpark. My parents were there. My sister came in. My wife. My friends. Willie Stargell had just died. He was one of my heroes ...
"Until I play on a championship team, that will be hard to beat."
The Pirates have long coveted Casey, but financial concerns had previously stood in the way. However, with a payroll expected to be boosted by approximately $15 million to nearly $50 million in 2006, the team was able to absorb the $8.5 million Casey is set to earn next season in what will be the final year of his contract.
The addition of Casey, even if he is not signed beyond 2006, allows the Pirates to give powerful first base prospect Brad Eldred another year to improve his pitch selection, contact and defense at Triple-A. Eldred clubbed 40 home runs combined in the Minor Leagues and big leagues last season, but he also struck out 159 times in 469 at-bats.
The 26-year-old Williams, who was healthy for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2002, led the Pirates staff with 10 wins in 2005. After establishing career highs in wins, starts (25) and innings (138 2/3), Williams signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million in October.
"It's weird going to another team in our division," Williams said. "I'll work hard this offseason to be prepared and look forward to helping the Reds."
Williams made his big-league debut in 2001 and was one of the few bright spots for a Pirates team that lost 100 games. In 22 appearances, including 18 starts, he posted a 3-7 mark and a 3.71 ERA.
Williams attempted to pitch through shoulder stiffness the following spring before finally undergoing surgery to repair a torn left labrum on July 11, 2002. Williams spent the next two years rehabbing at Triple-A Nashville and did not pitch in the big leagues again until Aug. 5, 2004.

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

Bucs acquire Bayliss for Redman

12/07/2005
DALLAS -- The Pittsburgh Pirates unloaded their second left-handed starter in less than 24 hours Wednesday morning by sending veteran southpaw Mark Redman to the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Jonah Bayliss and a player to be named.
In doing so, the Pirates also gave themselves the financial flexibility to continue their pursuit of a third baseman, right fielder and veteran right-handed reliever.
Redman, whom the Pirates acquired from the Oakland A's as part of the Jason Kendall deal on Nov. 27, 2004, was 5-15 with a 4.90 ERA in 30 starts with the Bucs in 2005. After beginning the season as the club's top starter and a legitimate All-Star candidate, Redman went into a dramatic tailspin, dropping 11 of his final 12 decisions.
By dealing Redman -- who chose to exercise his $4.5 million player option for 2006 rather than opt for free agency -- for a player making a salary near the league minimum, the Pirates essentially offset the cost of acquiring first baseman Sean Casey from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Cincinnati is believed to be on the hook for as much as $2 million of the $8.5 million Casey will earn in 2006. Williams signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal in October.
"In this case, we had the ability to save some money, if you will, and reallocate the money to other positions," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield. "We just felt that made more sense with how our team is put together right now."
The 25-year-old Bayliss was selected by the Royals in the seventh round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. He went 0-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 11 relief appearances as a rookie with the Royals in 2005 after beginning the season at Double-A Wichita, where he went 1-2 with eight saves in 30 relief outings.
The highlight of Bayliss' brief professional career came on August 5, 2003, when he tossed a no-hitter for Class-A Burlington.
"He's a right-handed reliever with a sinker and slider who throws hard," said Littlefield. "He probably needs to command the ball a little more to become consistent."
Although Bayliss is expected to compete for a spot in the Pirates bullpen next spring, Littlefield does not consider adding Bayliss as fulfilling his search for a right-handed, late-inning reliever.
"This is not the guy for the eighth inning. We're looking at him as [part of our] inventory of prospects," said Littlefield.
Littlefield said that the third player in the trade would be named "sooner than later."

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

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/

Tracy changing thought processes

12/07/2005
DALLAS -- Since being hired as the manager of the Pirates on Oct. 18, Jim Tracy has made it clear that the old way of thinking that permeated the Pittsburgh clubhouse for many losing seasons would no longer be tolerated.
However, rather than take a "my way or the highway" stance that has been popular with managers and coaches seemingly since the dawn of sports, Tracy's approach is more along the lines of a paradigm shift. He wants the Pirates players to open their minds to new ways of thinking about the game.
"I'm really interested in getting that message out there to our players that what has taken place in the past [is] great, fine, and dandy, [but] it's all over with," Tracy said. "We're going to turn the page and we're going to start doing things just a little bit differently. We're going to have a real understanding of the fact that losing more than you win in any given season is really not acceptable."
A simple message to be sure. And Tracy had others.
"The cliché of 'We're young. We're inexperienced' and having that as a built-in crutch to go out there and not perform up to capability, that's not acceptable anymore, either," he said.
Tracy stressed the need for his club to understand, on a basic level, what it means to play winning baseball. Tracy expects his players to know how to drive home runners from third base with less than two outs, when to take a pitch or swing away, when to take an extra base, how to hit the ball to the right side of the field to advance a runner -- the basic fundamentals of the game that can mean the difference between winning and losing on a nightly basis.
Tracy doesn't expect his approach to be a tough sell for his new players.
"I feel like I'm beginning in Pittsburgh with a little bit of a track record that there has been some success realized over the last five years," said Tracy. "There has been a method to the madness that we've been up to over the course of the last five years in L.A., and you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that it doesn't work."
And the Pirates players -- many of whom have never experienced a winning season in the big leagues -- don't exactly have much of a foundation to resist the changes.
"[The Pirates] haven't had a winning season in 13 years. There's a reason for that," Tracy said. "There's a different mindset that needs to take place. There's a different belief that you have to have coming to the ballpark every day.
"You have to be able to let go [of the old ways of thinking]. You have to be able to turn the page and allow someone to steer you in a direction as much as to say, 'You know what? We haven't tried this before.'"
Philosophical theories aside, Tracy is very much a pragmatist. He realizes that the odds are long that he'd be able to make up 20-plus games in the standings on the Cardinals and Astros in one year. But, as was the case during his first two seasons in Los Angeles, Tracy believes he already has a solid foundation of talent in place with which to build around. He's not thinking along the lines of any five-year plan for success.
"I want the thought process to be that you are chasing after those two clubs much sooner than later," said Tracy. "How much sooner? That is what remains to be seen."

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

Pirates gain much, pay little for Casey

12/08/2005
DALLAS -- This one looks like a steal for the Steel City.
The Pirates sorely needed a lefty hitter who could protect Jason Bay in the lineup and boost the offense, preferably one who could play first base. In Sean Casey, not only did Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield pluck the perfect person to fit the need, he did so at the surprisingly modest cost of left-hander Dave Williams.
Casey, a Pittsburgh native, gives new manager Jim Tracy a potent lefty bat who should thrive in PNC Park and make it even harder to pitch around the immensely talented Bay. Casey also gives immediate stability at a position where the Pirates have used seven different first basemen in the last two years.
Casey comes at a cost of only $8.5 million for 2006, the final year of his contract, and the Reds will send cash to the Pirates to cover some of that obligation. Casey also brings the kind of attitude and character that will certainly help in a Pirates clubhouse that could have used more of those qualities in recent years.
A three-time All-Star, Casey has a .305 career batting average with 118 home runs and 605 RBIs in nine seasons, including eight with Cincinnati. Pirates fans know him all too well. In 29 games at PNC Park, Casey has batted .355 with five home runs and 24 RBIs.
And yet, all Littlefield had to give up to secure this perfect fit was Williams, a lefty with a good arm and intriguing potential but less than impressive results in his roughly four years in the Majors.
Reds GM Dan O'Brien is counting on Williams developing into the kind of starter many scouts believe the lefty has the potential to become.
"Last year was the first year he started full-time," O'Brien said Thursday after the trade was officially announced. "He fits the necessary profile to pitch in our ballpark, he's a competitor and his work ethic is second to none."
All of that is, of course, true, but the fact remains Williams is an unproven commodity.
Williams, who turns 27 during Spring Training, owns a 17-26 career record with a 4.25 ERA. He was 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA last year while pitching a career-high 138 innings.
Williams has a decent arm and has become more of a ground-ball pitcher than he was as a rookie four seasons ago, although he did give up more fly balls than grounders in 2005. An encouraging hint of his potential for Reds fans is that Williams was much more effective on the road than at home in 2005, going 7-4 with a 2.65 ERA, compared to 3-7 with a 6.68 ERA at PNC Park.
There's no question Williams has potential but, thus far, he has shown only brief glimpses. On the other hand, Williams is at a point in his career track where an athlete typically has his best years. There's enough in the lefty's track record for O'Brien to bet that Williams could be on the verge of blossoming into a No. 3 or even No. 2 starter.

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Otherwise, the Reds will have paid quite a price for this gamble.
Financially, the deal is not quite a wash, as the difference between Casey's 2006 salary and what Williams will receive ($1.4 million plus as much as an additional $125,000 if he maxes out an innings incentive), less the cash considerations the Reds sent to the Pirates, saved Cincinnati a couple of million dollars.
Of course, the move also means the Reds can finally move Adam Dunn to first base and go with an outfield of Austin Kearns, Ken Griffey Jr. and Wily Mo Pena, so for the Reds, at least that logjam is finally over.
"I will leave that to [Reds manager] Jerry Narron," O'Brien said. "We've talked with Adam about [moving to first], and he has been receptive."
With those four bats in the lineup together and assuming the Reds make a deal for another top-of-the-order guy (Tony Womack is a target), maybe the Cincinnati offense will be able to compensate for the loss of Casey.
And perhaps Williams will blossom along the Ohio. Maybe then this won't look like such a lopsided deal for Pittsburgh.

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

Bucs get Reds' Casey for Williams

12/08/2005
DALLAS -- As a kid, Pittsburgh native Sean Casey grew up idolizing his hometown Buccos.
On Thursday, the three-time All-Star fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a Pirate himself.
Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield officially exposed the worst-kept secret of the Winter Meetings early Thursday by announcing that the Pirates had acquired Casey and cash considerations from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for left-handed pitcher Dave Williams. The deal, which first came to light Tuesday afternoon, was consummated when Casey and Williams passed their physicals Wednesday night.
After spending nearly a decade in Cincinnati, where he was affectionately dubbed "The Mayor" because of his popularity in that city, Casey admitted that he had mixed emotions upon learning that he'd be leaving the Queen City.
"It's been an emotional roller coaster, it really has," said Casey. "I think the first time I got the news, I didn't know what to think. Then [Wednesday], I went up to Pittsburgh [for the physical] and it just kind of hit me.
"The thing I'm going to miss -- I love Cincinnati. It pains me a little bit. I thought I was going to be that guy who plays his whole career in Cincinnati, in one place. I loved it there. I loved the fans there. I loved the city there."
However, Casey couldn't hide the excitement he felt knowing that he'd have the opportunity to play in front of family and friends at PNC Park as a member of the home team.
"I told my dad when we were sitting in Three Rivers Stadium when I was 15 years old that one day I would play for the Pirates," said Casey. "It's funny because now I can fulfill that dream and start a new life there."
And Casey's parents couldn't be happier to have their son return home.
"I think my mom and dad are besides themselves they are so excited," Casey said. "They are excited that I'll be back there and they'll be able to see their grandkids. They are fired up."
In obtaining Casey, the Pirates have filled their top offseason priority at first base. The left-handed hitting Casey, 31, has posted a .305 career batting average in nine big league seasons, eight of those with Cincinnati. He has batted .300 or better five times, he's had three seasons with 20-plus home runs and he's driven in more than 80 runs on five separate occasions.
"We have been looking for a first baseman and it seemed to be a fit," said Littlefield. "Obviously Sean Casey has had a fine career and has been a productive player. He does a lot of things that we need, including getting on base and having a high batting average. I think he'll fit in well with our lineup."
According to new Pirates manager Jim Tracy, Casey could bat anywhere from third through fifth in the lineup depending upon whether or not the Pirates are able to add another established run-producer this offseason.
Regardless of where Casey hits, he'll be a welcome addition to an offense that finished near the bottom of National League rankings in most significant statistical categories last season.
"Obviously I am thrilled that we got Sean Casey," said Pirates All-Star Jason Bay. "He's a proven run-producer, a run-scoring guy in the middle of the lineup and that's one of the needs that we were trying to address.
"He's always kind of killed us in the past and it's nice to have him on our team."
Casey's success at PNC Park has been well-documented. His home run against Todd Ritchie on April 9, 2001, was the first hit in the stadium's history. In 29 games overall at PNC Park, Casey has batted .355 with five home runs and 24 RBIs.
"I love hitting in PNC Park," said Casey. "It's one of the better parks design-wise, and I feel like I've had some success there. I'm looking forward to hitting there 81 times."
Casey was quick to point out that he hadn't always been so successful playing in Pittsburgh, particularly when he came back to Three Rivers Stadium early in his career.
"At Three Rivers, I'd be sitting in the dugout thinking, 'How did I get these seats? I must know somebody to be in the dugout,'" Casey said, laughing. "When we played in Pittsburgh, I always looked at it from the fan's point of view. I was still that little kid. It was tough to imagine that I was at Three Rivers Stadium as a player."
With his quick wit and laid-back style, Casey is also widely regarded as one of most popular players among his peers. His contributions to the team should extend well beyond his play on the field.
"Getting Sean is really big for us," said Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, who considers Casey one of his best friends in the game. "If you look at our team, we already had a lot of talented players. This gives us an experienced guy in the middle of the lineup who is also one of the best clubhouse guys in the big leagues."
Bay and Wilson viewed Casey's addition as a sign that the team is committed to investing a considerable amount of its payroll to improve the offense. Just as encouraging to Bay and Wilson is the fact that the Pirates aren't done shopping. Although the Pirates will be on the hook the majority of Casey's $8.5 million contract for 2006, the team offset the financial hit somewhat by unloading Williams ($1.4 million) and left-hander Mark Redman ($4.5 million) this week during the Winter Meetings.
"Hopefully that still leaves us some room to go out and get some other guys that we need," said Bay. "This trade made a lot of sense for us."
Even with the addition of Casey, the Pirates still have between $13-14 million to spend on additional acquisitions.
"It would be great if we would be able to go out and get some of the other pieces of the puzzle," said Wilson.

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

Pirates acquire Marte, Santos

12/08/2005
DALLAS -- The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded the Winter Meetings with a flurry Thursday. In a span of three hours, the Bucs severed ties with their Opening Day third baseman, added two experienced arms to their staff and traded their long-time supersub.
The chain reaction of transactions began when the Pirates released third baseman Ty Wigginton to clear a spot on their 40-man roster, which Pittsburgh in turn used to pluck right-hander Victor Santos from the Kansas City Royals with the fourth overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft.
The Pirates wrapped up a busy day by sending infielder/outfielder Rob Mackowiak to the Chicago White Sox for former Pirates left-handed reliever Damaso Marte.
Although the Pirates and White Sox will not comment on the deal because both players have physicals pending, a source with one of the teams confirmed the trade, as did Mackowiak.
Mackowiak, 29, overcame long odds to make the Pirates in 2001 after being drafted in the 53rd round four years earlier. In five seasons with the Bucs, the versatile Mackowiak batted .258 with 52 home runs and 221 RBIs.
For Mackowiak, who grew up just outside of Chicago and was a White Sox fan as a kid, it was bittersweet news to find out that he had been traded from the only organization he had ever known to his home town team.
"It's the team you root for as a kid, it's a winning team and you always dream of playing for a team that has a chance at a championship," said Mackowiak. "But it's always tough to leave the place that you have been your whole career. They gave you your chance and you feel like you owe them the world."
Marte, 30, blossomed into one of the top left-handed relievers in the American League after being traded from Pittsburgh to Chicago in 2002. In four seasons with the White Sox, Marte was 14-12 with 31 saves and a 2.81 ERA in 279 appearances.
Marte will earn $2.25 million in 2006, with a club option for $3 million in 2007 and a buyout of $250,000.
Wigginton, 28, joined the Pirates on July 30, 2004, as the centerpiece of a five-player deal that sent Kris Benson to the New York Mets. But after showing promise in New York, Wigginton struggled throughout most of his tenure with the Bucs. In 115 games with Pittsburgh, Wigginton batted .237 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs.
"It was simply performance," Pirates GM Dave Littlefield said of his decision to cut ties with Wigginton. "We were certainly rooting for it to happen and Ty put forth a great effort. It just didn't work out as well as we hoped or he hoped."
Wigginton, who made just six starts after Sept. 1, wasn't surprised to learn that he was no longer a part of Pittsburgh's future plans.
"You could tell that they were going to go in a different direction, and that's fine," said Wigginton. "I'm excited and a little nervous. I'll see what is out there and find the best fit for me."
Santos, 29, is an atypical Rule 5 selection in that he has five years of big league experience. Santos was 4-13 with 4.57 ERA in 29 appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005. He has a 17-33 career mark and a 4.57 ERA in 125 games with the Brewers, Rangers, Rockies and Tigers.
Santos will likely compete with Josh Fogg and Ian Snell for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, at least until Sean Burnett is ready to return from his elbow and shoulder surgeries. "[Santos] gives us another option," said Littlefield. "It's a good fit. He's a guy who has had some experience in the big leagues and he's started a fair amount."
The Pirates also tied up some loose ends Thursday by acquiring a pair of players to be named from past deals.
The Bucs received Chad Blackwell, 22, from the Royals to compete the Mark Redman-for-Jonah Bayliss deal a day earlier. In 48 relief appearances with Class A Burlington in 2005, Blackwell went 7-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 14 saves, and he also allowed three runs in two innings with Class A High Desert. Blackwell was Kansas City's sixth pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
The Pirates closed the book on the Nov. 21 Bobby Hill deal by acquiring right-hander Clayton Hamilton from the San Diego Padres. Hamilton, 23, went 9-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts with Class A Fort Wayne last season and 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA in seven games (six starts) with Class A Lake Elsinore. The Beaver Falls, Pa., native was San Diego's 17th-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

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

Pirates accomplish several goals

12/08/2005
DALLAS -- Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield will head home from the annual Winter Meetings feeling pretty good about what he and his staff were able to accomplish during their four days in Dallas.
Littlefield addressed his top offseason priority by acquiring first baseman Sean Casey for left-handed pitcher Dave Williams. Casey is a .305 career hitter and a three-time All-Star who should add much needed run production to the lineup. Casey, a Pittsburgh native, is also a highly respected clubhouse leader who will be very popular with his teammates and the hometown fans. And although Williams led the Bucs with 10 wins in 2005, he likely would have begun the season as the team's fifth starter.
One day after taking on the majority of Casey's $8.5 million salary for 2006, Littlefield unloaded Mark Redman's $4.5 million salary by sending the veteran southpaw to the Kansas City Royals for right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Bayliss. The move gives the Pirates an additional $12-14 million to spend this offseason on upgrades at third base, right field and on the right side in the bullpen.
Littlefield closed out the meetings with a bang by trading utility man Rob Mackowiak to the Chicago White Sox for southpaw reliever Damaso Marte, releasing Opening Day third baseman Ty Wigginton and plucking veteran right-hander Victor Santos from the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 Draft.
Deals done: Acquired 1B Sean Casey and cash from the Cincinnati Reds for LHP Dave Williams. Acquired RHP Jonah Bayliss and RHP Chad Blackwell from the Kansas City Royals for LHP Mark Redman. Acquired LHP Damaso Marte from the Chicago White Sox for INF/OF Rob Mackowiak. Released 3B Ty Wigginton.
Rule 5 activity: Selected RHP Victor Santos from Kansas City with the fourth overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft.
Goals accomplished: The addition of Casey gives the Pirates an accomplished, left-handed hitter in the middle of a mostly inexperienced lineup. The deal also allows 1B Brad Eldred, the organization's top power prospect, to work on his pitch recognition and defense at Triple-A.
Marte, who blossomed into one of the top left-handed setup men in the American League after being traded from the Pirates in 2002, could make John Grabow available on the trade market. Santos will compete for the fifth spot in the starting rotation and could fill in as a swingman in the bullpen.
By moving Redman without having to assume any of his contract, Littlefield still has the payroll flexibility to address the rest of his offseason priorities.
Unfinished business: The departures of Mackowiak and Wigginton leave Freddy Sanchez as the only legitimate option at third base. Right field and the right side of the bullpen remain areas of concern.
Littlefield made 40 to 50 calls per day to GMs, agents and scouts during their stay in Dallas. The groundwork laid should result in additional deals in the coming weeks.
GM's bottom line: "We still have to shore up the right-handed help in the pen, third base and right field. We've got some work to do. But we've certainly made some nice strides and we have some resources to work with, whether it's players or dollars."

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

Casey enjoys spoils of being home

12/09/2005
PITTSURGH -- The press conference that the Pirates held at PNC Park on Friday morning to formally introduce Sean Casey to the Pittsburgh media was unlike any other in the relatively brief history of the facility.
In fact, it felt more like a homecoming party than a trade announcement.
Pirates GM Dave Littlefield, who typically reveals little emotion in his public persona, was practically gushing during his opening announcement.
"Besides the statistics that everyone can read about, many people here in the Pittsburgh area know that Sean is a guy with strong character, tremendous leadership and veteran presence," Littlefield said. "We feel he will fit in very well with the very young club we have, with our new manager and with our clubhouse."
Casey, a Pittsburgh native and lifelong Pirates fan, was beaming as he pulled on his No. 25 Pirates home jersey for the first time.
"I feel like a little kid," said Casey. "I rooted for the Pirates growing up around here and it's great to be here. It's great to wear this Pirates uniform. It's always been a dream of mine and it's funny to put it on right now."
The fact the Pirates felt compelled to hold a press conference at PNC Park just hours after a winter storm deposited several inches of snow on the Steel City was an obvious sign that the Bucs view the three-time All-Star as more than just a stopgap to keep first base warm for slugging prospect Brad Eldred. Casey is a hometown hero in a city that doesn't usually consider nepotism a dirty word. And the Pirates, who for years have been trying to give their long-suffering fans cause for hope, were not about to let Mother Nature spoil their fun.
"From a PR perspective, when your general manager tells you that you are getting a guy like Sean Casey, it's Christmas," said Pirates VP of Communications Patty Paytas. "He's so friendly and engaging. You can see the enthusiasm that the community has. It just makes me more excited about this year. I can't wait for Spring Training."
Truth be told, Casey really needed no introduction in Pittsburgh. Most of the reporters on hand Friday had already known the hometown boy for years. Casey, you see, has always gone out of his way to stay in touch with his roots.
"There is something about Pittsburgh, especially about being from here," said Casey. "There is a pride about being from Pittsburgh. It's a hard-working town and they want to see winners. They want to see that commitment to winning."
As a visiting player, Casey never tried to hide his lifelong love of the city and its baseball team. Hearing Casey refer to the Pirates as "we" on several occasions Friday, it was easy to see that he's always had a soft spot in his "Buccos."
"Even when I came in with Cincinnati I loved coming to Pittsburgh as a visiting player because I felt like I was home," said Casey. "There is something about this community and hometown guys. I still have that pride of being from Pittsburgh."
It should come as no surprise to anyone who was raised in western Pennsylvania that Casey's favorite player as a kid wasn't Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke or any of the other stars on the dominant Pirates teams of the early 1990s. It was current Bucs announcer John Wehner, a utility player who happened to grow up inside the city limits.
"I used to go to games just because [Wehner] was from Pittsburgh," said Casey. "I remember one day he was 5-for-5. Maybe a few people will come out just because another Pittsburgh boy is on the team."
Jay Adams, a Pittsburgh native and Casey's roommate at the University of Richmond, has no doubts that Casey will immediately become a fan favorite at PNC Park.
"You always root for the hometown guys even when they play with other teams. To have him back is just unbelievable," said Adams. "We're bringing back a guy who has put up great numbers. Let's hope that it's the start of something great."
The notion the Pirates appear to be moving in the right direction after 13 consecutive losing seasons that have tested the faith of even the club's most ardent supporters was a popular theme Friday.
"I think we have a good team here," said Casey, who suffered through his share of tough seasons as a Pirates fan in the 1980s. "Hopefully we'll be able to bring back winning baseball to Pittsburgh and get to see Pittsburgh excited about baseball again."
And even if Casey, a father of three who will be a free agent after the 2006 season, does end up spending just one season with his beloved Buccos, there are at least two locals who will enjoy every moment of his homecoming.
"My husband and I are ecstatic," said Casey's mom, Joan. "It will be great having the grandkids here."
Contrary to the famous Thomas Wolfe line, you can go home again. Just ask the Casey family.

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

Report: Pirates sign Hernandez

12/09/2005
PITTSBURGH -- According to published reports, the Pittsburgh Pirates have reached an agreement with free agent pitcher Roberto Hernandez on a one-year contract.
Hernandez, 41, was 8-6 with four saves and a 2.58 ERA in 67 appearances with the New York Mets in 2005. The veteran right-hander has a record of 64-65 and a 3.33 ERA in 892 games over his 15-year big league career, which has included stops with the Mets, Phillies, Braves, Royals, Devil Rays, Giants and White Sox. He ranks 10th all time in big league history with 324 career saves.
Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield would not confirm the signing, but he did say the team has had contact with Hernandez, a player who would fill the Bucs' need for a veteran right-handed reliever with experience as a closer.
"[Hernandez] is a guy we have been talking to and have interest in," said Littlefield. "As we have said, we'd liked to get some more right-handed help in the 'pen."
Hernandez would be the Pirates' first free agent signing of the offseason. Earlier this week, Pittsburgh acquired first baseman Sean Casey and pitchers Damaso Marte, Jonah Bayliss, Chad Blackwell and Clayton Hamilton in trades. The team also selected pitcher Victor Santos in the Rule 5 Draft.

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

Mailbag: What's in Eldred's future?

12/12/2005
How much does the acquisition of Sean Casey affect Brad Eldred's playing time this season and in future seasons?-- Brian D., Bethel Park, Pa.
Eldred will play first base regularly next season. He just won't be doing it in the big leagues -- at least not early on in the year -- unless Casey gets hurt.
Eldred has tremendous power, and he could potentially be a guy who will hit 35 to 40 home runs annually. In order to do that, however, Eldred must improve his pitch recognition so that he can make more consistent contact. The fact that Eldred strikes out a lot doesn't concern the team as much as his inability to consistently put the ball in play with runners in scoring position.
Considering that Eldred has jumped from Class A to the big leagues in under two seasons, the time he spends at Triple-A in 2006 could certainly help him in the long term. Casey is signed only through next season, so the job could be Eldred's for the taking in 2007 if he can make the adjustments that the Pirates want to see from him.
Now that Rob Mackowiak is gone, do you think that the Pirates might try to deal for Hank Blalock of the Rangers to fill their need of a third baseman? Do you think Jose Bautista has a shot at the job?-- David P., Spring Lake, N.C.
The Pirates are certainly thin at third base now that Mackowiak and Ty Wigginton are no longer with the team. While Blalock would certainly fill that vacancy quite nicely, I am no longer inclined to believe that the Pirates will make a move for him. The Rangers would almost certainly want Oliver Perez included in any deal for Blalock, and Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield is extremely reluctant to part with the hard-throwing southpaw.
Free agent Bill Mueller is another third baseman the Pirates have been pursuing this winter, but the former Giant seems to be leaning toward accepting a contract with a West Coast team.
It is possible that the Bucs' best bet at acquiring a third baseman now would be to deal with Mueller's former team, the Red Sox. Boston has added Mike Lowell and Andy Marte to its roster in recent weeks, and it already had Kevin Youkilis waiting in the wings. Lefty relievers Damaso Marte and John Grabow could perhaps be used as trade bait in such a deal.
As for Bautista, Littlefield has said on numerous occasions this offseason that Bautista probably needs more seasoning at Triple-A.
Why not sign Joe Randa to a two-year contract? This move would give Bautista valuable time to develop. This would also allow the Pirates to keep their young pitchers for other deals.-- Bob, California, Pa.
Randa was a popular player during his one season in Pittsburgh in 1997, and many Bucs fans have been pushing for the Pirates to try to get him back since the day he was lost to Arizona in the Expansion Draft. But I'm not convinced that Randa would be a significant upgrade over Freddy Sanchez at this point in their careers.
Randa, who will turn 36 on Dec. 18, had a career-high 17 home runs last season, but nine of them came at Great American Ballpark while he was playing for the Reds. He had just four home runs, 17 RBIs and a .303 OBP in 58 games after being traded to the Padres, who play their home games at spacious PETCO Park. His power numbers wouldn't likely be much better with PNC Park's deep left-field dimensions.
Sanchez, who will celebrate his 28th birthday on Dec. 21, batted .306 with four home runs and 20 RBIs after the All-Star break, and he won't even be arbitration eligible until after next season. Would it be worth spending an extra $3 million or so next season for Randa when Sanchez could provide similar production? It seems to me that the Pirates would prefer to use that extra money elsewhere at this point.
What's the latest on Jose Castillo? Will he be healthy enough to start the season or does that seem unlikely? -- Mike T., Pittsburgh
According to Littlefield, Castillo is progressing nicely from the MCL tear he suffered in August. Castillo is rehabbing the knee in his native Venezuela, and he returns to Pittsburgh for a monthly checkup. The team expects him to be at full strength for the start of Spring Training.
As a correction to what I mistakenly wrote earlier in this space, Castillo's knee injury did not require surgery.
Where do you think Sean Burnett, John Van Benschoten and Ian Snell will fit in next season with the Pirates? Coming off of surgery in 2004, will Burnett have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation?-- Patrick, L., Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
Burnett has actually had two surgeries in the past 15 months. He had reconstructive elbow surgery near the end of the 2004 season and a shoulder surgery last summer, just as it seemed he was close to making a full recovery from the elbow surgery.
Burnett was progressing well from both injuries at the end of last season. He concluded his rehab program by throwing off the mound during the Instructional League in September, although he did not pitch in any games while at Pirates City.
By all accounts, Burnett should be healthy enough to compete for a rotation spot during Spring Training. However, because he has not pitched in a game since Aug. 21, 2004, the former top prospect will likely be handled with caution by the Pirates. Burnett will likely start next season at Triple-A so that he can work off the rust and regain his command.
Van Benschoten, like Burnett, spent all of last season on the 60-day disabled list. He, too, should be ready to pitch again next spring, but the Pirates do not believe that he is as advanced as Burnett. Van Benschoten must show that he can dominate Triple-A hitters, something he did not do very often in 2004, before he'll be back in the big leagues.
Snell, assuming he is not included in any offseason deals, will be given a chance to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Many scouts project Snell as a reliever, perhaps pigeonholing him because of his small size (5-foot-11, 187 pounds), and the odds are that he'll begin next season working out of the bullpen.

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

Batting Around with Oliver Perez

12/12/2005
MLB.com: Who was your favorite player when you were a kid?
Oliver Perez: Randy Johnson. He pitches aggressively. I like his demeanor in a game. He has the game in control and he's not scared of anybody.
MLB.com: Who has been your biggest influence?
Perez: My family. They gave me an opportunity to leave home when I was 16 years old. I am playing baseball because they gave me the opportunity. I just want to thank them for that.
MLB.com: What's your favorite movie?
Perez: I have always liked "Gladiator" and "Men of Honor."
MLB.com: What are your nicknames?
Perez: In the U.S.A., they call me "Ollie." In Mexico, I am called "Flaco," which means skinny in Spanish. In my family, my sisters call me "Pollo," which means chicken in Spanish, but in Mexico you also call a little boy "Pollo."
MLB.com: What's your favorite ballpark?
Perez: I like PNC Park. It is the best. Every seat is a good spot. The fans are not too high and they can see the game from up close. The city looks nice in the background. It looks really good when we play at night.
MLB.com: What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Perez: When I had to get dressed up for rookie day in San Diego. I had to wear a diaper. That was embarrassing.
MLB.com: What would you be doing if you weren't a baseball player?
Perez: I like all sports, so maybe I would work in schools to coach kids in baseball or basketball.
MLB.com: What is the one question no reporter has ever asked you but you wish that they would?
Perez: "How hard was it to get to the big leagues?" It was hard. I left my family when I was 16 years old and I went to another city where I didn't know anybody. That's not easy. They didn't pay good money. You had to wake up early, work hard and wait until somebody gave you an opportunity.
MLB.com: Who would you most like to meet, past or present?
Perez: That's a good question. I think it would be my father's family, like my grandpa. Everybody tells me that I am tall and look like him. I want to see how they looked.

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

Pirates complete trade for Marte

12/13/2005
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday officially announced the trade of utility man Rob Mackowiak to the Chicago White Sox for left-handed reliever Damaso Marte.
The two teams had reached an agreement on the deal, pending physicals, during the Winter Meetings.
Marte, 30, emerged as one of the top left-handed relievers in the American League after being traded from the Pirates to the White Sox in 2002 for Minor League pitcher Matt Guerrier in 2002. In four seasons with Chicago, Marte was 14-12 with 31 saves and a 2.81 ERA in 279 appearances.
Marte enjoyed another strong season with Chicago in 2005, going 3-4 with a 3.77 ERA and four saves in 66 appearances. However, he showed up late for a game on Sept. 11 and was subsequently suspended for five days.
Along with free agent Roberto Hernandez, who is expected to officially sign a one-year, $2.75 million contract later this week, Marte provides the Pirates with insurance in case Mike Gonzalez struggles as a closer. Gonzalez will enter the 2006 season with four career saves.
"Because Gonzalez has had some limited opportunity as a closer, we feel it's important that we have someone strong around him," said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield. "It gives [Pirates manager] Jim Tracy more weapons to use."
Marte joins Gonzalez and John Grabow as southpaws in the Pittsburgh bullpen, with hard-throwing Minor Leaguer Mike Johnston waiting in the wings. The Pirates could use either Marte or Grabow as trade bait in an attempt to fill their needs at third base or in right field.
"You try to acquire as much of an asset as you can, whether it's to win games and improve depth or to address some of the other needs that we have," said Littlefield.
Marte will earn $2.25 million in 2006, with a club option for $3 million in 2007 and a buyout of $250,000.
Mackowiak, 29, made his Major League debut in 2001 and was one of the longest-tenured Pirates at the time of the trade. In five big-league seasons, Mackowiak batted .258 with 52 home runs and 221 RBIs.
A versatile defensive player, Mackowiak made 50 starts at third base, 44 starts in the outfield and 17 starts at second base in 2005, and batted .272 with nine home runs and 58 RBIs in 142 games overall.
"Rob has been a fine player for us, and he's done a multitude of things," said Littlefield. "And he's a real quality guy. He's a hard-nosed, competitive player who is well liked by everybody. When you have those kinds of guys, they are hard to give up. We just felt like Marte was the kind of talent that made sense for us."

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