Karstens, Diaz out; Aguero, others added to 40-man

So our 2010 roster looks to be more of the same dreck that we saw the last half of 2009. Unless the Pirates outright some more people in the next 3 weeks. Fun.

Few surprises there, Karstens and why claim Thomas just to release him?

He must have been antsy that day.

So they cut Karstens to pick up essentially the same ERA? But I guess he throws harder, so... hmm. And Diaz, who's been tearing it up in winter ball? I figured him for trade bait at some point. Interesting.

Who will back up Jaramillo when Doumit gets hurt?

Most teams are maxing out their rosters right now, so there's a good chance Thomas will clear waivers.  He could then be outrighted to AAA, assuming he hasn't been outrighted before.

I'd guess that the roster will still change a lot between now and April.  Today was the deadline for protecting players from the Rule 5 draft.  There's no deadline for dropping players.  There'll be more players cut as they make other moves.

Evening mates, good tidings to all, Lighten up night was most appropriate.

Am surprised about Diaz being dropped, same with the lefty from Seattle, a bit less, not at all about Kartsens, he was eligible for arbitration and had that blip at the end of the year, that seemed fishy

One more thought on the DK attack/insult and then I'll go back and hide.

I remember writers like Livingston, in fact he lived near me, and Charlie Feeney, they were outstanding.  I remember I couldn't wait for the Press to come, we had two papers in town back then, the Press was an afternoon paper, and just devour with my eyes every word they had to say.  Insightful, informative, accurate, they helped draw me into this baseball asylum (well reinforce my addiction).  You could tell they enjoyed the job and put their hearts into it, not to mention their livers while killing nights on the road.

I'm gonna tell you, from my perspective, DK is in the same mold.  The same breed, only replace alcohol with coffee.  

When I first started reading him, I thought, oh shoot, this guy isn't long for the Burgh, he's so talented, so good, he'll soon be moving onward.  Then I found out more, he's from here, he has the same passion for the area I have, and much better at describing it.

I would say that the insinuation that DK is anything less than the consumate professional writer is one of the most ridiculous, sad and totally irresponsible posts I've ever seen on this site.  What arrogance.

Yup,, everyone has the right to have an opinion and to share it, but overall credibility shrinks with a statement like that.

Trust me, we are very lucky to have DK telling us what the what is.

For now anyways, I'm using the page down button whenever I see the poster.

Juniata Kid...some backup catcher from Seattle's organization will back up Jaramillo. And if we don't have one from Seattle...I'm sure we'll pick one up from Seattle on waivers...just like we do their pitchers.

This proves once again that I am not always on the same page as the FO. The Thomas thing surprises me as we keep talking about how we need lefty relievers and we just acquired him. I thought Diaz would be a nice trade chip if he didn't make the team out of spring training. And I'm not sure that Jakubauskas is much of an improvement over Karstens (though I do recognize that Karstens is out of options and I believe is arbitration eligible). I think I would have let go of Claggett and Bixler. I think that with Cedeno, Iwamura, Vasquez and Cruz, we've got plenty of mediocre talent in the middle of our infield.

Right now, the third catcher on the depth chart is Erik Kratz, a veteran who had a good year last year at Indianapolis.

@ Cajun...

... and then release him three weeks later.

Glad to see some people that made the Pirates so awful being let go. Now if Nutting would follow Karstens then I'd really be happy. Karstens was inconsistent and everyone else let go was below average.

I thought they were good moves. Karstens was inconsistent and everyone else was below average. Glad to get rid of players that made us so awful. Hope Huntington releases Nutting next. Then I will really have reason to cheer. Although the release of Karstens is making the Nady trade not as nice as it was looking originally.

@ Mizery

I don't think anyone is particularly sad to see these guys go, but I think many of us expected other (perhaps even less useful) pieces to go instead.

Claggett already got cut, didn't he?

And don't forget, if we sign anyone, and I know thats down the road, spots will have to be cleared.

It is interesting, we make a trade with an organization and then we are at their dumpster, diving, first the Yankees, now the Mariners.

Picking and cutting, we did that with some pitcher late in the year, then he got claimed by Oakland.

Shows how deep (not) our 40 man is

Claggett is still on the 40-man roster. Here's the link to the full roster.

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../roster_40man.jsp

Karstens was inconsistent

Since no ML tomm here is Bucco fans take

www.buccofans.com/.../40-man-roster-is-set.html

Actually, that list is not fully updated yet, but you'll still notice that Claggett is on it. I forgot about Argenis Diaz. That's even more reason to dump Bixler, IMO.

Here's a better list, fully updated, for those interested.

www.buccofans.com/.../2010-pittsburgh-pirates-40-man-roster.html

Thanks, JAL

I didn't realize that Jakubauskas was not yet arbitration eligible. His age fooled me. I just read somewhere that he played independent ball for about 4 years.

Don't know if it has been posted here yet, but Grabow resigned with the Cubs.  2 years - $7.5M.

Good luck Johnny!

bucco

Bucco Fans does a good job of keeeping the roster updated with relevant info.

Robinzon should be scooped up quickly.  Hard to fathom letting him go for zippo.

I don't get keeping Bix and Pearce, but DFA'ing Karstens and Diaz.  Karstens was irratic as a starter, but he was better out of the pen.  

The let the wrong Diaz go.... Argenis is a great glove, never hit. There is no way a team like the Pirates should carry a guy who won't hit .200 in the majors on their roster

Dmac- Preaching to the choir.  The only reason I could see that is maybe someone wanted Bixler or Pearce, but to put on the 40 two guys who will get picked up is bizarre.  Karstens is a good long man.  

Maybe, as usual, there is another move?  I did like what I saw out of Jaku, but NOT AS A STARTER.  One time thru the lineup only.  

I think the Pirates picked him in part to annoy BK.  Jaku is a hard name to spell.  

I think I'm going to go with CJak or something for PBP.  That's way too long of a name to spell very often. :-)

And it won't make BK any happier to have Ford unprotected...those moves I don't understand either.  

I don't get keeping Bix and Pearce, but DFA'ing Karstens and Diaz.

 Me either.In fact my head is getting scratched like a flea covered dog.And to think I couldn't figure out why the regime kept JR either.I'm thinking somebody flipped a two-headed coin belonging to Ramon Aguero. :-)

I do wonder if there will be any interest in Ford or Negrych in the Rule 5 draft. It's not like we have a lot of 2B talent in the upper minors. I'm not surprised they weren't protected but I wonder if NH is holding his breath hoping that both of them don't get selected.

I just saw that Laynce Nix has chosen free agency rather than report to AAA for the Reds. He's bounced around a lot, but has always shown flashes of serious power. It would not surprise me if NH gave his agent a call to inquire about a price tag.

Not sure why Bix wasn't DFA'd and Diaz was. Diaz can at least hit some and they (the PBC) made a big production out of playing Diaz at various positions at AAA so his bat could be gotten into the lineup.

In re:Hostagegate. I respect DK's work. Always have. While I have expressed a desire to see more of this or that sort of article I understand that everyone has preferences and you have to write for a wide audience. It can't be easy to strike a balance.

I agree that Hostage was over the line here today. I appreciate Hostage's passion for the game and the PBC, but I think that it clouded his judgment on this.

Of course, I am not perfect either, otherwise I would have run for God last year - you will likely never see my name on THAT ballot, for sure!

Jose

Busy Pirates fill up 40-man roster

mlb.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

Here is one for the stat geeks to research about these roster moves that seem a bit odd.  Are any of these guys those guys who were referred to as objecting to winter assignments or requests ?

how about jakas

how about kubs

if you do not mind talking, how about,   got your back

"otherwise I would have run for God last year"

God has a term limit?

Umm, No, JJ on Jakas...not for PBP at least.

Remember these guys are not gone yet. They could be hoping that some make it through waivers and then assign them to AAA. They did that with Burnett and it worked out okay.

Jose

Maybe Bixler is tricking them by hitting .300 this winter :)  Who knows.  

There goes my theory that Jaramillo would get traded for major league goods and Diaz would back up Doumit on that day off.

Karsents, hmm.

Bixler... hmmm.

Pearce... hmmm.

I need to ponder this more. I just got done typing up federal drug charges on a busted ring and I'm not in the right frame of mind to ponder what this could mean.

Patience.  Prudence.  Pittsburgh Pirates.  

buccoforlife - if Nix comes aboard someday, I can just hear Greg Brown now, and the sayings he'll come up with when he launches them from plate to river.

Really hard to criticise these moves right now without knowing the bigger picture. Surely the Bucs have other things in mind with each move they make. Yes, Karstens and Diaz are a bit of a shock, but are there alternatives out there to replace them? Who knows what Huntington has up his sleeve? We just have to wait to see what the plan is.....

I'm guessing that maybe Bix has seen Nuttings books and is promising  to keep quiet . lol

Given the "tension," for lack of a better word, on the Blog the last few days, maybe this inspirational passage will lighten the mood:

"First they came for ...." No wait.  How about:

"According to Stalin ...." Okay, maybe this is better:

"Mao says ...."  Alright, let's go with:

Opening Day is 136 days away.  Pirates 2010- Schedule the Parade.

P.S. Only a joke Blog People.  Trying to get everybody in the "spirit" of Thanksgiving.  

<,Opening Day is 136 days away.  Pirates 2010- Schedule the Parade.>>

Attababy!

Price increase for PirateFest 2010.

12 bucks for adults (up 2 bucks)

and kids are charged 4 bucks.  they were free with an adult admission last year.  up to 3 kids free per adult ticket if I remember correctly.  Maybe there was too much abuse with that and it wont be so packed on Sunday now since the prices went up.  I say good move!!

First post since the season ended so hope all is well with everyone.  Promo schedule is posted on the Pirates website as well if you go to the season ticket purchase page or just follow this link.  I couldn't stay away since no one in the media has apparently been clued in to this information that is available for all to see.  STH have had the info for awhile, but I know the promo list is something that others like to know about as soon as it is available.

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../full_season.jsp

Happy Thanksgiving!

by the way, when you get there, click on the show/hide games below tab.

Go Bucs!

I think Bix and Peace are the type of players that have driven coaches and managers crazy and or to the unemployment line for years. They look so good in AA and AAA that a manager keeps convincing himself there is something there and HE is the one to get them to perform at the ML level

Pirates have "stacked" their 40-man roster with 4, count em, 4 left handed pitchers (Duke, Maholm, Veal, Dumatrait).  I 'll bet no other team has more LHPs than we do.  

I thought Dumatrait would be dropped.You never can tell.

Wow!  Exciting!  I liked Karstens but hey... I want to see the Pirates win.  Period.  Karstens is a stand-up guy.  Met him in Pittsburgh.  Very polite to me and my father.

I just got the final Topps Pirates base baseball cards for the year.  Even though we had that terrible... REALLY TERRIBLE... losing streak, it was great to see cards of Lastings, Hanrahan, Cedeno, DY, and a great card of Jones.  So even though we had that losing streak... I feel better seeing those cards in the set compared to what we had at the beginning of the season.  I just do.

Maz

So far Karstens has shown more than Dumatrait.

@ JAL: either that or Bix has the negatives from last year's Christmas Party...

triple G,

my 8 year old is working on that set.  he has 98 of the 330 cards.  they have Lastings, Joel, and Zack Duke so far.  Of course we want the Cutch rookie card so hopefully we get that one soon.  Im so glad both of my boys love baseball cards.  they like those better than toys.  anything baseball they love which is awesome.   have a good night!

JAL-But Karstens is not a lefty.Also that downward plane thingy too

bucsfancents80 - I have some extras.  What do your boys  need?  I'm holding an extra Cedeno, Hanrahan, Duke All-Star, Hart, and Freddy Sanches All-Star.  Let me know what he needs.

I am a little surprised at Karstens being dropped as he seemed to have become pegged as the Starter early hook innings eater to save the rest of the bullpen insurance policy pitcher.  Who fills that critical role now?  Another void to be filled.  

Jose

Good point--he may have something on  someone :)

POH- The old Pirate Parrott just set the 40 man.  I would have allowed the reliever we received from the Cubs, Dumtrait.  

THE WHOLE POINT OF THE RULE 5 IS TO PROTECT GUYS THAT WOULD BE TAKEN.  

Now, maybe Diaz asked for his release, but I'd rather have Karstens as a long man, innings eater than some of the other dreck.

Also, bootcheck to pitch in Japan.

I was hoping to see Jeremy "Ker" Powell in the burgh this season vs just sitting at Indy.  

Just read the story on the Bucs web site.  NH said he thinks Diaz will sign on with someone else.  He didn't like being third behind Doumit and JJarimillo.   "We welcome him back, but the reality is that he was frustrated at times this year as guys passed him by," Huntington said. "It's our anticipation that he would sign elsewhere."

NH said that if Karstens clears waivers they would look to try and trade him.  ( I don't understand why they wouldn't invite him to Spring Training and let him try to make the team again. They must not like something. I don't really think it has much to do with the fact that he doesn't have any options left.  He's been on the big league team for the past year and a half)

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

night links

Mariners lose Chris Jakubauskas to Pirates

seattletimes.nwsource.com/.../2010319902_mariners_lose_chris_jakubauska.html

Pirates claim Jakubauskas off waivers from Mariners

blog.seattlepi.com/.../185869.asp

The Current State of Baseball Economics

firebrandal.com/.../the-current-state-of-baseball-economics.html

I don't like these moves one bit.  I can see Karstens putting it all together one day, and making the PBC look stupid in hindsight.  Same with Diaz (although I think he'll probably always be too much of a free-swinger to be really good).  Oh well...  hope it pans out.

If I remember correctly, Karstens is a "super-two"-- whatever the heck that means.  Could that have factored into the decision?  I'm not trying to pick an argument here.  I don't really understand what a super two is and I'm too lazy to look it up and then try and figure out the consequences for the PBC.  If anyone else is feeling that ambitious, have at it.

Off now  Good night to all and to all a good night.  Back Sunday afternoon.

Steve

A Super 2 is a player from the baseball rules

A: A player with three or more years of service, but less than six years, may file for salary arbitration. In addition, a player can be classified as a "Super Two" and be eligible for arbitration with less than three years of service. A player with at least two but less than three years of Major League service shall be eligible for salary arbitration if he has accumulated at least 86 days of service during the immediately preceding season and he ranks in the top 17 percent in total service in the class of Players who have at least two but less than three years of Major League service, however accumulated, but with at least 86 days of service accumulated during the immediately preceding season.

He had a 7.32 ERA and 1.72 WHIP after the All-Star Game.  He is now 27, when is this big day supposed to come?

I'll miss karsties- I agree he looked like a solid long relief man. and diaz will help someone. meantime, don't sell that bixler jersey on ebay just yet...

Dissapointed to see Karsten's go. surprised about diaz, there goes any theory  about trading, or moving Ryan. Still don't want Bixler, and don't understand Pearce either.

Honestly, I'd much rather see Jaramillo as the backup than Diaz. Jaramillo is a switch-hitter who demonstrated more consistency at the plate than Diaz - not to mention more patience. And I think he handled the pitchers better and has a much better arm ... actually I think his arm is better than Doumit's

I think it was Cave who said he hated to see Diaz go for "zippo." I think that's pretty much what we got him for ... player to be named later in the Jose Bautista trade.

Karstens ... I was as shocked as anyone else but you have to remember what Huntington's been saying about relievers ... you rarely see them repeat their success the next year, and though he looked good in stretches, he wasn't exactly lights out.

Somebody mentioned Dumatrait ... that's one I don't understand. I figure he's gotta be feeling pretty lucky about now ... then again, maybe they figure he's got better stuff than Karstens if he gets straightened out.

Bixler? The only thing I can figure is that at this point they have to have a backup for Cedeno at shortstop ... could this mean curtains for Ramon Vazquez?

I would think not repeating that kind of "success" would be a good thing.

I wonder if the Brewers would be interested in Karstens? :-)  He could tell them all of Dave Kerwin's secrets.

T-crack...Cryin' Ryan would throw a tantrum.  ;-)

I hate to see either guy leave for nothing at this point but there gotta be reasons it's them and not someone else.  Very possible both woulda been gone at the end of ST anyway.

Maybe there has been some discussion/interest from other teams in the other guys (Bix, ADiaz, Dumatrait) as throwins to complete a possible trade down the line.

Or most likely in my opinion, they believe Dumatrait may return better than ever, they're not ready to give up on Bix because of what he's doing out west and they believe that ADiaz will be a very good bench MI because of his A+ defense.

Now Clagett, I have no idea about him.....

LLOYD

Bucs make flurry of roster moves on Friday

bucsbits.mlblogs.com/.../bucs_make_flurry_of_roster_mov.html

I like Jen Langosch's avatar in BaseballFan's blog link ... looks like a sweetie!

I think the fact that Karstens could go to arbitration had something to do with this. And with the insanity of arbitration, I don't blame the team on that end.  But I hope this means Dumatrait is healthy.  

And this is just my opinion, but it would seem easier for a team to find a back up infielder than it would be a decent relief pitcher who is semi reliable.  So why not leave Bixler or Cruz off and keep Karstens on the roster?

Because he wasn't reliable and didn't average a strikeout per two innings pitched.

And he was set for arbitration.

I really don't understand dropping Robinzon.  Karstens, yes.  He wasn't any good.

But in reality, the Pirates need a lot more talent at the top of the roster.  None of these guys are going to be world beaters.  At least, that's what Neal is hoping.