PBC Blog

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

2009-11-20T22:04:00Z

By Chuck Finder | 5:05 p.m.

Facing a midnight deadline tonight to set their 40-man roster, the Pirates late this afternoon announced that they cut loose starter-reliever Jeff Karstens and officially added hard-throwing reliever Ramon Aguero, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez plus starters Brad Lincoln and Bryan Morris to that roster, thus protecting those minor-leaguers from being exposed for other teams to choose in the Rule 5 draft Dec. 10.

In announcing the shuffling, the Pirates designated for assignment Karstens, catcher Robinzon Diaz -- behind Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaromillo on the depth chart and out of minor-league options -- and newly acquired reliever Justin Thomas, leaving them available for other teams to sign. Thomas was claimed off waivers from Seattle three weeks ago.

The move with Karstens, who went 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA last season after being picked up in the Xavier Nady-Damaso Marte trade in July 2008 with the New York Yankees, was a bit of a surprise -- though he likewise was out of minor-league options.

UPDATE 7:12 p.m.: By designating them, the Pirates have 10 days to waive, trade or release Diaz and Thomas. Karstens, who is arbitration eligible, already has been placed on waivers.

Waiving Karstens allowed the Pirates to claim right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle. Jakubauskas, 30, was 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games last season, eight of them starts. He and the four minor-leaguers brought the Pirates to a full, 40-man contingent, meaning they would have to create space to add a minor-leaguer in the Rule 5 draft or a free-agent signee.

Injured reliever Jose Ascanio and recovered reliever Evan Meek, a former Rule 5 selection, were reinstated to the roster from the disabled list, as expected.

The only addition that would be considered mildly shocking was Aguero, signed four years ago as a free agent from the Dominican Republic. Aguero pitched in three levels last season, with Class A West Virginia, advanced Class A Lynchburg and Class AA Altoona, and compiled four saves, a 2-4 record, a 3.86 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 84 innings.

Morris, acquired from Los Angeles as a key cog in the three-team trade sending Jason Bay to Boston and Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers, was suspended for two weeks this summer for berating an umpire and continues to battle injuries through his minor-league career. He went 4-9 with a 5.57 ERA in 15 starts with Lynchburg.

Hernandez, who came from Atlanta in the Nate McLouth trade last June, hit .262 with three homers and 31 RBIs with Altoona. He finished the season with an 11-game hitting streak.

Lincoln, the fourth overall selection in the 2006 draft, went 7-9 with a 3.37 ERA combined in Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis last season. He then helped Team USA win the Baseball World Cup in September.

Among those Pirates prospects left exposed for the Rule 5 draft are second basemen Shelby Ford and Pitt's Jim Negrych.

Light-up Night baseball talk, 11-20-09

2009-11-20T05:40:00Z

Afternoon baseball talk, 11-19-09

2009-11-19T17:40:00Z

Morning baseball talk, 11-19-09

2009-11-19T05:40:00Z

Afternoon baseball talk, 11-18-09

2009-11-18T17:40:00Z

Morning baseball talk, 11-18-09

2009-11-18T05:40:00Z

Pirates add Major League Scout

2009-11-17T22:17:00Z

By Chuck Finder | 5:18 p.m. Tuesday

Steve Williams, 45, left his Kansas City Royals post as assistant director of scouting after three years to become a major-league scout with the Pirates, the club announced this evening. He will assume much the same duties held by special assistants to general manager Neal Huntington, who announced his hiring in a news release.

It's Williams' first time toiling in the National League. Before the Royals, Williams was the Midwest scouting supervisor (2000-01) and East Coast supervisor (2002-06) with the Detroit Tigers. He was an area scout for Minnesota (1988-95) and Toronto (1995-99) prior to that.

Williams, a four-year letterwinner with Clemson's baseball team in the late 1980s, spent the past six years as president of the Buck O'Neil Scouting and Coaches Association.

Afternoon baseball talk, 11-17-09

2009-11-17T17:40:00Z

McCutchen, Jones follow Morris, Benson in Pirates history

2009-11-17T03:50:00Z

By Chuck Finder | 10:50 p.m. Monday

While Florida leadoff hitter Chris Coghlan won the National League Rookie of the Year -- and, if anyone cares, Oakland closer Andrew Bailey on the American League side -- a pair of Pirates became the fifth tandem in club history to finish among the top 10 for the NL honor.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen finished fourth and outfielder-first baseman Garrett Jones seventh in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The 60-year-old award last placed a couple of Pirates in the top 10 a decade ago, when second baseman Warren Morris and starter Kris Benson finished third and fourth behind winner Scott Williamson, Cincinnati's closer, and Florida outfielder Preston Wilson.

McCutchen, 23, named Baseball America's Major-League rookie of the year, batted .286 with 12 home runs, 54 RBIs and 22 steals in 108 games. His 47 extra-base hits topped all NL rookies. He ranked second in runs, walks, total bases and multi-hit games, third in RBIs, steals and slugging percentage.

Jones, 28, batted .293 with 21 homers, as many doubles and 44 RBIs in 82 games. He led NL rookies in homers while becoming the fastest Pirate to hit 10 homers (his first 19 games) and a club setting a club rookie record for homers by a left-handed batter. His .372 on-base percentage was second among rookies, his average third, his RBIs sixth.

Afternoon baseball talk, 11-16-09

2009-11-16T17:40:00Z