Market picking up for Freddy Sanchez
The San Francisco Giants are regarded as a great fit for Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez but the Giants have some conpany in their pursuit of Sanchez. An NL Central team and two AL teams have recently held trade discussions with the Pirates about Sanchez.
Can’t fault fans for thinking offer to Sanchez is a “PR” move
After “pushing hard” to trade Freddy Sanchez early this month, the Pirates have publically changed their stance and have indicated they are making an attempt to re-sign second baseman Freddy Sanchez and shortstop Jack Wilson. On pace for a 71-91 season, which would become their 17 straight losing season, the Pirates are a public relations nightmare. The timing to go public about re-signing Sanchez and Wilson is odd as the trade deadline is less than three weeks away and both players have been actively shopped for months. If they wanted to make a strong attempt to re-sign both players, why not start working on an extension in June instead of mid-July and why go public with their intentions right before
MLB: Report: Pirates offer Sanchez, Wilson extensions
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, the Pittsburgh Pirates have offered Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson multi-year extensions. Both players have been actively shopped but with no market for Wilson out there and no immediate player to step in, the Pirates are interested in signing Wilson (Current Salary: $7.4 million) to a muti-year deal at a lower salary than what he is making now. According to the report, both players may be a packaged signing as Wilson, Sanchez are close friends. The Pirates appear to be more interested in signing Sanchez now than they were a month ago because potential trade partners are not big fans of
Cubs, Twins, Giants among teams in pursuit of Freddy Sanchez
With the MLB trade deadline 24 days away, the Pirates are open to offers for All-Star second baseman Freddy Sanchez who is less than 271 atbats from receiving an $8 million option for the 2010 season. The two teams in strongest pursuit of Sanchez are the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants. The Pirates have held a number of discussions with both teams but the team to watch are the Chicago Cubs. With the Cubs ownership sale almost finalized, the Cubs are now in position to move on Sanchez. The prospect the Pirates have their eye on in the Cubs organization is pitcher
Pirates Weekly Report: Huntington starting to develop a plan for the future?
5/31 – 6/7 (Record: 3-4) The Trade of Nate McLouth showed Pirates fans and Major League Baseball that Pirates GM Neal Huntington is a risk taker. The trade sent shockwaves through the Pirates fan base and the reception of the trade has been aboout 90% negative. Huntington knew the trade of McLouth wouldn’t go over easy with fans but whether you agree with the trade or not, at least Huntington is starting to develop a model of how he wants to construct his team in the future. Buster Olney reported this week that he heard the Pirates were concerned about Nate McLouth’s defensive abilities, so they moved him now before his trade value diminished. Based on Neal Huntington’s comments that
MLB: Cubs pursuit of Sanchez on hold? Rays sitting tight for now?
The trade of Nate McLouth has sparked talk that Freddy Sanchez could be the next big name on the move as the trade deadline is less than two months away. Read more for the latest.
Lack of run support has negated improvements in other areas
By Paul Ladewski CHICAGO – Leave it to home plate umpire Mark Carlson to do what the Pirates haven’t done often enough this season. Actually knock an opponent pitcher out of the box. But not even the ejection of Chicago Cubs hot head Carlos Zambrano was enough to shake the Pirates out of their latest funk in a 5-2 setback at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon. Throw out a rare 10-run outburst in the series opener two nights earlier, and the Pirates scored 13 runs in their last seven games. “We’ve been there the last few years,” said firstbaseman Adam LaRoche, who had one of the eight singles that his team totaled for the day. “It’s just one of those
Sanchez goes 6-for-6; Pirates beat Cubs 10-8
By Paul Ladewski CHICAGO – Their kind of town, Chicago isn’t. But if ever there was a time for the Pirates for warm up to the Windy City, then the series opener against the Cubs on Monday night appeared to be it. The Cubs returned from a winless road trip in which they scored a total of five runs in six games. And they were without first baseman Derrek Lee (flu), pitcher Carlos Marmol (maternity leave), third baseman Aramis Ramirez (dislocated shoulder) and infielder Bobby Scales (flu) because of various health reasons. So even though the Pirates didn’t display their A game in a wacky 10-8 victory at Wrigley Field, they weren’t about to throw it back into Lake Michigan,
Pirates to consider using McCutchen in RF?
The Latest Pirates Buzz The Pirates struggles in Milwaukee continue as the Brewers beat the Pirates 10-5 Monday night. The Pirates rallied to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the 8th inning but the Pirates bullpen imploded, surrendering 5 runs. The Pirates are 11-8 through 19 games. Moss batting .216 on the season. With Nyjer Morgan among the Pirates top hitters this season, there is some talk that the Pirates have had internal discussions about using Andrew McCutchen in right field and going with an outfield of Morgan – McLouth – McCutchen, when the Pirates decide to call up McCutchen. The Pirates will stick with right fielder Brandon Moss for the time being as the Pirates have
Surging Pirates beat Marlins 3-2
Pirates improve to 8-6 and confidence is building in the clubhouse 5th starter Jeff Karstens pitched 6 strong innings, allowing one run and three hits as the surging Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6) beat the Florida Marlins 3-2 Tuesday night at PNC Park. Karstens, the Pirates pitching staff are owners of the top ERA (3.00) in the majors after finishing with an NL-worst 5.10 ERA in 2008. “A lot of people doubted us, but we all believe in ourselves and we all believe in each other,” Karstens said. ‚ÄúEnough can’t be said for Joe Kerrigan, we’re more prepared than any team in the league.” Freddy Sanchez led the Pirates offensively with three hits on the night including a solo homerun in the