Huntington: Lincoln a candidate to make MLB Debut on Wednesday; Bucs considering 3 players at No. 2

Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington said on his Sunday radio show that pitcher Brad Lincoln is a candidate to make his MLB debut Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals.

Ross Ohlendorf will start today for the Pirates followed by Dana Eveland Monday afternoon and Jeff Karstens Tuesday night. Zach Duke for the moment is scheduled to start Wednesday night.

Just last week, Huntington said Lincoln has a “ways to go” when it came to the former 1st round pick being MLB ready.

Lincoln is 6-2 on the season with a 3.16 ERA.

*Huntington spoke breifly about Aki Iwamura and says Iawamura has been a “head scratcher”. Huntington who acquired Iwamura with at least some thought of signing him long-term, says that an extension is no longer considered.

The Pirates select No. 2 overall in Monday’s MLB draft and Huntington claimed that the Pirates are considering three players with the No. 2 overall pick. Shortstop Manny Machado, pitcher Jameson Taillon and a “college arm”

The college pitcher is believed to be Drew Pomeranz. The Pirates have also expressed significant interest in college pitchers Chris Sale and Anthony Ranaudo this spring when he came to their evaluations surrounding the No. 2 pick.

Huntington said the Pirates will take the highest rated player on the board and that player is believed to be Manny Machado.

Huntington said the Pirates won’t stay away from Machado because he is a Scott Boras client and called Bryce Harper, Machado and Taillon the upper echelon group of prospects in this years draft.

The consensus around the industry is that Taillon will be much harder to sign than Machado.

Taillon is represented by the Hendrick brothers who are very tough to deal with and Taillon has not ruled out going to Rice University. Advisors in his family are believed to be pushing for him to go to school.

Huntington talked at length about the risk of drafting a high school pitcher furthering speculation that Taillon won’t be the selection.