Latest Buzz from Bradenton
— Free agent signee Scott Olsen is already making some noise for his off-the-field antics and we’re just two days into March.
Olsen who the Pirates are very intrigued about, comes with some baggage which was well noted before the Pirates signed him.
The two prominent concerns for Olsen during his career has been character concerns and a bad work ethic.
Olsen, the front runner for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, showed up to spring training out of shape and has been limited from much of camp due to a hamstring injury. The Pirates are frustrated by that, which prompted GM Neal Huntington on Sunday to say that if Olsen doesn’t return soon from his injury, he could become a candidate for the bullpen.
A potential move to the bullpen didn’t go over well for Olsen.
“They didn’t bring me in here to be a bullpen guy,” Olsen said. “They want to do that, we are going to have to have a conversation, ” Olsen said on Monday, according to the Post-Gazette.
Olsen signed a 1 year deal this off-season with a base salary of $450,000. The deal includes as much as $3 million in performance bonuses, based off games played.
Olsen is battling Charlie Morton for the No. 5 spot. There continues to be an infatuation with Morton inside the organization and Morton is getting a strong look. Morton is scheduled to pitch 3 innings on Thursday.
— There appears to be some good news on the injury front for reliever Joe Beimel. Although Beimel couldn’t make it through his scheduled MRI, Beimel expects to throw on Thursday and the injury isn’t considered serious.
Beimel is slated to be the Pirates lefty setup reliever. The Pirates have no real depth at that spot.
— Ross Ohlendorf gets the start for Pittsburgh today against the Minnesota Twins. Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Lyle Overbay among the regulars in the today’s lineup.