MLB: Pirates, Red Sox talking trade again?

GM Neal Huntington wants to open the season with Garrett Jones on his ball club, but following the Francisco Liriano signing that will become official when Liriano passes his physical, Huntington has pressure on him from Team President Frank Coonelly to shed some salary and keep the payroll no higher than $70 million, sources tell Inside Pittsburgh Sports.com.

It has executives around baseball believing the Pirates are determined to move first baseman Garrett Jones and his $4.5 million salary, just like they were determined to move Joel Hanrahan this winter.

The Pirates have been shopping Jones since the Winter Meetings, although the price for Jones has been considered “too high” for a platoon first baseman/outfielder.

However, the sense in MLB circles is the Pirates asking price will be coming down as spring training gets closer.

Speculation going around is that the Pirates, Red Sox have been engaged in preliminary talks about a Jones trade. The Pirates were involved in talks with the Mariners prior to Seattle acquiring Michael Morse.