Winter Meetings Buzz II: Pirates interested in lefty reliever Manny Parra; Hurdle pushing hard to retain Grilli

The Pirates brass has a number of non-tendered starting pitchers they are mulling and the team is also looking to bring in a veteran lefty reliever to compete for a roster spot in spring training, in addition to keeping tabs on set-up man Jason Grilli and others.

Per Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Pirates have shown interest in former Brewers reliever Manny Parra who was non-tendered last week.

Parra, 30, made $1.2 million last season and went 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA in 58 2/3 innings. Parra had a 61/35 K/BB ratio in 2012. Parra is a former starter and started 29 games in 2008, 27 games in 2009 and 16 games in 2010, going a combined 24-29. Parra did not pitch in the Majors in 2011. Parra’s best year was 2008,  when he was 10-8 with a 4.39 ERA in 32 appearances. His ERA though jumped to 6.36 in 2009 and he had a 6.19 ERA as a starter in 2010 before the Brewers moved Parra to the bullpen.

How the Pirates bullpen shakes up this winter remains to be seen as the Pirates would like to move Joel Hanrahan in the right deal and the team has made a one year offer to reliever Jason Grilli worth around $2.5 million, which is not expected to be enough to get a deal done. However, the team hasn’t ruled out going two years as manager Clint Hurdle is pushing hard to retain Grilli we’re told. Hurdle and Huntington met with Grilli’s agent Gary Sheffield on Monday and the two sides expect to remain in touch.

Sheffield is said to be confident of landing Grilli a 2 year deal worth $6-$7 million. Grilli has four offers on the table with as many as six teams showing interest. Known teams out there said to have interest include the Red Sox, Brewers, Giants and Cubs. At least two teams have indicated to Sheffield that Grilli will be given an opportunity to win a closers role. The Pirates though seem to feel that because Grilli has been so gracious with the opportunity  Pittsburgh gave him, he will give them the last chance to match any offer.