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Follow @mlbreportsSunday, May. 12/2013
What 3 current Pirates players can be traced back to Ricardo Rincon? Read this article and you will find out how all of the players have arrived in a Bucs uniform – and we dissected the Pirates brass for each move.
By Brad Cuprik (Pirates Correspondent) Follow @bradcuprik and Chuck Booth (MLB Reports Owner/Lead Analyst Follow @chuckbooth3024
Neil Huntington has done a great job assembling this Pirates team – and has spun some great trades in order to see his club actually be competitive over the last few years.
At the MLB Reports, we intend to show you the Roster Tree for the Bucs – and how they assembled their current rosters. It will work in a six degrees of separation like format.
Once we figure out the origin of how many trades going back in time it takes to see where the tree started, it will be time to dissect how the team fared on the deals.
If a player has never left the organization at all, the tree will be easy – as it will just be the year they were drafted.
Neal Huntington was named General Manager by the Pirates in 2007 and has yet to produce a winning season. However his Trade and Draft History have definitely helped the club make strides towards respectability. While the Draft Record hasn’t been stellar – their recent Roster moves have been pretty good.
Pitcher: 2013 Year with W-L ERA and any other significant stat These players are currently on the Pirates Depth Chart!
Starters:
PITTSBURGH PIRATES Roster Tree – Pitchers:
RHP A.J. Burnett – Acquired from the Yankees on February 19, 2012 for RHP Diego Moreno (Signed as an International Free Agent in 2007) and OF Exicardo Cayones (Signed as an International Free Agent in 2009).
Verdict. this has been a great deal for the Pittsburgh team. The 36 Year Old from Little Rock, AR – is now 19 – 13 with a 3.33 ERA in his Pirates Career. Burnett has fanned 246 hitters in 251.1 IP. He has given the club a #1 Starter.
It only cost the club $13 MIL over 2 years from the New York Yankees, with the Bronx Bombers eating the other $18.5 MIL.
Diego Moreno has yet to play for the New York Yankees. Exicardo Cayones only has played for the Staten Island Yankees so far – and has yet to play this year of 2013.
RHP James McDonald – Acquired from the Dodgers with OF Andrew Lambo, on July 31, 2010 for RHP Octavio Dotel (Signed as a Free Agent on January 20, 2010).
Verdict: The Pirates lost a player that only appeared in 19 Games for the Dodgers – and has played for 13 different MLB Teams – for a player that thrown 435.1 IP for your franchise (27 – 24 with a 4.21 ERA) – and is not eligible for Free Agency until 2016.
Andrew Lambo is doing pretty good in Altoona this year – with a .302/.359/.894 3 Slash Line – among 7 HRs and 25 RBI thus far. I would say Huntington and Co. would do this deal all over again.
LHP Jeff Locke – Acquired from the Braves with OF Gorkys Hernandez and RHP Charlie Morton, on June 3, 2009 for OF Nate McLouth (Drafted by the Pirates in 25th Round of 2000 Draft)
Talking about a no – brainer at all. Locke is 3 – 1, with a 2.95 ERA in 7 GS this year – and is supposed to be a key cog in the Starting Rotation for a long time.
Gorkys Hernandez was used in a trade to acquire Gaby Sanchez. He is hitting brutally with the AAA team of the Marlins thus far.
Another player ( Kyle Kaminska ) was acquired with Gaby Sanchez – but now is with the Red Sox – after being traded for Zach Stewart.
Zack Stewart was Designated for Assignment and caught on with the White Sox. The Pirates also lost a pick to the 2013 Marlins for the Sanchez trade.
Sanchez looks good this year at 1B – hitting for a 3 Slash Line of .255/.358/.871 – with 4 HRs and 16 RBI in just 62 AB. Even better is his 1.166 OPS versus LHP – and is a formidable tandem with Garrett Jones for a platoon on a good team.
Charlie Morton has been a fixture in the Starting Staff since his arrival. The RHP posted a 10 – 10 Record in 2012, with a respectable 3.83 ERA.
McLouth was never the same player in Atlanta as he was in Pittsburgh. He battled injuries. The man even came back for another stint with the Pirates as a Free Agent in 2012 – before being released. He has since moved on to be decent player for the Orioles.
The bottom line is this chain of events has netted the Bucs, Morton, Locke and Sanchez for a bad McLouth, and a Draft compensatory pick. Absolute steal of a deal.
LHP Wandy Rodriguez – Acquired from the Astros on July 24, 2012 for LHP Colton Cain (Drafted by the Pirates in 8th Round of 2009 Draft), OF Robbie Grossman (Drafted by the Pirates in 6th Round of 2008 Draft), and LHP Rudy Owens (Drafted by the Pirates in 28th Round of 2006 Draft)
Verdict: Rodriguez is 8 – 6, with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.202 WHIP to date with Pittsburgh. While it is too early to tell with the other players all being part of Houston’s future still yet to be determined. Rodriguez is having half of his salary be paid by the Astros – so having the veteran LHP for the Pirates is a deal at $5.5 MIL this year.
At the end of the year, Rodriguez has a Player Option for $13 MIL with the Bucs – or he can opt for Free Agency.
So far this is a good pickup for Pittsburgh.
Grossman has hit .194 for the Astros in 64 AB. Cain has a 8.59 ERA for Quad Cities of Single A Ball for Houston and Owens has started 3 games for Oklahoma of the PCL League. Lets take another look at this trade in a few years.
RHP Jeanmar Gomez – Acquired from the Indians on January 9, 2013 for OF Quincy Latimore (Drafted by the Pirates in 4th Round of 2007 Draft)
Verdict: Gomez has sprung into the SP Rotation ever since the club rid themselves of Jonathan Sanchez . He is 2 – 0 – with a 2.38 ERA 22.2 IP so far.
Quincy Latimore is playing in AA Akron for the Cleveland Indians – and has put up decent power numbers. It is too early to call this one – however instantly the Bucs have their player at the MLB level.
LHP Tony Watson – Drafted by the Pirates in 9th Round of 2007 Draft. 2013 Stats: 1 – 1 with a 5.60 ERA, 17 SO in 17.2 IP.
LHP Justin Wilson – Drafted by the Pirates in 5th Round of 2008 Draft. 2013 Stats: 2 – 0 with a miniscule 1.23 ERA in 22 IP.
RHP Bryan Morris – was part of the 4 – 1 deal in which the Bucs acquired 4 players for Jason Bay. (see below). 2013 Stats: 1 – 1, 3.72 ERA in Relief.
LHP Francisco Liriano – Signed as a Free Agent before 2013. Liriano looked great in his Pirates debut – winning the only start he has had – giving up 1 ER in 5.1 IP. Suddenly, his $1 MIL salary in 2013 looks pretty good.
RHP Jose Contreras. Signed as a Free Agent in 2013. 2013 Stats: 3 Games and a 9.00 ERA in 2 IP.
RHP Mark Melancon – Acquired from the Red Sox with RHP Stolmy Pimentel, IF Ivan De Jesus and 1B/OF Jerry Sands, on December 26, 2012 for RHP Joel Hanrahan [Acquired from the Nationals with OF Lastings Milledge, on June 30, 2009 for LHP Sean Burnett (Drafted by the Pirates in 1st Round of 2000 Draft) and OF Nyjer Morgan (Drafted by Pirates in the 33rd Round of 2002 Draft) ] and IF Brock Holt (Drafted by the Pirates in 9th Round of 2009 Draft).
Nyjer Morgan was okay for one year in Washington before being traded to Milwaukee. He is currently batting .215 with Yokohama of the Japan Central League. He is T – Plush in Japan!
Lastings Milledge is with Nyjer in the JPCL and has shown steady power there since 2012. Milledge actually wasn’t a train wreck with the Bucs statistically – carrying a .282/.332/718 Slash Line in 599 AB with the franchise. He was just a mental case.
Mark Melancon has been lights out good for the club in 2o13 – with a 0.50 ERA in 18 IP. He has fanned 18 batters – and has yet to yield a Walk either – sporting an overall WHIP of 0.611.
Ivan De Jesus is still in the Minors – hitting well and playing Infield.
Stolmy Pimentel is flame throwing down in Altoona, with a 1.99 ERA in 7 GS – and may see some duty with the big club this season.
Jerry Sands has struggled with AA Indianapolis in 2013 (.459 OPS in 106 AB).
Brock Holt is the lone representative left for the Hanrahan trade for the BoSox. He has not done well this campaign in Pawtucket. He has a .463 OPS in 91 AB.
This one is to be concluded still – but with Holt versus the other 4 – it looks extremely one sided.
Nyjer Morgan turned into 2 great Seasons from Hanrahan – which led to the Melancon trade – and Hanrahan is now out for the year. Milledge and Morgan are a wash out . Sean Burnett was never the same equal as a Nats setup guy – compared to how good Hanrahan was with Pittsburgh.
The Bucs look great with the Melancon just for Hanrahan (impending FA as well – and now gone until 2014 with injury = bust for Boston).
So this deal is Brock Holt, Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett for Mark Melancon, a couple of great Hanrahan years, and the 3 players (De Jesus, Pimentel and Jerry Sands). Good job Buc Management!
RHP Vin Mazzaro – was acquired along with Clint Robinson for Luis Rico and Luis Santos via the Royals This one is a little early to call with all players in the Minors except for Mazzaro. His 2013 MLB Stats: a 3.86 ERA in 11 Appearances and 11.2 IP.
RHP Jared Hughes – Drafted by the Pirates in 4th Round of 2006 Draft. 2013 Stats: 2013 Stats 1 -1 – with a 4.63 ERA in 13 Games.
RHP Jason Grilli – Signed as a Free Agent on July 11, 2011. Read Picture Caption below.
RHP Jeff Karstens – Acquired from the Yankees with RHP Daniel McCutchen, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, and OF Jose Tabata, on July 26, 2008, for LHP Damaso Marte.
Karstens was 14 – 13 in his 2011 and 2013 years combined with a MID 3.00 ERA. He has not pitched yet in 2013 – and is on the Disabled List with a strained Right shoulder.
Marte was Acquired from the White Sox on December 13, 2005, for OF Rob Mackowiak (Drafted by the Pirates in 53rd Round of 1996 Draft).and OF Xavier Nady (Acquired from the Mets on July 13, 2006, for RHP Roberto Hernandez (Signed as a Free Agent on December 15, 2005) and LHP Oliver Perez.
Perez was acquired from the Padres – with OF Jason Bay and LHP Cory Stewart (never made the club), on August 26, 2003, for OF Brian Giles (Acquired from the Indians on November 18, 1998, for LHP Ricardo Rincon (Purchased from the Mexico City Reds on March 30, 1997).
Roberto Hernandez pitched in 22 Games for the Mets (3.48 ERA) – and was part of their 2006 NLCS series. He retired after 2007.
Damaso Marte helped the New York Yankees win a World Series before he retired.
Daniel McCutchen was a key member of Pittsburgh’s Relief Core in 2011 , appearing in 73 Games, logging 84.2 IP – and having a 3.72 ERA. He tested positive for PED use in the spring of 2012 . After a one outing performance in Aug. of 2012, he was sent packing and then outright DFA’d.
Ross Ohlendorf (Pitched well in 2010 (11 – 10 , 3.92 ERA) and can’t be blamed for 2011 record of 1 – 10 when ERA was 4.01.) He signed with the Padres team as an FA in 2012, but petered out. He is currently on a Minor League deal with the Nationals – and is pitching in the International League for Syracuse.
Jose Tabata is a pretty damn good Utility guy. He has a 3 Slash Line of .272/.337/.712. 2013 Stats, .279/.333/.760.
Rob Mackowiak had a nice stretch with the White Sox for 2 years (.770 OPS in 492 AB) before fading away.
Jason Bay was traded essentially for 4 players: Bryan Morris, Andy LaRoche, Craig Hansen (never made the majors) and Brandon Moss. Bay had a great run with the Boston Red Sox – before signing a 4 YR/$64 MIL deal with the Mets. New York bought him out of his deal – freeing the Canadian to also play in Seattle. Huntington pulled a great move having the injury plagued OF off the team before he crippled their salary.
Brandon Moss struggled in his Pirates Career (OPS of .667) – but has flourished in Oakland with the Athletics (.909 OPS).
After Xavier Nady had a decent stint with the New York Yankees in 2008, he fizzled out of baseball – putting up anemic numbers after and is now a FA out of baseball.
Andy LaRoche had one decent year with Pittsburgh in 2009 (hitting .258 with 12 HRs and 64 RBI). He was granted Free Agency after the 2010 year and played for Oakland briefly before retiring.
Ricardo Rincon was a pretty solid arm out of the Bullpen for many years, but not the caliber of play – when you trade his services for the likes of Brian Giles (who was flipped for Jason Bay). Basically , that is 8 years of +1.000 OPS and ALL – Star play from those two players.
Oliver Perez signed a brutal contract by the NYM management before they released him – costing the franchise heartache and Millions. He has since resurrected his pitching career in Seattle as a LHP Bullpen specialist.
Brian Giles was a brilliant get by the Pirates for Ricardo Rincon (holy cow). After an OPS for the Bucs of 1.018, he went on to post just a .815 clip OPS wise for the San Diego Padres. The Padres paid him $60 MIL for 6 Years – and that was too rich for the Pittsburgh team.
Basically here you turned Ricardo Rincon, ( Amateur FA signing) Roberto Hernandez (FA signing) and the only player to be drafted by the club in this tree (Mackowiak) turned into Bryan Morris, Jeff Karstens and Jose Tabata left on the current club.
However, you had MVP type like numbers from Bay and Giles that came from Rincon, while you missed out on about $150 MIL of salary flushed by the contracts of Perez, Bay and Giles.
The whole starting staff (until you bring up Gerrit Cole) consists of players or Free Agents acquired. Your Closer is someone who was passed on by all other 29 clubs – and your setup guy had to be added with 3 other players just to get Hanrahan – who was a UFA at the end of the year. BTW those 2 end Relievers have been awesome this season
Mr Huntington.. Bravo to you.. To previous management… While your drafting record has been bad, your trades for the last 15 years have not been. Come back in a few weeks for the Hitters portion of this tree.
Jason Grilli is 36 Years Old and a first time Closer in the MLB. He has been fantastic in this role – leading the NL in Games Finished (17) and Saves (14). In 14.2 IP , he has a 1.23 ERA and a 0.886 WHIP. The man has been filthy dominant in Striking out 23 hitters in those frames.. or a 14.1/Per 9 IP Rate. The Pirates are 20 -16 so far and within distance of the Cards in the NL Central based on their strong performances like Grilli’s. The man from Royal Oak. MI has appeared in 376 Games for 6 different teams in his 11 years of MLB Baseball
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***
A big Thank – You goes out to our Pirates Correspondent Brad Cuprik for preparing today’s featured post. Brad is longing for a return to the postseason for his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates, but enjoys watching any team and any level of baseball. He grew up idolizing Cal Ripken and played shortstop through the NCAA Division III level. While working on two different baseball book projects, he earned his MBA at Robert Morris University, but wishes he could have majored in baseball history.
Brad’s dream is to cover the Pirates as a beat writer, but is making ends meet as a retail manager for now. If you want to talk about the greatest game, whether present or past, or e-mail him at bcuprik77@hotmail.com. You can also follow and Interact with Brad on Twitter Follow @bradcuprik
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