Pirates trade updates

With less than five hours left until the trade deadline ends, things could sure get interesting for Pirates fans. Rumors have been swirling around a few of the Pirates.

The Dodgers, Padres and Mets have been rumored to be interested in Lefty Paul Maholm. GM Neal Huntington has said repeatedly that the organization is past the point of trading for prospects. Huntington has declined to comment on the rumors saying “We are working through various scenarios with various players and will make a move only if we believe the return is compelling.”

Maholm is making $4.5 million this season. He is under contract to earn $5.75 million next year and has a $9.75 million club option with a $750,000 buyout for 2012.

 

MLB reporter Jenifer Langosch recently spoke to Maholm:

On how whether he pays attention to rumor mill and to what degree: “Yeah, I don’t want to be caught off-guard. I’m here until they tell me otherwise and I’m going to prepare for my next start like I always do.”

“I more or less follow it to see what other teams are doing and where other guys are going. I think it’s fun. I’m a fan. I enjoy doing it. Having my name in it doesn’t bother me. Every fifth day I’m out there and expect to win. That doesn’t change if my name is in any trade rumors or anything like that.”

“I have Twitter, so I have writers I follow. You get all sorts of updates. I just follow along with everybody else.”

“I’m more of a guy who likes to plan stuff, so these next 24 hours will be difficult. We’ll know tomorrow. If I’m still here, I’ll still be happy. If I go to a contender, that’s what you play for.”

On thoughts about being dealt: “I’ve always said I want to be on a winning team. My first choice would be on the team that turns it around here. I’ve been in Pittsburgh my whole career and I love the fans, love the ballpark, and I think they deserve a winner. I want to be a part of that. But it’s not up to me. If they come in and tell me to go somewhere, I’m going. I don’t have a ‘no trade [clause].’ We’ll just see how it goes.”

Paul Maholm is 6-9 with a 4.52 ERA this season.

 

Zach Duke could also be another Pirates starter to get traded. In a recent interview with Greg Brown, he was asked about his thoughts on being traded:

“Zach, this is the week for trade rumors, the deadline coming up Saturday, you put it aside?” -Greg Brown

“I don’t think I’ll be traded. I haven’t even thought about it. I don’t know if we will make any moves. From what they’ve said to us in Spring Training on is the guys in the clubhouse are the ones that they want here so, if something happens I’ll be suprised.” -Zach Duke

Duke is arbitration eligable for 2011 and up for free agency in 2012. He is 5-9 with a 5.09 ERA this season.

 

Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan have been drawing a lot of interest but the Pirates would have to been blown away by an offer to part with either one of them. Meek can’t be a free-agent until after the 2014 season, Hanrahan 2013.

 

The Market this year hasn’t been packed with relievers so if the Pirates were to sell, they could very high. The three that seem most likely to be traded are Octavio Dotel, DJ Carrasco and Javier Lopez. The Pirates could exercise a $4.5 Million club option to keep Dotel next season. Carrasco and Lopez will be arbitration eligible this winter. Carrasco has informed the Pirates that he would welcome the chance to play for a contending team.

 

 

• The Pirates acquired (OF) Mitch Jones from the Braves yesterday for cash considerations. Jones appeared in eight major league games for the Dodgers in 2009, (.308 AVG, 4-for-13, one double, six strikeouts) and has spent the rest of the time with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate. He hit .250 with 23 doubles, 18 homers and 45 RBIs in 89 games. Mitch will join Triple-A Indianapolis.
• The Pirates have agreed on a trade for the Diamondbacks’ Chris Synder and minor leaguer SS Pedro Ciriaco. The Dbacks will receive: Bobby Crosby, Ryan Church, and reliever D.J. Carrasco in return. Snyder is due $5.75 million next year with a club option worth $6.75 million for 2012 with a $750,000 buyout. He was batting .231 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 65 games this year for Arizona.

John Perrotto who is a writer for the Beaver County Times and well as Editor-in-Chief for Baseball Prospectus tweeted last night:

“Pirates have no trade for Doumit in the works and he’ll wind up being the No. 2 catcher and seeing time at 1B and maybe RF.”

 

• Since trading Crosby and Church to the Dbacks in the Synder deal the Pirates have recalled INF Argenis Diaz and 1B Jeff Clement from Triple-A.

Clement hit .305 with 15 doubles, eight homers and 33 RBis in 40 games with Triple-A.

Diaz is known more for his glove than his offense. He is hitting .248 with 22 RBIs in 80 games with this season. 

 

MLB reporter Jennifer Langosch recently tweeted: 

Source: Garrett Jones is NOT being dealt by Pirates so he’s not involved in any pending trade. 

   

I will continue to update throughout the day when trades happen.