i think they have morse and whats his face.. might be able to squeeze some offense out of the both of em .. (too tired to remember or lookup who whats his face is).. but yeah your right from the traditional power position you need some power .. alvarez K's made him expendable.. wish they had done better replacing him
BRADENTON (93-7 The Fan) – “Now batting for the Pirates, second baseman Alen Hanson.”
Pirates fans have long hoped to hear that announcement echo throughout PNC Park, and despite some bumps in the road, the wait might finally be over.
Hanson has slid down the list of the Pirates’ top prospects and become an afterthought compared to the likes of Tyler Glasnow, Josh Bell, Jameson Taillon, and Austin Meadows over the past couple of years, due to a variety of on-and off-the-field concerns.
Nevertheless, Hanson may have a better shot of starting 2016 season in the major leagues than any of those players do.
General Manager
Neal Huntington joined “The Fan Morning Show” at McKechnie Field on Friday to discuss why Hanson could be manning second base for the Pirates on Opening Day.
While discussing Josh Harrison’s position flexibility, Huntington mentioned the possibility of Harrison playing third base and Hanson taking over for him at second should Jung Ho Kang be unavailable to start the season.
“If our best scenario ends up with Alen Hanson at second base, and Josh [Harrison] goes over to third base for a couple of weeks until Kang’s ready – or three weeks, or four weeks until Kang’s ready – then that’s the way we can play it,” Huntington said.
Huntington said that there are plenty of other options, though.
“If our best club has Josh at second base, and Sean Rodriguez at third base, or Jason Rogers at third base, or someone that I’m missing here right now at third base, then that’s the way we can go as well,” Huntington said.
Huntington isn’t ready to christen Hanson as a major league-ready player, but if Hanson can simply perform adequately, that might be enough for him to serve as a stopgap until Kang returns.
“Alen is a very gifted player,” Huntington said. “His challenge is applying those skills on a consistent basis…We would not necessarily say he’s ready to come out and be our major-league second baseman for the rest of the season. But, could he be a two, three, four-week fill? He has the skill set to come up here and do some things.”
“We do not feel he’s ready to go be a major-league regular. But, could he come out here and take an opportunity that’s presented, without us feeling like we’re rushing him? It’s just consistency, is what’s holding Alen back, and why we haven’t thought about him as a major-league regular at this point in time.”
“So he is in a position that he could come out here, show us that he’s going to be able to make the routine plays, show us that he’s going to be able to give us some consistent at-bats, and he could start out as our second baseman.”
Pirates fans have long hoped to hear that announcement echo throughout PNC Park, and despite some bumps in the road, the wait might finally be over.
Hanson has slid down the list of the Pirates’ top prospects and become an afterthought compared to the likes of Tyler Glasnow, Josh Bell, Jameson Taillon, and Austin Meadows over the past couple of years, due to a variety of on-and off-the-field concerns.
Nevertheless, Hanson may have a better shot of starting 2016 season in the major leagues than any of those players do.
General Manager
Neal Huntington joined “The Fan Morning Show” at McKechnie Field on Friday to discuss why Hanson could be manning second base for the Pirates on Opening Day.While discussing Josh Harrison’s position flexibility, Huntington mentioned the possibility of Harrison playing third base and Hanson taking over for him at second should Jung Ho Kang be unavailable to start the season.
“If our best scenario ends up with Alen Hanson at second base, and Josh [Harrison] goes over to third base for a couple of weeks until Kang’s ready – or three weeks, or four weeks until Kang’s ready – then that’s the way we can play it,” Huntington said.
Huntington said that there are plenty of other options, though.
“If our best club has Josh at second base, and Sean Rodriguez at third base, or Jason Rogers at third base, or someone that I’m missing here right now at third base, then that’s the way we can go as well,” Huntington said.
Huntington isn’t ready to christen Hanson as a major league-ready player, but if Hanson can simply perform adequately, that might be enough for him to serve as a stopgap until Kang returns.
“Alen is a very gifted player,” Huntington said. “His challenge is applying those skills on a consistent basis…We would not necessarily say he’s ready to come out and be our major-league second baseman for the rest of the season. But, could he be a two, three, four-week fill? He has the skill set to come up here and do some things.”
“We do not feel he’s ready to go be a major-league regular. But, could he come out here and take an opportunity that’s presented, without us feeling like we’re rushing him? It’s just consistency, is what’s holding Alen back, and why we haven’t thought about him as a major-league regular at this point in time.”
“So he is in a position that he could come out here, show us that he’s going to be able to make the routine plays, show us that he’s going to be able to give us some consistent at-bats, and he could start out as our second baseman.”
Pirates sign david freese
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates reported to Spring Training with only one major question about their lineup left to answer: Who will play third base until Jung Ho Kang returns to full health? On Friday, they found an answer outside of the organization.
Pittsburgh signed free-agent infielder David Freese to a one-year, $3 million contract. Freese -- the former Cardinal, Angel and World Series MVP -- will be the Pirates' everyday third baseman while Kang is out, and the club plans to use him as a backup corner infielder whenever Kang comes off the disabled list (knee surgery).
"The idea is it adds a very talented, veteran bat to our club that's an experienced winner, that is going to bounce around the field for us and gives us an insurance policy until Jung Ho's ready to go," general manager Neal Huntington said Friday night.
Freese, 32, posted a .257/.323/.420 slash line with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Angels last year. He is a career .276/.344/.417 hitter, and he has played nearly his entire career at third base, making him a logical replacement for Kang. The addition of Freese only further solidifies Josh Harrison's status as the starting second baseman; a temporary move back to third base seemed unlikely all spring, and it's even less of a possibility with Freese on board.
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<figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">http://ui.bamstatic.com/mlbv2/sections/news2/images/caption-bg.png") 0px 0px repeat;">Freese snuffs out bunt attempt10/4/15: David Freese pounces on Elvis Andrus' bunt up the third-base line and makes a barehanded play, completed by C.J. Cron's nice scoop
</figcaption></figure>
Freese is expected to report to McKechnie Field on Saturday morning. It's unclear when he'll be ready to play in Grapefruit League games.
"We'll see. He's worked hard. He feels ready to go," Huntington said. "We'll see just where he is when he gets in here. He's a veteran. He knows what he needs, and we'll probably allow him to tell us when he feels like he's ready to jump into a game."
The Pirates hope to have Kang back in their lineup by mid-to-late April, at which point Freese will become a backup at third base and the right-handed half of their first-base platoon alongside lefty-swinging John Jaso.
Freese has played 21 innings over nine games at first base during his seven-year Major League career. Jaso is also learning the position this spring.
"Even when [Kang] comes back, he's going to need some days here and there to keep him strong.
This gives us a Major League-caliber third baseman to step in and do that," Huntington said. "David will give us the ability to share time with John at first base. He's not played a ton over there -- we seem to do that quite a bit -- but we do feel that he'll be able to come in, get up to speed quickly and be able to bounce back and forth between the corners."
While the move answers one of the Pirates' biggest questions, it leaves several more in its place.
What happens when Kang comes back? He will be the everyday third baseman. Freese will spell him when he needs a day off. Jordy Mercer will remain the Pirates' everyday shortstop, as the position will be too physically demanding for Kang, especially after such a serious injury and lengthy recovery.
What about Michael Morse? He was viewed as Jaso's most likely platoon partner, and that won't change while Kang is on the disabled list. Morse will be the right-handed first baseman, and Freese will play third base. After that?
"Depending on how long it takes into the season to get Kang healthy, that's a road we'll head down when we get there," Huntington said.
What about Jason Rogers, who seemed like a natural backup corner infielder?
"He still fits. We're going to have a couple spots wide open on that bench," Huntington said. "The challenge becomes when we get down the road and Kang returns, we'll have a tougher decision."
How does this affect their bench come Opening Day? For now, not much. Assuming Jaso is at first and Freese at third, the Pirates could open the year with a bench unit of Morse, Rogers, catcher Chris Stewart and utility man Sean Rodriguez. The final spot could come down to outfielder Matt Joyce or infielders Pedro Florimon and Cole Figueroa.
"We still have plenty of opportunity on the bench whether it's for Cole Figueroa, Jason Rogers, Matt Joyce, Pedro Florimon," Huntington said. "All those guys, this really doesn't change the initial opportunity. It's just David Freese jumps in and will take those third-base at-bats out of the gate."
To clear a 40-man roster spot, the Pirates designated left-hander Jesse Biddle for assignment. Pittsburgh acquired Biddle, in the early stages of his Tommy John recovery, from Philadelphia over the offseason. The Pirates hope he will clear waivers and remain in their organization.
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates reported to Spring Training with only one major question about their lineup left to answer: Who will play third base until Jung Ho Kang returns to full health? On Friday, they found an answer outside of the organization.
Pittsburgh signed free-agent infielder David Freese to a one-year, $3 million contract. Freese -- the former Cardinal, Angel and World Series MVP -- will be the Pirates' everyday third baseman while Kang is out, and the club plans to use him as a backup corner infielder whenever Kang comes off the disabled list (knee surgery).
"The idea is it adds a very talented, veteran bat to our club that's an experienced winner, that is going to bounce around the field for us and gives us an insurance policy until Jung Ho's ready to go," general manager Neal Huntington said Friday night.
Freese, 32, posted a .257/.323/.420 slash line with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Angels last year. He is a career .276/.344/.417 hitter, and he has played nearly his entire career at third base, making him a logical replacement for Kang. The addition of Freese only further solidifies Josh Harrison's status as the starting second baseman; a temporary move back to third base seemed unlikely all spring, and it's even less of a possibility with Freese on board.
<figure class="poster has-video " style="margin: 26px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; max-height: 600px; position: relative; background: rgb(238, 238, 238);">
<figcaption class="meta-data video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 15px 20px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 54px; box-sizing: border-box; width: 660px; background: url("<a href=" http:="" ui.bamstatic.com="" mlbv2="" sections="" news2="" images="" caption-bg.png""="" target="_blank">http://ui.bamstatic.com/mlbv2/sections/news2/images/caption-bg.png") 0px 0px repeat;">Freese snuffs out bunt attempt10/4/15: David Freese pounces on Elvis Andrus' bunt up the third-base line and makes a barehanded play, completed by C.J. Cron's nice scoop</figcaption></figure>
Freese is expected to report to McKechnie Field on Saturday morning. It's unclear when he'll be ready to play in Grapefruit League games.
"We'll see. He's worked hard. He feels ready to go," Huntington said. "We'll see just where he is when he gets in here. He's a veteran. He knows what he needs, and we'll probably allow him to tell us when he feels like he's ready to jump into a game."
The Pirates hope to have Kang back in their lineup by mid-to-late April, at which point Freese will become a backup at third base and the right-handed half of their first-base platoon alongside lefty-swinging John Jaso.
Freese has played 21 innings over nine games at first base during his seven-year Major League career. Jaso is also learning the position this spring.
"Even when [Kang] comes back, he's going to need some days here and there to keep him strong.
This gives us a Major League-caliber third baseman to step in and do that," Huntington said. "David will give us the ability to share time with John at first base. He's not played a ton over there -- we seem to do that quite a bit -- but we do feel that he'll be able to come in, get up to speed quickly and be able to bounce back and forth between the corners."
While the move answers one of the Pirates' biggest questions, it leaves several more in its place.
What happens when Kang comes back? He will be the everyday third baseman. Freese will spell him when he needs a day off. Jordy Mercer will remain the Pirates' everyday shortstop, as the position will be too physically demanding for Kang, especially after such a serious injury and lengthy recovery.
What about Michael Morse? He was viewed as Jaso's most likely platoon partner, and that won't change while Kang is on the disabled list. Morse will be the right-handed first baseman, and Freese will play third base. After that?
"Depending on how long it takes into the season to get Kang healthy, that's a road we'll head down when we get there," Huntington said.
What about Jason Rogers, who seemed like a natural backup corner infielder?
"He still fits. We're going to have a couple spots wide open on that bench," Huntington said. "The challenge becomes when we get down the road and Kang returns, we'll have a tougher decision."
How does this affect their bench come Opening Day? For now, not much. Assuming Jaso is at first and Freese at third, the Pirates could open the year with a bench unit of Morse, Rogers, catcher Chris Stewart and utility man Sean Rodriguez. The final spot could come down to outfielder Matt Joyce or infielders Pedro Florimon and Cole Figueroa.
"We still have plenty of opportunity on the bench whether it's for Cole Figueroa, Jason Rogers, Matt Joyce, Pedro Florimon," Huntington said. "All those guys, this really doesn't change the initial opportunity. It's just David Freese jumps in and will take those third-base at-bats out of the gate."
To clear a 40-man roster spot, the Pirates designated left-hander Jesse Biddle for assignment. Pittsburgh acquired Biddle, in the early stages of his Tommy John recovery, from Philadelphia over the offseason. The Pirates hope he will clear waivers and remain in their organization.
freese, morse and jaso .. all nice role players but still might be overexposed considering the corners is where you get ya thump from and they aint delivering slugging.. then the middle of the infield also not slugging.. need harrison and kang to slugg could happen, also could get old fast and before you know it those nice org dudes are burdens without getting enuff slugging.. this team needs a few upgrades to be able to really have a chance to go beyond sneaking in as a wildcard.. like i said before 1 more arm in pen, 1 more QUALITY starter (not just an arm don't need a 4 or 5 , more like a 2 or 3 that pitches like a 2 in 2016.. and lastly some extra thump from the infield position players (even if Kang returns is healthy and prorated slugs 20 bombs).. same can be said about many teams.. it will be a fun and interesting season but because of what i mentioned they're will be some frustration
Neftali Feliz Signing Article...........
Continuing to revamp a bullpen that lost three contributors from the 2015 season, the Pirates signed right-handed reliever Neftali Feliz to a one-year contract Wednesday.
The contract is worth $3.9 million plus incentives, according to an industry source. To make room for Feliz, the Pirates designated catcher Tony Sanchez, their 2009 first-round draft pick, for assignment.
“Neftali Feliz is a veteran relief pitcher with a quality pitch arsenal who showed signs of returning to his pre-injury form in 2014 and again at times in 2015,” general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. “He has shown the ability to pitch in high leverage situations in the past and we believe we can help him regain that form and be an important part of our 2016 bullpen.”
The Pirates continue to search for value in pitchers coming off of poor 2015 seasons. Feliz will join a bullpen that will likely feature Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Arquimedes Caminero, Juan Nicasio and Kyle Lobstein. The Pirates signed Nicasio and traded for Lobstein after Antonio Bastardo, Joakim Soria and Joe Blanton left via free agency.
Feliz, 27, was arbitration-eligible but not tendered a contract by the Detroit Tigers after the 2015 season, when he posted a 6.38 ERA in 48 relief appearances for the Tigers and Texas Rangers. He had a 4.58 ERA in 19⅔ innings in Texas before the Rangers designated him for assignment in July. Feliz elected free agency and signed with the Tigers. Like Feliz, Nicasio also was non-tendered.
The Atlanta Braves signed Feliz out of the Dominican Republic in 2005, but sent him to the Rangers in 2007 in a trade that also involved Mark Teixeira and Elvis Andrus. Feliz won the American League rookie of the year award in 2010 when he saved 40 games, struck out 71 batters in 69⅓ innings and had a 2.73 ERA in his age-22 season.
Feliz dealt with injuries over the years, beginning with a shoulder issue in 2011. He had Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery in 2012 and pitched in only six games the following season. He missed time this past season after having an abscess on his right side removed.
The Pirates took Sanchez, 27, with the fourth overall pick in 2009. He appeared in the majors in three seasons, 2013-15, but had only 155 plate appearances in 51 games. The emergence of Elias Diaz as a viable reserve catcher made Sanchez, who was out of options, expendable.
Continuing to revamp a bullpen that lost three contributors from the 2015 season, the Pirates signed right-handed reliever Neftali Feliz to a one-year contract Wednesday.
The contract is worth $3.9 million plus incentives, according to an industry source. To make room for Feliz, the Pirates designated catcher Tony Sanchez, their 2009 first-round draft pick, for assignment.
“Neftali Feliz is a veteran relief pitcher with a quality pitch arsenal who showed signs of returning to his pre-injury form in 2014 and again at times in 2015,” general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. “He has shown the ability to pitch in high leverage situations in the past and we believe we can help him regain that form and be an important part of our 2016 bullpen.”
The Pirates continue to search for value in pitchers coming off of poor 2015 seasons. Feliz will join a bullpen that will likely feature Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Arquimedes Caminero, Juan Nicasio and Kyle Lobstein. The Pirates signed Nicasio and traded for Lobstein after Antonio Bastardo, Joakim Soria and Joe Blanton left via free agency.
Feliz, 27, was arbitration-eligible but not tendered a contract by the Detroit Tigers after the 2015 season, when he posted a 6.38 ERA in 48 relief appearances for the Tigers and Texas Rangers. He had a 4.58 ERA in 19⅔ innings in Texas before the Rangers designated him for assignment in July. Feliz elected free agency and signed with the Tigers. Like Feliz, Nicasio also was non-tendered.
The Atlanta Braves signed Feliz out of the Dominican Republic in 2005, but sent him to the Rangers in 2007 in a trade that also involved Mark Teixeira and Elvis Andrus. Feliz won the American League rookie of the year award in 2010 when he saved 40 games, struck out 71 batters in 69⅓ innings and had a 2.73 ERA in his age-22 season.
Feliz dealt with injuries over the years, beginning with a shoulder issue in 2011. He had Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery in 2012 and pitched in only six games the following season. He missed time this past season after having an abscess on his right side removed.
The Pirates took Sanchez, 27, with the fourth overall pick in 2009. He appeared in the majors in three seasons, 2013-15, but had only 155 plate appearances in 51 games. The emergence of Elias Diaz as a viable reserve catcher made Sanchez, who was out of options, expendable.
