Pittsburgh Pirates Rumor Roundup: Bucs hot on Logan Morrison, out on Bronson Arroyo

Aug 3, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Logan Morrison (5) connects for a base hit during the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, we filled you in on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pursuit of the Marlins’ Logan Morrison and Toronto’s Adam Lind to fill a perceived need at first base.

Today, as the MLB Winter Meetings continue in Orlando, one of those potential trade targets has moved ahead of the other, according to Fox Sports baseball reporter Ken Rosenthal:

In case you didn’t know, “LoMo” is Morrison, who despite a couple of consecutive down years is still an appealing option to several clubs.

Tuesday afternoon, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review‘s Travis Sawchik, among others, “I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with Gaby [Sanchez] as our [first-base] answer, but we’re not.”

Despite that public sentiment, MLB sources are saying the Pirates are indeed looking for another first baseman. But whether they get one or not, Sanchez is probably going to get significant playing time in 2014.

The 26-year-old Morrison continues to be on Pittsburgh’s radar, but the same can’t be said for 36-year-old Bronson Arroyo.

The Pirates were linked to the durable right-handed starter Monday; however, as tweeted by the Tribune-Review‘s Rob Biertempfel and C. Trent Rosencrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Bucs are likely out of the running to sign their one-time discarded prospect.

Sawchik also reported that the agent for two-year Pirates starter A.J. Burnett will arrive at the Winter Meetings sometime late Tuesday. Pittsburgh has tried to coax a decision on retirement out of Burnett for two months so they can solidify their offseason budget. His agent’s trip to Orlando may indicate Burnett’s finally ready to make a call on his baseball future.

Finally, on the other side of the coin, Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi tweeted that the Pirates are being inundated by trade offers for young flame-throwing lefty Justin Wilson. Wilson, 26, appeared in 58 games in 2013 out of the bullpen, putting up a 2.08 ERA and a 1.059 WHIP.

As we did earlier Tuesday with the Eric Chavez report, City of Champions will keep you up to date on the latest Pirates news from sunny Florida.