Pittsburgh Pirates Roundup: Alvarez, Walker, And More
By Larry Snyder
Before the Pittsburgh Pirates took a break for Thanksgiving, they added a pair of players Wednesday to round out their 40-man roster.
The first was the signing of free-agent Jake Goebbert. The 6-foot, 210-pound first baseman and outfielder played 51 games with the San Diego Padres in 2014. The second was a deal for right-handed pitcher Allen Webster from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations.
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The buzz about the crew of the Jolly Roger did not end there. Let’s fire up the internet before sitting down at the dinner table and check out what some of the experts have reported.
Joel Reuter from Bleacher Report has set the odds on whether the Pirates trade Neil Walker. It will take the right partner to get a fair exchange for a second baseman who has averaged 16 home runs and 70 RBI per season. The next question to consider is, “Will Josh Harrison or prospect Alen Hanson take over at second?”
Meanwhile, Karl Buscheck at Bleacher Report thinks the Pirates should move Mark Melancon and exact a good return for the bullpen ace. He could be an alternative for some teams who do not land the Reds’ Aroldis Chapman in a trade.
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Over at CBS Sports, baseball insider Jon Heyman in his MLB Hot Stove column is reporting that Pedro Alvarez is open to being traded. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound first baseman thinks a new team could help his career. It would leave Michael Morse, Josh Bell, and Goebbert in the mix for the starting first baseman job.
Dan Stevenson of FanSided has five potential suitors to consider for Alvarez. It includes the Chicago White Sox, the Seattle Mariners, the Cleveland Indians, the Houston Astros, and the Baltimore Orioles. Not a National League team in the bunch. Hello, designated-hitter.
Charlie Wimoth of the Bucs Dugout on SB Nation takes a look at the legacy of Alvarez with the Pirates. The Dominican Republic native ranks 13th on Pittsburgh’s all-time home run list. Do you have a favorite El Toro blast?
Rum Bunter‘s Tyler Waite contemplates the interesting question of who deserves to stay in the Pirates pitching rotation more, Charlie Morton or Jeff Locke? I am wondering if any deal involving either Walker or Alvarez should include a pitcher to take to spring training.
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The Associated Press on Yahoo Sports reported on Monday, Nov. 23 that the Tigers have brought back former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon to pilot the Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate. McClendon, who will turn 57 in January, spent the last two seasons as the skipper of the Seattle Mariners before being fired back in October. He led Pittsburgh from 2001 to 2005. He served under Jim Leyland as a Tigers coach between the two managerial jobs.
That concludes this edition of the Pirates Notebook. We at City of Champions hope you and your families have a joyous Thanksgiving weekend.