Blogs

The Pirates have taken a big first stop toward becoming bidders for free-agent pitcher Daniel Cabrera.
Cabrera’s agent, Mike Powers, exchanged several e-mails over the weekend with a Pirates official. The Pirates have not yet made an offer for Cabrera, a right-hander who last season went 8-10 with a 5.25 ERA in 30 starts for the [...]

The midnight deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players is fast approaching. Seven of the Pirates’ eight players in this mix have been tendered.
Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit and Paul Maholm (all first-time arby eligibles) have been offered multi-year deals.
John Grabow and Adam LaRoche (both in the final year of arby eligibility) and first-timers [...]

Ramon Vazquez celebrated his new contract with the Pirates by taking a long, winter’s nap.
The free agent shortstop was in Pittsburgh this morning for his physical. Vazquez was supposed to fly back to Puerto Rico this afternoon after inking his two-year, $4 million contract. But when a snow squall delayed his flight, he opted to [...]

LAS VEGAS — General manager Neal Huntington confirmed the Pirates’ interest in free-agent infielder Ramon Vazquez.
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“We’re working through some things with Ramon,” Huntington said. “We’re optimistic.”
The Pirates have offered a two-year, $4 million contract to Vazquez, who has spent eight seasons in the majors as a utilityman with five teams. There are indications the deal [...]

LAS VEGAS — The Pirates chose left-hander Donald Veal in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft.
Veal, 24, went 5-10 with a 4.52 ERA last season for Tennessee, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate. He made 29 starts, but the Pirates may use him as a reliever.
The Pirates must either keep him on their [...]

LAS VEGAS — The Pirates chose left-hander Donnie Veal in the first round of the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft.
Veal, 24, went 5-10 with a 4.52 ERA last season for Tennessee, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate. The Pirates must either keep him on their 25-man roster all season or offer to sell [...]

LAS VEGAS — ESPN.com is reporting this morning the Pirates are “on the verge” of signing free-agent infielder Ramon Vazquez. Reportedly, it would be a two-year, $4 million deal.
Vazquez, 32, played the last two seasons for the Texas Rangers. He also has been with Seattle, San Diego, Boston and Cleveland.
Last season, Vazquez set career highs [...]

LAS VEGAS — A year ago, Ronny Paulino was the Pirates’ incumbent starting catcher. He quickly tumbled from there to a backup role, then to a spot on the minor-league disabled list. The free fall ended with Paulino landing in the Phillies organization.
Tonight, the Pirates swapped Paulino for Jason Jaramillo, a 26-year-old switch-hitter.
Jaramilo is the [...]

LAS VEGAS — The Pirates just traded Ronny Paulino to the Phillies for catcher Jason Jaramillo.
Jaramillo, 26, is a switch-hitter who batted .266 with eight homers and 39 RBI last season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
GM Neal Huntington said Jaramillo will compete with Robinzon Diaz for the backup job during spring training.

LAS VEGAS — Joe Frisaro, who covers the Marlins for mlb.com, reported that the Pirates could give up Brian Bixler, not Ronny Paulino, in exchange for shortstop Roberto Andino.
Either way, it appears a Somebody-for-Andino deal is what GM Neal Huntington was hinting about earlier today when he said a “small” trade was in the works. [...]