According to Rob Biertempfel via Twitter, the Pittsburgh Pirates have outrighted relief pitching prospect Jeff Sues to AAA. Sues can be assigned to AAA if he clears waivers. Sues had an 8.5 K/9 and a 4.2 BB/9 in 78.2 innings in AA this year, with a 4.46 ERA. In AAA he posted a 6.00 ERA in just 12 innings, with a 9.0 K/9 and a 6.0 BB/9. Obviously his main problem this past year was a lack of control.
It’s possible that Sues could be claimed by another team, as he has two options remaining and would provide bullpen depth, with the chance of fixing his control issues. (UPDATE: Jennifer Langosch reports that Sues went through unclaimed) Recently I named Sues the #44 prospect in my Top 50 Prospects countdown, with a conservative projection of Tyler Yates.
The move, combined with Milwaukee claiming Luis Cruz off of waivers today, leaves the Pirates’ 40-man roster at 38 players. The 40-man roster/payroll page is updated with the move.
You’d have to think that one of those spots is for a Rule 5 pick, but there’s a chance the other spot could be for a roster move in the next day. We’ve heard that the Pirates are interested in Adam Everett. Jennifer Langosch reports that Everett would be willing to sign a one year deal, even if it means he’d have to compete for a starting job with Ronny Cedeno.
The Pirates also expressed interest in claiming Willie Eyre, according to Dejan Kovacevic, which is a possibility for that second roster spot. I’m not sure if the signing of Vinnie Chulk would change their plans for Eyre. There’s also the possibility that the Pirates take two players in the Rule 5 draft.
