Ken Rosenthal reports that Jason Grilli is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a two-year deal, pending a physical.
Source: Grilli back to #Pirates. Two-year deal. Pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 10, 2012
I assume this time it’s real, unlike last Thursday which was full of “he’s signing”, followed by Grilli denying each report. I only assume this one is real because Rosenthal wasn’t involved in the reporting last Thursday, but was providing the best updates on the situation leading up to that date.
I think the question to ask now is “what happens with Joel Hanrahan?”
UPDATE 4:00 PM: If there was any doubt this time, several other writers are confirming the deal. No financial details yet.
UPDATE 4:03 PM: Bob Nightengale reports that Grilli turned down more money from another team to stay with the Pirates.
Grilli actually passed up more money from another team to return to #Pirates
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2012
Danny Knobler with the same information.
Grilli preferred Pirates. Turned down slightly bigger offers elsewhere to stay.
— DKnobler (@DKnobler) December 10, 2012
UPDATE 4:41 PM: Grilli gets $7 M over two years.
according to @scottmcbs, grilli gets $7M for the 2 yrs. #bucs #bucks
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 10, 2012
UPDATE 4:53 PM: Bill Brink has the exact figure.
Grilli gets $6.75 million over two years, per source.
— Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) December 10, 2012
UPDATE 5:16 PM: Two interesting notes from Bob Nightengale on the negotiations.
Grilli gets two-years, $6.75 million from #Pirates, after turning down bigger deal from #BlueJays
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2012
The #Pirates raised their offer from $6.5 million to $6.75 million when Grilli accepted.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2012
So in the span of less than a year we’ve seen the Yankees salary dump A.J. Burnett to the Pirates, the Pirates out-bid the Yankees for Russell Martin, and Jason Grilli take less to play for the Pirates rather than the Blue Jays. The only word I can think of is “Mayans”.
UPDATE 2:40 P.M. TUESDAY – Terms of the deal for Grilli include a $500K signing bonus, $2.25M in 2013 and $4M in 2013.
December 10, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Glad to have him back. I really didn’t expect us to sign him based on our history. Its good to see the Pirates keeping good players when they hit the market. That said it probably puts the final nail in Hannys coffin.
December 10, 2012 at 5:40 pm
pop quiz: who was the last pirate free agent, who was any good, that left town without the bucs making an offer?
(maholm doesnt count)
December 10, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Barry Bighead?
December 10, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Better question is who was the last Pirate free agent who was any good?
December 10, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Good move. Hoping he has 60 good innings in him each year for the next two seasons.
Twitter: wildarschase
December 10, 2012 at 4:30 pm
That’s a nice coup for the Bucs, considering he spurned higher offers. Not usually the case!
And I agree with Tim’s assessment on another post about the Rays that trading Hanny last year would’ve made more sense when his value was higher. We shouldn’t expect much at this point- Capuano, perhaps, but then what was the point of getting rid of Karstens?
Still, the Pirates don’t need Grilli and Hanrahan when they have more glaring weaknesses.
December 10, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Could you have seen the uproar the ‘playoff bound’ Bucs would’ve caused had they traded Hanny?
Capt Hindsight is ALWAYS right!
Glad we signed Grilli. Hopefully, ‘in hindsight’ we don’t regret it!
December 10, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Captain Foresight wanted Hanrahan traded prior to 2012. That was the time to do it when closers netted Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick from the Sox.
December 10, 2012 at 5:41 pm
you mean Lowrie the oft injured SS who might not stick at SS, and Reddick the busted prospect that the Sox gave up on???
theres no reason to believe Reddick would have put up those numbers as a Buc.
Twitter: wildarschase
December 10, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Capt. Hindsight is always right, you’re correct! But trying to trade him in August – just to see what kind of claim might have been made and offer thereafter – could have been worth it, since the Bucs were out of it by then.
December 10, 2012 at 7:01 pm
And do you know that they didn’t try it?
I read where they put everyone but Cutch on waivers.
Twitter: wildarschase
December 10, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Fair enough, Lee. Maybe the return wasn’t to their liking?
December 11, 2012 at 10:07 am
The Whiners would’ve screamed, and still be screamin’, were Hanny traded in a pennant race for…untested but talented young pitcher. Are ya kiddin’ me (say w/brooklyn accent!!
December 10, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I’ll wait to see what they do with Hanrahan before I judge the signing of Grilli. If all they get is some marginal starter for Hanrahan, then I think they downgraded the team with the move. The reason I say that is because they could’ve just kept him and signed a marginal starter for what it presumably cost to get Grilli. Then it will just end up looking like a money saving move.
While I don’t like paying a closer $7mil, in certain situations I see no problem doing it once in awhile. I’d still rather they kept them both for now and signed a decent starter. Let’s not forget that their draft budget dropped $12mil this past season from the year before, so the money should be there. Why not make a run at it while Burnett/Wandy are still here, instead of doing the minimum in the off-season.
If it doesn’t work out, then you dump guys at the trading deadline to save the money. When you wait until the deadline, you’re going four months of the season with a “weaker” group, possibly costing yourself crucial games early on. I’d rather they tried their best to compete for four months, rather than putting the best group out there later on. We have seen the last two years how that can work out.
They also already have an in-season addition lined up for this year that won’t cost them a thing and could be better than most trade targets, Gerrit Cole.
If the team competes all year, then the extra fans will cover the extra cost. So keep them both, go sign a starter is basically what I’m getting at, I see no reason why they can’t do that…I can only see presumed reasons why they won’t
December 10, 2012 at 5:07 pm
sounds like there will be arguments for all sides of the Hanny dilemma.
Foo
December 10, 2012 at 5:43 pm
what if cole bombs his first real go around in AAA? what if Locke cant translate to the majors? what if McPherson’s shoulder goes out again???
point is this: you can never have enough starting pitching. if Hanrahan brings you back someone like Capuano, i would definately consider it.
December 10, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Good points….but pls, in the footure, don’t scare with statements like that.
.
December 11, 2012 at 10:10 am
NO. Trade Hanny to get a guy like Arrieta from the Orioles (young with upside and MANY years of contract control)
December 10, 2012 at 6:05 pm
I usually agree with you WA but I have issues with Capuano. He is almost 35 and has had 2 TJS surgeries. If we cant get at least one very good pitching prospect with him I dont like the idea of Hanrahan for him. I think we can do better.
December 10, 2012 at 7:03 pm
That means his arm is only 23!
December 10, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Why would anybody trade for Hanny? All they have to do is wait for the Pirates to cut him and then sign him for what he is really worth. The Pirates can’t afford 11mm for Hanny and Grilli.
December 10, 2012 at 6:14 pm
I don’t trust either Hanny or Grilli. I would have rather have the Pirates re-sign Karsten and sign somebody like Capuano I like both Hanny and Grilli but they both could drop off the cliff this year.
December 10, 2012 at 6:48 pm
I was just watching the MLB network.and they were talking about the dodgers signing the Korean pitcher and Grienke for 200mm and I am talking about 3 or so million for a relief pitcher why even bother? How the Hell can anybody compete when you are out spent by 9 or ten times what you can spend. I not an apologist(sp) for Huntington but……. damn……the Gawdam field is so out of wack how the Hell can somebody like the Pirates…. really…….really ……compete.
December 11, 2012 at 10:14 am
Correct-a-mundo! It’s called “Free Market Corporate Capitalism”. It ain’t meant to be “fair”; it is meant to be “free” for those with the dough……..
EXCEPT ~ Grienke will NOT be much better than Wandy Rodrigez in 2013, if the past THREE years are any indication. We do not need to spend $165 million for a 15 game winner, #2 starter.
December 10, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Capuano?? Talk about being scared to death! That guy inspires absolutely zero confidence in my opinion.
December 10, 2012 at 7:04 pm
From Ben N-S at MlbR
“Grilli’s fastball averaged 93.6 mph this past season, his top velocity since 2007. He generated swinging strikes 14.4% of the time, a career high. Not surprisingly, Grilli’s strikeout rate increased yet again in 2012, when he struck out 90 of the 244 batters he faced.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#qdqSqyMI01xWitLb.99
Foo
.
December 10, 2012 at 8:59 pm
They should sign Hanrahan. His value should rise as the season gets underway and other closers either get injured or are not affective.
December 10, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Totally agree, he has more value to us right now than on the market.
December 11, 2012 at 12:42 pm
pirateMike is right. About the only GM that has anywhere close to a chance of competeing is Andrew Friedman,and that will last only as long as there are chumps like Dayton Moore around.