Comments on: 2012 Rule 5 Draft Results: Pirates Pass; Pick One and Lose One in Triple-A Phase

By: beatembuccos21

beatembuccos21 — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:10:59 +0000

Are there new rules on the Rule 5 draft? Or do you still only lose $25,000 if you pick a guy and then return him to his original team? If that’s the case then a selection should be made nearly every year so that you can take a long look at someone in Spring Training. If he is not going to work, return him and take the $25,000 hit. Or if you swing a big deal prior to ST, you can send him back – still out $25K – prior to really getting look at him, which wouldn’t be as good. But, in the scheme of things, $25,000 isn’t much money at all.

Given that the Pirates did practically nothing while on the ground in Nashville, I would argue that the expense of sending the Pirates contingent to Winter Meetings is less valuable than taking a $25,000 flyer on someone. The Pirates could’ve accomplished as much – and saved a bunch of money – by participating via video conference.

By: John Dreker

John Dreker — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:42:37 +0000

There is probably more behind it. It’s hard to believe there wasn’t room for a guy who hit so well at High-A and age 21 just a year ago. I never got a chance to see him this year, but he looked real good at WV in 2010 and at least to me, his 2011 season wasn’t a surprise. It’s so easy not to lose a player like him in the minor league portion that there was probably something else, like weight issues or personal issues. For an organization that doesn’t mind giving failed 25-27 year old prospects chances, it’s hard to see them just giving up on one that just turned 23 without there being more to the story.

Like I said up top, not a big deal, just a surprise. I certainly wouldn’t have liked it if they just dealt Gonzalez for Hollingsworth, but they basically did that, plus threw in $12k. Teams don’t get that money when they lose players, MLB does. The reason I even commented was just because you shouldn’t expect a player like him to be lost, usually guys like Hollingsworth are lost, older players that have been around.

By: emjayinTN

emjayinTN — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:12:25 +0000

j: I think (hope) that the club realizes that there is a logjam of pitching at AAA. Locke, Morris, Wilson, Leroux, McPherson. I want to see Locke in the Rotation and Morris and Wilson starting the season in the bullpen. Either Leroux or McPherson can be the possible 5th SP – McPherson only pitched 3 games at AAA last year before being brought up in Sep, so maybe the best option would be for Leroux to start the season in the Rotation and allow McPherson to work at AAA for at least the first half of the season.

By: Lee Young

Lee Young — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:10:04 +0000

Elevys has left the (Pirate City) Building.

By: Lee Young

Lee Young — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:09:33 +0000

No great loss, imho, John.

Hollingsworth is AAA depth.

He’s been traded quite a few times. Former 4th round pick in 2008.

Scouting reports credit Hollingsworth with average stuff, but good command. Clint Scoles from Pinetar Press reports that he has a sinking fastball in the 89-91 mph range and “fringy” breaking stuff.

Gee….a sinking FB….sound familiar?

By: jalcorn

jalcorn — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:04:58 +0000

Surprising that we didn’t add a bullpen arm with so many question marks there.

By: John Dreker

John Dreker — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:49:04 +0000

Hard to believe Gonzalez wasn’t protected on a minor league roster. In 2011 he had an .841 OPS as a 21 year old in High-A ball. Seems like they could’ve found room for him somewhere, just to see if last year was a fluke. He’s been playing Winter League ball too, trying to get back on track. Not a big deal, just a surprise. He at least looks like more of a prospect(barely) than Hollingsworth