Per a team press release, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed outfielder/first baseman Brad Hawpe, and have made the Lucas May signing official. Both players will be invited to Spring Training as non-roster invitees. In the same release the Pirates announced that Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon would both receive an invite to major league Spring Training.
Hawpe has a career .276/.368/.480 line in 2907 major league at-bats, although he’s struggled since leaving Colorado in 2010. He spent the 2012 season in the Texas farm system, playing at the Double-A level. The lefty hit for a .260/.382/.382 line in 123 at-bats. He was cut mid-season, and didn’t sign with another team. Hawpe is in a good situation as a lefty in PNC Park, although I doubt he returns to his old Coors Field numbers. The Pirates have so many first base/right field options that I don’t see Hawpe making the majors without an injury or trade.
