About a month ago, Vic Black was placed on the Indianapolis Indians disabled list with a left-oblique injury. The right-hander was activated from the disabled list today. The Pirates probably won’t have any immediate need for Black. They’ve got Duke Welker and Ryan Reid in the majors right now, and one of those two will probably go down when Jeanmar Gomez is activated on Wednesday. Another one could go down if James McDonald is activated and sent to the bullpen on Thursday.
If the Pirates face some injuries, Black could provide some value as a replacement option, since he throws in the mid-to-upper 90s and can touch 100 with a plus wipeout slider. As I wrote the other day, the big value he could provide would be in September. Between Black, Duke Welker, Justin Wilson, and Stolmy Pimentel, the Pirates could have four relievers in their bullpen in September who can hit 98 MPH or better with a plus breaking pitch.
To make room for Black, Oscar Tejeda was sent to Altoona.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Nobody, but I feel like clubs get stuck giving players multiple chances they don’t deserve because a player was traded for or signed via free agency and a GM attempts to prove he made the right choice by bringing the player into their system. James is just depth, not quality depth at this point.
I say you consider the Dotel trade a success at this point. McDonald was a serviceable to good starting pitcher for what? 2 years? And we still have Lambo who looks like he may have once again found his stroke. Cut your loses and DFA McDonald. Cole deserves to be in the majors, I can’t say that for McDonald.
Who is saying the Dotel trade isn’t a success?
Tim : earlier this Spring I was of the opinion that Gift Ngoepe would never hit nearly enough to play in MLB. But the more I watch him,I do think he could possibly be a ” late arrival “,if you know what I mean. When he does get the bat on the ball,he is a line drive hitter with some gap power . He just appears like he is behind in his baseball education.I think he needs a ton of ABs over the next few seasons to overcome his non contact problems if they have the time and inclination.He sure has the speed and hands to play,and his arm at SS dioesn’t appear to me to be lacking either. I would be interested to see what you think of his future.
Why should the pirates send someone who is not struggling to AAA for the return of JMAC! It makes no sense at all. Why add a guy who is right handed, does not have an electric arm, and is mentally weak. Vic black, duke welker, Bryon morris, pimental all more valuable than JMAC.
Jmac doesn’t have any options left. He can be claimed on waivers if he isn’t put back on the active roster after dl time is up.
I could defend sending Cole down to keep Morton up if Morton’s performing. But I don’t think I could defend sending Morris back to AAA to clear a spot for J Mac just because Morris has options and you want to see what J Mac has left in the tank. Any shot whatsoever James McDonald clears waivers?
This is for anyone out there – who in our pen does have options remaining?
deacs – I don’t have time to check right now but the player pages on this site have options listedfor each player. Just one more reason this site is awesome and Pirates fans are the most educated fans of any mlb team.
Thanks Fred. Nice work.
The only guys with options left are Wilson, Morris and Watson and I think adding J Mac to the team and sending one of those guys down is A) going to hurt the team and B) not going to happen. I just don’t see how he makes the team barring an injury or three.
Thanks for the update on McPherson when it comes! I actually thought he had more upside than Locke, so am still hoping to see him in the bigs this year.
Any ideas on what has happened to McDonald? Should he be written off, and say that his first half of 2012 was like Zach Duke’s first partial year? Any time I imagine him actually starting for the Pirates, I start to choke.
Yeah it’s a shame. At the beginning of the year I feel like it would have taken 5 starters going down for McPherson to get his shot and now that that’s happened he’s hurt and can’t take advantedge of it. But without any definite committments from AJ and/or Wandy next year I would think he’d have as good a shot as any to crack the starting 5 next year.
Pirates have done a ton of moves to extend time to make decisions this year and it had worked out as usually someone else went down. Is there a chance on wed. Gomez and jmac come up, gomez to start, jmac to last man in bullpen role welker had. And welker and reid go down just to give them more time to figure it out?
Excellent. I’m sure someone, somewhere, in the last 6 hours has asked this question – any updates on Kyle McPherson? If you covered it somewhere earlier sorry for asking.
I’m actually hoping to get an update on McPherson, since he’s down here in Bradenton. But he’s not throwing, so it’s tough to catch up with him.
Thanks Tim.