The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 22-year-old pitcher Deivy Mendez as a minor league free agent after he was let go by the Tampa Bays Rays in late May. Mendez can sit 96-98 MPH and flash three plus pitches at times, which has led to 254 strikeouts in 212.2 innings since he was signed as an international amateur free agent on July 2, 2012. The problem is that he also has 147 walks during that time and the control hasn’t been any better for him recently.
As a minor league free agent signing, there’s no risk here, and he took the roster spot that was already open on the Bradenton roster. The Pirates would control his minor league rights until the end of next year.
Here’s a recent video:
In other minor moves, some roster shuffling at the lower levels.
Jin-De Jhang returns to Altoona and John Bormann goes on the disabled list with a left calf strain, which is most likely just a phantom injury.
Rafelin Lorenzo began a rehab assignment in the GCL today. He had a very bad cut on one of his hands. Raul Hernandez rejoins the Power after his rehab assignment in the GCL.
Raul Siri was sent to Morgantown to make room for Hernandez.
Jacob Webb has been assigned to the GCL roster. In what was a paper move to allow the Pirates to get extra players in the GCL, Webb and two other players were placed on the West Virginia disabled list, then sent to the GCL on rehab. Pitcher John O’Reilly moved up to Bristol today, opening a spot for Webb.
