Butler PA native (and Battlin Bob favorite) Don Kelly was designated for assignment for the second time this season.
The Pirates also received an undisclosed amount of cash in the deal.
Wow,I am so amazed that cash entered into any Pirate maneuvers!
First off,I would figure this-If the Cubs are giving cash,they will be getting a better prospect for Izturis than you think.
I hope that this is not the case,but honestly,how many top prospects do the Bucs have?
If it is not McCutchen,Walker or maybe Pearce,it should not be anyone too high on any prospect list.
So I would tend to think it will be a reliever likely that is at Indianapolis right now,but maybe Altoona,but a starter from the lower levels is a slight possibility.
So,I will take a shot in the dark and guess that the PTBNL will be either Jonah Bayliss or
Josh Sharpless,with Bayliss having the edge since Sharpless is a local guy and the Pirates love that sort of thing.
Now to the obvious lead-in to whether this leads to the trading of Jac
k Wilson.Yeah,I think so and even though I promoted trading Wilson,I have the feeling this is going to result in a bad deal.
Considering the altercation between Wilson and pitching coach Jim Colborn recently, I would say this-Jim Tracy had a talk with Dave Littlefield and more or less discussed the following.
1)Jack Wilson apparently is having problems getting along with the coaching staff.
2)Jack Wilson is not a good enough player to put up with these types of problems every day.
3)Cesar Izturis is a Jim Tracy favorite from their days with the Dodgers,is available and would not come at a huge cost.
4)Pittsburgh would save a LOT of money when you look at the contracts of the two players.
BINGO!---
For a look at the contract situation on the Pirates at Cot's Baseball Contracts.
Great site for looking at salary numbers!
Here is why I have a bad feeling about a Wilson trade.
I can hear you all now,"but Shawn ,wasn't it just 1 week ago,where you said trading Jack Wilson was the 1st thing you would do as GM as a short term improvement??
Yes and I stand by it,but that was having faith in what I could get back,I have little faith in what the Captain can get for him and by obtaining Izturis now,he has likely lowered Wilson's value as other (smarter) GM's now know that Littlefield almost HAS to deal Wilson,public statements to the contrary.
So in short,Should Jack Wilson go?
Yes.
Will he ?
Likely
Will the Pirates get much for him?
Doubtful and the likelihood of getting a decent return dwindles by the minute.
What does Cesar Izturis bring to the Pirates as the regular shortstop?
A similar glove to Wilson,with a lesser bat,but is faster and will steal more bases.
And most important,he is cheaper and his salary comes off the books at seasons end.
Never underestimate the dollar with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bullpen Notes
Nickels Nutting did a interview with the Tribune-Review and made me laugh and cry at the same time.
Quote of the day from Nickels-"The farm system and development staff have shown very positive signs that we're doing not just a good job, but in many respects, a great job."
What makes you think that in ANY way?
Because Indianapolis and Altoona are each two games over .500?
The massive amount of prospects that are ready to go?
The same amount of prospects that could be reasonably decent trade bait?
Great Job?
Please,how deluded can you be???
Saw tonight's Lexington-Hagerstown game,which was a 3-1 Lexington win in 11 innings.
Sharp outing for Lexington lefty Polin Trinidad,7 innings,1 run and only 2 hits,as well as a good outing for nice guy veteran Don Levinski.
Levinski threw 6 shutout innings for the Suns.
Plus,got to see reader Chet Trybus at the game tonight.
Always a pleasure to talk some Bucco baseball with Chet.
Now the downside tonight.
Thirsty Thursday or as I like to call it Drunkard night.
Security on the other hand,not in effect as a few of these "fans" wandered into areas that they were not allowed to be in,acted like obnoxious idiots and no one said a word.
The Suns management only seems to be worried about the money that these nights bring in,not the money that these nights drive away from people that just don't want to put up with it.
The so-called "suite area" ban for the autograph collectors continues to be enforced only when GM Will Smith sees fit.
Tonight the area had several fans in it,Smith walked right by twice and never said a word.
Which is fine by me,the ban is silly to begin with.
But he picks and chooses on when to enforce this issue,Monday,he ran a bunch of fans out that did not have "suite tickets".
It is a silly thing to begin with,as I now stay out of the area,so I don't have to listen to any unneeded verbiage from the Suns employees,but for the Suns only to complain when someone feels like it is cheesy at best and dumb at worst.
Suns manager Tommy Herr continues to ignore autograph requests at Municipal Stadium,but is reported to be a willing signer on the road.
I don't know what the reason for that would be,but one would think it would be the other way around.
Herr came to Hagerstown with a reputation as a willing signer,but has proven to be a disappointment thus far.
I will be doing a "3 months later" entry on the Suns,their problems and even more things they are blundering on soon.
Short on the signing front today,
but I was able to get new Sun John Poppert to sign his Vermont and Savannah cards and finished up Lexington with adding injured infielder Jhon Florentino
The Phillies signed their first rounder,Rice pitcher Joe Savery.
The Phils assigned him to Williamsport (NY-Penn).
I am hoping for a late season promotion to Lakewood as the Blue Claws still have a visit here before seasons end.
I also added a small part to part 2 of the Pirates GM series that I wanted to address,but forgot to.
You can see it here.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are currently playing the BC Lions close in Vancouver.
More on that later today or tomorrow!
Photo Credits
Izturis-Getty Images
Wilson/Sanchez-Peter Diana-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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