Pirates cap off the Matt Capps era

In a surprising move,the Pirates released closer Matt Capps rather than offering him arbitration.
Pittsburgh had reportedly been shopping Capps at the recent winter meetings,but gave no indication that releasing him to avoid an arbitration loss was even a remote consideration.
This means that the Bucs will enter the season (unless changes are made) with Joel Hanrahan as the closer.
If this sounds familiar to you,it might be because Washington tried that last season and Hanrahan was so successful that he became a Pirate.
However,Hanrahan does have the arm for the role and his season did improve after moving to the Pirates,so one could see a successful transition for Hanrahan.

Capps would have likely won his arbitration case and received a sizable raise despite his worst season as a Pirate.
Capps set a career high with 27 saves in 32 save opportunities,but looking beyond that shows that signing Capps to a large deal could have been a mistake.
His ERA was over two runs higher (5.80) than his previous high,his WHIP went through the roof and his strikeout to walk ratio plummeted from 7.80 to a lowly 2.71,not good news for a closer that relies on control more than power to get the job done.

I can understand this from the Pirates side,they don't want to overpay a possibly declining closer on a bad team when they can spend that money elsewhere.
I get that,but couldn't they have gotten something for him?
I suppose they were trying,but apparently not hard enough.
All and all,I wish Capps could have stayed,but the questions on his decline make me think that this could make sense.
Keep your fingers crossed for Joel Hanrahan,folks or the bullpen will be a HUGE mess....


The Pirates offered arbitration to Zach Duke and Duke will be the only Pirate entering the system as Pittsburgh signed Ronny Cedeno to a one year contract worth 1.15 million.
That means that money shouldn't enter the picture as part of the Cedeno vs Bobby Crosby shortstop as both are on one year deals for similar cash.
Pittsburgh also released lefty pitcher Phil Dumatrait to avoid arbitration with him.
Not that big of a loss (except to Battlin' Bob,who always liked Dumatrait),but it does leave the Buccos really short in lefty relievers as only Donald Veal remains on the 40 man roster representing the southpaws and I would really like to see Veal with Indianapolis this season..

Will try to be back later with the Devils win over Philadelphia.

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