The Pirates have made a few more changes to their roster over the last week as some players were added and a few have been (possibly) moved along.
Octavio Dotel has been signed to a one year contract with the Pirates holding an option to keep Dotel in town for 2011,if they so desire.
Terms were undisclosed,but is reported to be about three million for the 2010 portion of the agreement.
The 36-year-old righty is expected to close for the Pirates after an excellent 2009 for the White Sox.
Dotel joins former teammate D.J. Carrasco and Brendan Donnelly as newcomers that the Pirates hope will shore up a bullpen that struggled in 2009... The Buccos claimed once bright prospect Brandon Jones off waivers from the Braves, although rumors are flying that Jones was claimed to place in a deal with an unnamed team.
The 26-year old outfielder was once a top-five prospect in the Braves system but had fallen behind younger prospects such as Jason Heyward in the Braves pecking order.
But assuming Jones stays with the Pirates going into camp, that leads to an interesting battle for what appears to be the final outfield spot between Jones, Brandon Moss, and Rule V draftee John Raynor.
Jones looks like the odd man out there, at least on a temporary basis, as Raynor needs to stay all-season or a deal needs to be worked out with Florida and Moss is out of minor league options.
The Pirates also allowed one of the final links to the Dave Littlefield age to move on as the Pirates shipped Brian Bixler to the Indians for prospect Jesus Brito.
Two surprising notes on the deal. One is that the Indians are giving Bixler a chance to be their utility infielder and that the Wahoos actually traded a prospect to get him.
Brito had nice numbers in the AZL and in a short stint with Mahoning Valley in the NY-Penn League, but keep in mind that he is 22 and old for the level.
All in all, a good move for the Pirates in gaining a prospect for a player that Pittsburgh was down on and the type of move that the team needs to continue to make.
Good luck to Brian Bixler as well, as Bixler was one of the nicer players that I have met over the last few seasons and it would be nice to see him have a chance at the big time...
Tony over at Indians prospect insider takes a look at the trade here.
Tony also posted this on Youtube of a Brito at-bat.
The Pirates designated two of the former Yankee arms for assignment to make roster space as both Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett got the axe.
When you consider that Eric Hacker was allowed to leave as a minor league free agent, it is apparent that the Yankee "catch lightning in a bottle" project is passed.
I was surprised by Jackson though, I thought the Pirates liked him more than that, although I think that it is quite possible that the Pirates would like to resign Jackson if the waivers clear.
Two former Pirate farmhands were signed to deals with new organizations as Jamie Romak and Pedro Powell signed contracts.
Romak signed with Kansas City which is logical with former Braves front office employee Dayton Moore running the show there.
Romak was drafted by Atlanta when Moore was in their front office,
Lynchburg's favorite son, Pedro Powell will be attempting a comeback in the Nationals system.
Powell holds the record for steals in Lynchburg and his chance at a comeback apparently is due to a Washington fetish for light hitting and speedy former Pirate outfielders (Nyjer Morgan).
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