Pirates add pitchers...

Don't get too excited yet as neither of these new Pirates are Tim Lincecum or Roy Halladay,but veteran arms are just that.

Kevin Correia signed a two year deal at four million per year to leave San Diego and join the Bucs.
The thirty year old Correia was 10-10 last year on the contending Padres with a 5.40 ERA.
Doesn't sound great,does it?
Well,the 2009 numbers were better with 12-11 and 3.91 ERA and looking at his stats,he tends to have a better year following a lesser season,so that could mean a decent 2011 and then a not as strong 2012.
In the big picture,mediocre groundball pitching lefty out (Zach Duke),mediocre groundball pitching righty in (Kevin Correia).
Advantage Push as Nick Bakay used to proclaim....

Pittsburgh earlier in the day added lefty Scott Olsen to a one year deal for a million dollars and incentives.
Olsen once looked like one of the up and comers in the game after a 12 win 4.04 ERA season in 2006 at just 22.
Olsen has been awful in his two seasons in Washington and looking at the Nationals pitching,if Olsen had much to offer and considering the price,the Nats likely would have tried harder to keep him.
Combine that with Olsen's off the field issues with alcohol and this seems like a low investment,but one that doesn't seem likely to pay off at the casino....

The Post-Gazette is reporting that the Pirates are actively shopping Ryan Doumit,talking trade with Atlanta for Kenshin Kawakami and might be close to signing Jeremy Accardo for the bullpen.
Neal Huntington says that Doumit would be the right fielder with occasional spelling of Chris Snyder behind the plate if he stays.
I think Doumit's value plunges with an outfield move and would like to see a deal,but who plays right everyday with no Doumit and no Lastings Milledge?
I would love to see John Bowker have a full season shot or at least a Bowker/Steve Pearce platoon,but that doesn't strike me as a likely scenario knowing the Pirates.
I do think a Bowker/Pearce platoon could surprise some people and be pretty productive,if they would only give it a chance...

Accardo is a flyer that I might chance on a minor league deal,but not a big league one considering his past injury issues.

Kawakami is somewhat interesting though as the Braves seem eager to dump his contract of 6.6 million and have been reported to be willing to pay most of it to move him on.
If the cost of trading for him is just cash and no substantial prospects,I'd be willing to gamble on Kawakami...

Not excited yet,but lets stay tuned....

Photo Credits
Correia-Doug Pensinger-Getty Images
Olsen-Unknown