Welcome to the weekly Pittsburgh Pirates Rumor Mill, where we update you on all of the latest Pirates trades, signings, rumors, injury news, promotions, demotions, and the like from the past week.
In this week’s Rumor Mill, we provide a few injury updates, take a look at some possible dates for call-ups for the Pirates’ top pitching prospects, and break down the trade market for rental players that could be fits in Pittsburgh.
Ryan Vogelsong has surgery
Ryan Vogelsong, who has been on the disabled list since May 24th, had surgery yesterday to repair facial fractures. The fractures were a result of being hit in the head with a pitch while at the plate. He was seen at a Pirates game a few days after that scary incident, and seems to be recovering well. We wish him nothing but the best.
Arquimedes Caminero close to rehab
Arquimedes Caminero is nearing a rehab assignment, per Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Post-Gazette:
Arquimedes Caminero (quad) has thrown off a slope and has responded well. He’s nearing rehab assignment, athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk said.
— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) June 1, 2016
Caminero has been on the DL since May 26th, and it’s fair to wonder if his time with the major league club has come to an end. He’s pitched to a poor 5.19 ERA this season and a WHIP over two.
What dates make sense for the top prospects to be called up?
Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow are nearing their call-ups. At this point, the Pirates are just waiting out the Super-Two deadline and trying to keep their collective head above water in the meantime. The middle of June is typically around when it’s safe for teams to call up their top prospects, and with Juan Nicasio likely the first man out of the rotation, we look to his scheduled starts to see when one of the two could be called up. He’s scheduled to pitch next on Tuesday, June 7th against the Mets, but that date seems too soon. The following start, Sunday, June 12th, seems ideal, as it’s a home game, but the game is nationally televised on ESPN and is against the Cardinals. Could that stage be too big for Taillon or Glasnow? Or is it the perfect atmosphere to welcome them? In either case, that date seems the best time to debut one of the two. And the team could always go for Saturday, June 18th, but that’s a road game at night against the Cubs. That’s even less ideal than the 12th.
So Sunday, June 12th seems like the best case scenario. Will the Pirates pull the trigger that early? Only time will tell.
The rental player trade market
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors recently updated their top 2017 free agent list. I went through the list and wondered if any of these rental players would make sense for the Pirates as trade options this season. Outfielders don’t make sense, so that knocks out Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista, Josh Reddick, Edwin Encarnacion, and Dexter Fowler. And Neil Walker isn’t coming back to the Pirates. That leaves four players: two relievers (Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman), a starter (Rich Hill), and Mark Trumbo, who can play first base as well as the outfield. I don’t see the Dodgers trading Jansen as they seem likely to be competitive throughout the season. Chapman would be a long shot, but right now the Yankees are under .500 and he would net New York a good return. Rich Hill is an intriguing starting option, and might not cost a lot as a veteran player. However, unless John Jaso‘s performance drastically declines, I don’t see the Pirates going after Trumbo.
There are many other rental players whose names will be floated near the trade deadline, but those are some of the bigger names that will be out there.
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