Pirates quiet as winter meetings end
direction, and we may not.”
Throughout the week, the Pirates filled their 40-man roster. Monday, they claimed Engelb Vielma, a 23-year-old Venezuelan shortstop, on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. Thursday, they selected right-handed reliever Jordan Milbrath in the Rule 5 draft.
Theteam’s most significant move was announced immediately after the meetings concluded. The Pirates traded international slot bonus spending capacity for right-hander NickBurdi, whom the Phillies had selected with the No. 3 pick in the Rule 5 draft. Last season, Burdi, 24, had a 0.53 ERA in 14 relief appearances with the Minnesota Twins’ Class AA affiliate before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. He is expected to begin next season on the disabled-list.
On the major-league side, the Pirates completed no freeagent-signings or trades.
“We continue to have conversations,” Huntington said, not revealing his hand about the reported interest in McCutchen, Cole and Harrison. “Some new interest has popped up. Some opportunities we thought might be there havenot materialized.”
Around the National League Central Division, the St. Louis Cardinals made one of the biggest splashes of the week, trading for left-fielder Marcell Ozuna. The Chicago Cubs shored up their pitching staff by signing free agents Brandon Morrow, Drew Smyly and Steve Cishek.
Still, the Pirates weren’t alone in not making major deals, and baseball’s trade and free-agent market has been relatively cool this offseason. Front offices no longer feel the pressure to make big freeagent signings quickly, expecting prices to drop the longer they wait.
“The market has been awfully slow to develop, and that continues,” Huntington said. “Really, the only thing in the marke thas been the relievers, and the pace at which they come off the board is where we typically are the week before the winter meetings, when you see a flurry of moves before the winter meetings. This year, that flurry of moves happened at the winter meetings, so whether it’s before the holidays or immediately after the holidays, there might be another flurry of moves coming that typically happen at the winter meetings.”
Nevertheless, Pirates fans are sure to express their dismay that a team hoping to be a contender in recent seasons now is suggesting it may try to push back its timeline.
“We get the sense of urgency,” Huntington said. “The right deal at the right time is much better than the wrong deal at the right time.”
“Our goal is to do the right deals at the right time or not do the wrong deals at the right time,” he added.