Jose Tabata, traded from the Yankees in a July deadline deal, was also added with catcher Steve Lerud. In winter ball, Tabata is hitting .272 with 1 homerun, 12 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. Right-handed pitchers Jeff Sues and Ronaldo Uviedo (1.74 ERA in the VWL) joined along.

Walker has the best chance of making it to the show anytime soon, but Tabata (who was once considered a top prospect) is ascending quickly through the system. Neal Huntington noted this was in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place on December 11th. Having these five on the 40-man protects them from any Rule 5 acquisition. 

The Buccos now have 22 pitchers, 5 catchers, 8 infielders, and 5 outfielders on their roster.

With that said, Spring Training should be quite interesting. Aside from the pitching spots that will be fought for, third base will (as of now) make for a good reenactment of World War II. Here's a list of the possible options in the the organization and options out of it for next year's starting role:

Neil Walker - Drafted by the Pirates in the 1st round of the 2004 amateur draft

Pedro Alvarez - Drafted by the Pirates in the 1st round of the 2008 amateur draft

(Draft information courtesy of Baseball Reference)

Rich Aurilia - .283, 10 HR, 52 RBI in 2008 with the Giants

Casey Blake -  .274, 21 HR, 81 RBI in 2008 with the Dodgers/Indians

Joe Crede - .254, 17 HR, 55 RBI in 2008 with the White Sox

Mike Lamb - .235, 1 HR, 32 RBI in 2008 with the Brewers/Twins

Juan Uribe - .247, 7 HR, 40 RBI in 2008 with the White Sox 

None 

My Pick: In an all perfect world, I'd love to see Casey Blake playing third at PNC Park, but that is highly unlikely (especially with Cleveland hoping to bring him back). It's best if Huntington and Frank Coonelly stick with LaRoche at third... at least until midseason. LaRoche was god awful with the Bucs following the trade, but an active spring with the club should help. 

Walker (or even Alvarez) could be ready by mid/late 2009, so LaRoche better get off to a hot start. If trade candidates open up at third, Huntington should without a doubt explore those options.

Doug Mientkiewicz is always an option. Refer to my last write-up on the former Gold Glover.

It's known that I am a huge advocate of Martinez coming to Pittsburgh in 2009. There are so many things that would just be right with a healthy Pedro pitching for the Pirates, but I'll keep those arguments in my pocket. I was thinking earlier, however, about something I forgot to post in my last article. Starter Ian Snell is a very similar pitcher to Pedro, in stature (5'11", 200 lbs.) and in delivery. Having Joe Kerrigan as coach next season will help, but having Martinez as a teammate would only do wonders.

NOTES: Cubs signed Ryan Dempster to a four-year, $52 million deal. Hopefully they'll calm down on the Jake Peavy trade discussions. The Yankees are now prepared to offer AJ Burnett five-years, $80 million to go along with Sabathia's offer of six-year, $140 million. Being a Pirates fan as well as a Bronx Bomber fan, you'd think I'd want my teams to "share the wealth." But if the 'Burgh was to acquire a fortune, would they necessarily become a better team?

The American League MVP and the National League MVP are awards that receive a mass amount of national recognition. These accolades are given out to those special players that had contributed to their respective teams in more ways than one. These are the players that make the dive into the stands or hit those walk-off blasts. These are truly the most valuable players in baseball. 

But, on a much smaller scale, every baseball analyst and fan has to think about his or her own club's MVP. Is it that guy that had statistically the best year, or is it something else that a particular player showcases.. In the case of the Pirates, I will truly argue that Doug Mientkiewicz was the team's most valuable member.  Maybe he only hit .277. Maybe he only drove in 30 RBIs. However, what Mientkiewicz brought to the table was something extra: a fiery and influential personality.

Mientkiewicz spent much of the 2008 campaign on and off the bench. Half the time, the 34 year-old was switching between corner infield spots (first and third), while making most of his starts late July and August. Doug also came off the bench in clutch pinch-hit situations, and on almost every occasion, he was able to drive in that much needed Buccaneer run. Though the word "clutch" is a term overused in baseball these days, the Pittsburgh veteran was the definition of being a clutch performer.

While handling the hot corner and first base, the former Gold Glove winner played superb and consistent defense. He did commit a total of seven errors at third base, but that was to be expected after manning first for most of his career. Mientkiewicz had only earned a Spring Training Invite from the Pirates, carrying slim expectations of making the squad in April. He fortunately worked very hard and learned how to become a much more versatile player. This eventually helped him to strengthen his portfolio and earn a spot on Pittsburgh's bench. 

In the best example of Doug's intense personality, one has to admire what he said had after an embarrassing 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mientkiewicz called out the Bucs for plainly playing a bad game of baseball, calling the entire situation "frustrating." This rant sparked the team the next night, as the 'rats destroyed Los Angeles in a 15-8 blowout. Whether it was ranting, or even veteran-to-youth advice, Mientkiewicz was without a doubt always talking. I don't know how the man did it, but he kept a non-contending team alive and awake almost all the time.

Tim Dierkes has already state it, but bringing Mientkiewicz back to the club would be perfect if it's at a respectable price. Management can't afford to re-sign a older player like Doug for an absurd amount of money, knowing that his already declining stats are bound to drop even more. Still, as I have previously stated, Mientkiewicz doesn't need to be the best player on the field. What he needs to do is preach his values and leadership off it, giving the Bucs a reason to bring 'ol Dougy back. 

So what is possible? What is there to do to with a team trying to reach the .500 mark and rebuild at the same time? Keep the young players, or trade them away? Sign free agents, or let the current Buccos fight to the top? As I seem to be the only blogger not only strongly fighting for management to do something this offseason, but actually giving out some ideas, I would like to run by my second thought for Pittsburgh's upcoming winter post-season:

Sign a 214 career game winner with 3,117 strikeouts, 2,782 IP, 2.91 ERA, and a WPCT of .684. Why the hell not, folks? Sign Pedro Martinez. And now to help secure my own fan base...

1. Seriously, why not. Pedro will not only be in the Bucs price range, but he stated several times he'd like to stay on the east coast. I am not sure how Martinez feels about playing for a non-contender, but being in the spotlight... what player doesn't want that?

2. He's 37. With age comes a strong, veteran resume to aid a young, struggling staff. Age also brings a surplus of health issues, which the New York media has covered for over the past three years. Here's his last three seasons with the Mets, riddled by injuries:

2005: 9-8, 4.48 ERA, 23 GS, 137 K

2006: 3-1, 2.45 ERA, 5 GS, 32 K

2007:  5-6, 5.61 ERA, 20 GS, 87 K

But in just four seasons removed...

2004: 15-8, 2.82 ERA, 32 GS, 208 K

In no way am I saying that Martinez will ever post numbers like these again, it is merely to show that he can still be a leader, rack up the Ks, hit his fastball at 90-91 MPH, dominate batters with his circle change, and hold his place as a Major League pitcher. God help us, the Buccos need one.

3. Joe Kerrigan. Newly signed coach Kerrigan worked with Martinez in his Boston days, helping him to win Cy Youngs and become one of the top pitchers in baseball's "Steriods" era. That 1999 season with 23 wins, 2.07 ERA, and 313 K? Martinez got it done, but Kerrigan was greatly aiding in the effort.

4. In days where families (Andy LaRoche and Adam LaRoche, Shelley Duncan and Chris Duncan)  reign over baseball, one has to wonder what affect does a family member have on a free agent signing? Well, as Beaver County Times reported, Martinez's "son" and "baby boy" is none other than middle reliever Denny Bautista, cousin to the future Hall of Famer. Whether or not this does anything to sway Pedro to the 'Burgh, it is good to know he already has family set up in the Steel City. Look at it like this, Bautista is just one of several Bucs who could get some aid from the veteran ace. 

Seriously folks, if Neal Huntington and Frank Coonelly want fans coming out to the ball park this year, if they want merchandise to be sold and sales to rise for the first time in a decade, they need to sign someone like Pedro Martinez. I think a healthy Martinez is the best option for Pittsburgh on the free agent market, twenty-times better than rumored Paul Byrd. Even with that said, Pedro's name would bring in fans and the dollar-bills for the next offseason.

Baseball management is a game within itself, and sometimes, moves like acquiring Pedro Martinez have much more behind them. I will continue to fight for an active Pirates offseason, and just remember the ideas I put down may never happen or even be considered, but at least I am thinking.

Whose our daddy? We hope for the 2009 season ours will be Mr. Pedro Martinez. Oh, and since it is my 17th birthday today, I expect a ton of user feedback! Hehe.

I had written about minor league lefty Kyle Bloom last month, and while many were skeptical (and many still are), the kid continues to dominate in the Hawaiian winter league. I ran across this article, and thought it would help back the fact that Bloom isn't a phony. 

It is time to play a personal favorite, who will be the next Tony Armas?

With a deep (and I do mean deep) pool of free agents, the casual Pirates fan can easily get lost. Before I even begin discussing possible options, I would like to name a brief list of offseason acquisitions in recent past: Roberto Hernandez, Jeromy Burnitz, Joe Randa, Chris Gomez, and Masumi Kuwata to name a few. From those players, one can tell what the winter months mean to the "active" Buccaneers.

Yes, to give some faith, this is a relatively new power in control. The management of the 'Burgh, lead by general manager Neal Huntington and president Frank Coonelly, at least preach that they have a healthy direction for this struggling organization. They can talk hope all they want, but until they actually show substantial efforts in improving this team, the fan base is more than allowed to let off some steam.  

I have already discussed the very low budget this team has to spend in an earlier blog post. Coonelly has said that costs will rise from previous years, but from what is has been (nothing recently topping $50 mil), who can honestly put down a figure. There's two main pieces the 'rats are searching for: a quality starting pitcher, and a power bat at any position. With a broad Christmas list like that, you think this would be a piece of cake, right? Wrong.

The best option I see out there for a starter fitting the Pirates' needs (and budget) is that of Paul Byrd. Byrd split time last season between Boston and Cleveland. The former Indians starter is another recognizable name from that organization for the former assistant GM Huntington. 

Byrd, turning 38, is a fly-ball pitcher who at this point in his career will not blow anyone way. He is needless to say a quality arm with no signs of health issues. With a veteran like Byrd, you can always expect an eventual break down, but the right-hander has averaged 31 starts over the last four years. 

Other names that fit Pittsburgh include Livan Hernandez, Carl Pavano, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Randy Wolf, and Mark Hendrickson. Martinez and Johnson's contract requests may be out of their reach, but it will all depend on the front office's willingness to bargain.

The power bat argument gets a little iffy, as baseball reporters have a different definition for what Major League power is. I could honestly see the club signing someone like Eric Hinske, who blasted 20 homers for Tampa Bay last year. If Jack Wilson or Adam LaRoche are traded however, power will be the least of their worries, as just getting players to man the field would be enough.

Keeping in mind the current Pirates filed for free agency, I likely see Doug Mientkiewicz as the only one who would have a real impact on John Russell's squad. He was a leader in the clubhouse a summer ago, and a 

.277 average showed off his stuff to be a consistent bench player. For me, Pirates veteran outfielder Jason Michaels is too old and too slow. 

Keep in touch this offseason with TBB by adding The 'Burgh Blues Mobile on your phone!

Ronny Paulino's place with the Pittsburgh Pirates changed dramatically in 2008, as manager John Russell sent Ryan Doumit to man the backstop on Opening Day. From there, Paulino's season was a downward spiral, as the 27 year-old bounced back and forth from Pittsburgh to Triple-A Indianapolis. The organization has seemingly lost hope in keeping the catcher for the future.

Fortunately, Paulino has been lighting up the Dominican Winter League, and whether or not he's a Bucco in 2009, multiple ball clubs will be seeking a power-hitting catcher like himself. Since making his first start with the Tigres de Licey, Paulino has clubbed 4 homeruns, bringing in 10 RBIs in only five games. He's currently hitting .533 with an OBP of .600. 

Doumit (for now) has blocked Paulino's chances of ever re-taking the starting catching role with the Pirates. Needless to say, if his winter league season continues like it has begun, Ronny will be gaining much attention. 

Fans can argue that the Pittsburgh Pirates don't have time to waste another offseason, sitting at the Winter Meetings as deadline deals and enormous free agent packages are completed. Unfortunately, Bucco management really has all the time in the world, as "winning" seems to have eluded this ball club for now almost two decades. They have actually gotten by with those low-cost veterans like Tony Armas and Jeromy Burnitz, and they can afford to not make any significant trades, or even significant signings. Hell, they can put the same 68-win team out there from a year before and easily get away with it.

Nonetheless, in the course of recent events, this methodology of baseball supervision cannot continue. This team (and its controlling organization) has endured 16-straight losing seasons, and is in the process of losing fans, money, and inability to preach hope. On the edge of a professional sports-worse 17th losing year, the state of the 'Burgh can only survive by playing one game: I'd call it, Lowe-ball.

That's right, any baseball fan could've guessed it. The "managing game" I am referring to involves pitcher Derek Lowe. Now, before anyone checks out and believes this is to be a Pirates fan's madness, I encourage you to continue to read.

Yes, Derek Lowe. The same Lowe who at 35 pitched himself to a 14-11 record (with the Dodgers). The same Lowe that has kept his ERA below four the past four seasons. The same Lowe who has appeared in 21 postseason games, and while his recent struggles there have brought up quite a bit of attention, wouldn't the Pirates not be making the playoffs anyway?

When asked about the idea on Lowe, President Frank Coonelly said he "wouldn't rule it out." That is the immediate reason I have even bothered writing this delightful piece, and while it's not much... give a worker a hammer, he'll build you something. Obviously, there are some major road blocks in the way of allowing a singing like this to happen, but with the right management, Lowe-ball could get the job done. 

Money, money, money. Who doesn't love money. The infamous Nutting budget is held for the upcoming season around $60-70 million, one of the lowest payrolls in sports. This makes it to be quite impossible to sign anyone of Lowe's stature to any kind of deal. However, the money aspect could get washed away at a 21st-century (reasonable) price, if the Bucs and a Derek Lowe knew what they would be getting out of it. Usually, teams like the Yankees and the Mets are also searching to add players like these. And we all know, they have the money.

There currently isn't a set value on Derek Lowe, but I guarantee by mid-November there will be one. He went for $36 million over four years with Los Angeles, but the sinker-ball pitcher could be a real bargain. I could see Lowe going for $10-12 million a year, and while Bucs don't currently have a player making over $7 million, an investment like Lowe could only increase revenues (and eventually payroll) in Pittsburgh.

Secondly, at 35, it's hard to think Lowe would hold his place as a staff ace for 2-3 years down the road. Luckily, as general manager Neal Huntington has done an outstanding job of, the Pirates have (and are in the process of) accumulating a surplus of young arms. Paul Maholm, in my eyes, will never be a Major League staff ace, but he's the best Pittsburgh has got. Imagine for a second a 2009 rotation shaped like this. Try to look at it from a "baseball analyst" perspective (like I do), and pretend guys like Ian Snell wouldn't be posting 5.00+ ERAs. 

1. Derek Lowe

2. Paul Maholm

3. Ian Snell

4. Jeff Karstens 

5. Zach Duke

For what it is, I'd just like to call that a masterpiece in the making.

I lied earlier. This is crazy. This is madness. But it could happen. It should happen. It won't happen. IT COULD happen. Lowe-ball is a game inside of a game; a game that really doesn't have any boundaries and can be warped by those who play it. GM Billy Beane's Moneyball is very much like it, the only difference is the Oakland A's organization is handled very differently then the Marlins or the Orioles. We're not talking a GM's ability here folks, we're talking about how owners and partnerships run their teams.

Having Derek Lowe in spring of next year would not only be remarkable, it could change a generation. Lowe's name is one of many that could fit the game I am trying to teach, but he was just a perfect example of what could be... if it was to be. 

Thank you all for reading, and I hope everyone enjoyed the story. I support each and everyone of you to leave feedback, tell others to read, and continue to check the site. Lowe-ball shows what a Pirate fan and analyst must do to hold his sanity, and it would be greatly appreciated if he or she knew that people were keeping in touch. Whether or not Lowe-ball will be played, it is time for a change.