Light My Fire: Buccos Hot Stove Preview

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. 

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