Bad news for the Pirates today, courtesy of Dr. James Andrews. Jose Ascanio, acquired in the Tom Gorzelanny/John Grabow trade, underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. The Pirates have not yet committed to a timetable for his return, but torn labrums are often the downfall of a pitcher’s career.
When this trade was initially announced, I was skeptical. I didn’t like the inclusion of Gorzelanny, as I felt the Pirates had dealt him at his lowest value. Ascanio was the player that made me feel better about the deal. So far, Hart has been lousy. I still think he could become a decent reliever, but I am pretty doubtful that he will ever be a serviceable starter. Josh Harrison is a wild card at best, and his one walk in 155 post-trade plate appearances is discouraging. And now, Ascanio might be done.
Most people point to the Jason Bay trade as Neal Huntington’s biggest whiff. I think the Grabow/Gorzelanny deal is much more likely to go down as his worst trade.
