Frank Coonelly held his monthly chat on MLB.com this afternoon. You can read the transcript here. Some of the highlights of the chat:
-Coonelly mentions that the Pirates are looking to add a bullpen piece or two. He also said that adding Kevin Correia, and adding Scott Olsen to compete for the 5th starter role has bolstered the rotation for 2011.
-He mentioned Rudy Owens, Jeff Locke, Bryan Morris, Justin Wilson, and Alex Presley as players who could have a meaningful impact on the 2011 team, similar to what Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata, and Neil Walker did in 2010.
-Jameson Taillon has a legitimate chance of starting his career with the West Virginia Power.
-The Pirates haven’t had any conversations with Seattle about bringing Jack Wilson back. Coonelly mentioned that Wilson spent a lot of time in 2010 on the disabled list.
-Steve Pearce should be fully recovered from his knee injury in time for Spring Training.
-Charlie Morton, Brad Lincoln, Scott Olsen, and Brian Burres are competing for the fifth starter’s role.
-Coonelly mentioned that the one thing they didn’t want to do this off-season is block the 2010 Altoona starters, mentioning Rudy Owens, Jeff Locke, Bryan Morris, and Justin Wilson. He mentioned that they have the opportunity to demonstrate that they belong in Pittsburgh in 2011.
