
The Pittsburgh Pirates have granted a release to relief pitcher Craig Hansen, Pirates Prospects has learned, after Hansen requested his release. Â The Pirates originally acquired him as part of the Jason Bay trade, along with Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss, and Bryan Morris. Â LaRoche, Moss, and Hansen have all been released this off-season.
Hansen started off the 2009 season with the Pirates, but only made five appearances, with a 5.68 ERA in 6.1 innings. Â After that he went on the disabled list, and was eventually diagnosed with a rare nerve injury, which has put his future in doubt. Â Hansen missed the rest of the 2009 season, and only pitched in 12 games in 2010, most of those at the high-A level. Â In those games, he threw 16 innings with a 3.38 ERA. Â When I saw him at the end of Spring Training, he was only throwing 88-89 MPH, down from the 93-97 MPH range that made him a first round draft pick in 2005, and a top prospect in the Boston Red Sox system.
hope we can learn from this trade..go quality over quantity..
I can’t say I’m surprised, but I sure hope Bryan Morris (eventually) performs well enough to redeem an otherwise dreadful trade.