The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced the signings of seven minor league free agents today. We had heard previously about Michael Martinez and Brandon Mann, while Kyle McPherson has returned to the organization. On top of those names, also announced today were LHP Adam Wilk, LHP Daniel Schlereth, 1B Travis Ishikawa and RHP Elvin Ramirez. Ishikawa, Martinez, Schlereth, Wilk and McPherson were all invited to Spring Training as non-roster players.
Travis Ishikawa is a 30-year-old lefty/lefty first baseman, who has played parts of six seasons in the majors with the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers and in 2013, he played six games for the Baltimore Orioles and one game for the New York Yankees. He has a .260/.324/.398 slash line over 382 major league games.
Adam Wilk is a 6’2″ left-hander, who just recently turned 26 years old. He pitched in Korea in 2013, going 4-8, 4.12 in 91.2 innings. Prior to that, Wilk pitched parts of two seasons in the majors(2011-12) with the Detroit Tigers, going 0-3, 6.66 in three starts and five relief appearances. He was an 11th round pick in the 2009 draft.
Elvin Ramirez is a 26-year-old, 6’3″ right-hander, who has pitched 20 games in the majors with the 2012 New York Mets. He went 0-1, 5.48 in 21.2 innings, with 22 strikeouts and 20 walks. In 2013, he split the season between AA and AAA in the Los Angeles Angels organization, going 1-1, 5.46 in 61 innings over 49 appearances. He missed all of 2011 with right shoulder surgery after being picked by the Washington Nationals(from the Mets) in the Rule V draft.
Daniel Schlereth is a 27-year-old 6’0″ lefty, who has played in the majors with the 2009 Detroit Tigers and 2010-12 Arizona Diamondbacks. In 94 career games, all in relief, he is 5-6, 4.35 in 93 innings, with 91 strikeouts, 60 walks and one save. In 2013, he pitched 12 games in AAA for the Baltimore Orioles. He missed most of the season, going down to injury in early May and returning late August to pitch two games.
Brandon Mann pitched in Japan last year after failing to make the Washington Nationals out of Spring Training. He has never pitched in the majors, making it as far as AA in eight seasons in the minors. He is a 29-year-old, 6’2″ lefty, who looks to be an option for a bullpen spot in Altoona.
As mentioned above, McPherson has been invited to Spring Training, but he will miss at least half of the season recovering from the Tommy John Surgery he had in July. The Pirates designated him for assignment on November 25th.
