The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed two minor league free agents, according to Baseball America’s latest minor league transactions. The first player that is new to the list is actually a former player, Francisco Diaz. Diaz is a catcher who was eligible for minor league free agency this off-season. He has mostly played the lower levels, and profiles as an organizational player.
It’s possible that he’s returning as a player/coach, since it doesn’t appear there will be much room for him in the minors with all of the lower level catching depth the Pirates have. Bradenton could have Reese McGuire and Jin-De Jhang, while West Virginia will probably have 2014 draft picks Taylor Gushue, Kevin Krause, and possibly Connor Joe, if the Pirates use him behind the plate. That leaves no room for Diaz.
The other signing is Adam Godwin, who was signed out of independent ball, and turns 32 years old next week. He’s an outfielder who has spent the last four seasons in the independent leagues, so it’s possible that this is a player/coach situation as well.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Tim: Another mention of the elusive Connor Joe. Has he played any baseball since being drafted last June? We read about kids from the far reaches of the world, but I am not sure I have ever read anything about this kid playing competitive baseball since before he was drafted. Could this be another Sidd Finch? Have you or John ever seen this kid in person?
Adam Godwin hasn’t given up on the dream. You got to give these guys credit.
Those players tend to make the best coaches.
“Crash” Davis.
Man, Do I wish Crash was real !