I had my weekly interview with David Todd today on ESPN 970. We talked about a lot of the recent cuts, and some of the players who could be emerging to potentially take roster spots in Pittsburgh, along with some minor league talk on the players in camp. Below is a recap of the discussion, along with the podcast of the interview.
**We talked about the impact of Chris Stewart’s injury, and how this opens the door for Tony Sanchez. David brought up that it seemed that Sanchez was a guy to give up on last year, and that has changed this year. I pointed out how telling it is that the Pirates were making him a first baseman last year at the end of the year, and now they have no plans to put him anywhere other than catcher. We also discussed the potential split in playing time between Diaz and Sanchez in Triple-A.
**We discussed the odds of Clayton Richard sticking around in the organization, and the odds of him having an opt out clause. I pointed out how Richard believes in this organization and their abilities to turn him around, and the organization seems to believe in him. That combo means they’ll probably find a place for him if there is an opt out clause.
**I reported this week that Luis Heredia hasn’t thrown off the mound in over two weeks, and we reviewed the situation.
**In discussing the guys who stood out to me in the last week, I pointed out Tony Sanchez and his throwing, Willy Garcia’s power, and Casey Sadler’s potential to help the team this year.
Here is the full podcast:
**We are down to our final case of the 2015 Prospect Guide from the final shipment. I don’t anticipate ordering another shipment this year. That means once the current stock is gone, the paperback version will be sold out. You can order your copy of the book on the products page of the site.
**Pirates Make Eight More Cuts, Including Jameson Taillon And Alen Hanson. I wouldn’t be surprised if they follow this with more cuts in the morning.
**Tons Of Huntington Notes On Taillon, Garcia, Marte, Stewart, Sanchez, Sadler, And More. Huntington discussed some of the recently cut players and what is in store for them, plus some of the bigger roster issues with a few weeks left in camp.
**The Latest Update On Chris Stewart Pretty Much Secures A Roster Spot For Tony Sanchez. As I mentioned above, it looks like Sanchez will start the year in Pittsburgh, with Stewart on the DL.
**Pirates Named Fourth Best Farm System In Baseball. Always a good thing to have one of the top teams in the majors and one of the top farm systems to go with it.
**Draft Prospect Watch: Arizona Has A Double Play Combo Worth Following
