PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Sunday's winter league playoff action.... just a few former Pirates and former Indy Indians/Pirates farmhands still participating, but we might as well see it through to the end. �The Mexican Pacific League championship series is tied at one game each (Venados de Mazatlan vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo) and they have the day off. VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Leones del Caracas 5, �Navegantes del Magallanes 3 Magallanes confined their scoring to just one inning, with 3 runs in the 2nd. �Three singles, including one by 1B Yurendell de Caster loaded the bases with two outs. �A walk forced in one run, and an RBI single brought in two more runs. �Magallanes scattered just 4 hits over the remaining 7 innings, and did not have more than one base runner in any of those innings. �Caracas chipped away at that not-particularly-large lead, beginning with one run on a double, a single, and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 2nd. �A walk, a double, and an RBI ground out brought in one run in the 3rd. �C Carlos Maldonado tied the game with an RBI double in the 4th inning. �Maldonado led off the 7th with a single, and he was replaced by pinch-hitter (a good move, in case you've never seen Maldonado run). �A sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, and a double complicated by a throwing error brought in the go-ahead run and one more for insurance, and Caracas had the win. �Magallanes leads the series 2 games to 1. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Indios de Mayaguez 5, �Lobos de Arecibo 2 This is the game that was started on Saturday but had to be suspended due to rain after 4 innings. �Mayaguez had scored two runs in the 2nd inning. �Two singles and a stolen base put runners on the corners with no outs. �Then two fielders' choice plays, one back to the mound and the other to shortstop, both resulted in runners from third being tagged out at the plate. �After a walk, another single brought in the first run, then another walk forced in the second run. �A solo homer scored their third run in the 4th inning, and a 2-run homer in the 7th brought their total to 5 runs. �Arecibo also scored on a solo homer, which came in the 6th, and added one more in the 7th on a single, a double, and an RBI ground out. �The win advances Mayaguez to the championship round of the playoffs. Criollos de Caguas 3, �Gigantes de Carolina 1 Caguas needed just one run-scoring inning to put this game away and join Mayaguez in the championship series. �The first four batters of the 3rd reached base -- a fielding error and three singles, including one by CF Luis Matos, and an RBI single by Luis Figueroa. A sacrifice fly and another RBI single added two more runs. �It was all Caguas needed, but they didn't do much for the rest of the game anyway. �They stranded two runners in the 5th after two singles, and again in the 7th, on a walk by Figueroa and another single. �Meanwhile, Caguas' starter Andrew Baldwin (Mariners) pitched 8 innings and allowed one run on only 2 hits and one walk, while striking out 8 batters. �The run came in the 8th, when the lead-off batter doubled, then scored on two ground outs. �Saul Rivera (Cleveland Indians) relieved Baldwin for the 9th inning, and he got into a bases-loaded jam with a single, an error, and a walk. �But a grounder right to the third baseman, who stepped on third for the force out, ended the inning and the game without any further damage done. DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Leones del Escogido 5, �Gigantes del Cibao 4 Escogido avoided elimination for another day by cutting short a 9th-inning rally by Los Gigantes. �Los Gigantes had scored one run in the top of the 1st, but were not able to push a run across for the next 7 innings. �Escogido got to Los Gigantes' starter Brandon Duckworth (Phillies) in the 3rd inning, as they scored 4 runs on a double, a walk, and four singles. �They added another run in the 6th on a walk, a single, a throwing error, and an RBI ground out. �Juan Perez entered the game to finish the 6th with a strikeout, then pitched the 7th inning also. �In the 7th, he gave up a double, but that runner was caught trying to steal third base. �In the top of the 9th, Los Gigantes loaded the bases with a walk, a single, and a hit batter. �A triple by 2B Alexi Casilla (Twins) cleared the bases for 3 runs. �A hit batter put runners on the corners, but they were left there by a strikeout and a ground out to end the game. �The series is now tied at 3-3.

The Pirates’ bench has become very crowded this offseason. Neal Huntington selected John Raynor in the Rule 5 draft, claimed Brandon Jones...

A slow weekend.... people around here are just waiting for the football game on Sunday (Colts vs Jets). �Be sure to check out Dejan Kovacevic's story about Brad Lincoln in Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Winter Leagues continue their playoffs, though the Venezuelan League has the night off. �Los Navegantes del Magallanes lead that series 2-0. DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Gigantes del Cibao 3, �Leones del Escogido 2 Los Gigantes took the lead in the series (3 games to 2) by holding Escogido to just 4 hits and 2 runs. �Los Gigantes loaded the bases in the 3rd inning, then scored on a 2-run double. �Two singles and an error gave them what turned out to be the winning run in the 5th. �Escogido's runs came in the 6th inning, when a batter reached on a wild pitch for strike three, then former Indy Indian (and Lousiville Bat) Kevin Barker homered. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Criollos de Caguas 5, �Gigantes de Carolina 4 Caguas avoided elimination, despite being out-hit 15 - 7. �Carolina scored first, with 2 runs in the top of the 1st, aided by a throwing error by SS Luis Figueroa. But Carolina's starter Mario Santiago was having trouble with his control, walking 6 batters in just 2.1 innings before being removed. �In the 3rd, he walked the first three batters, including Figueroa. �One run came in on a sacrifice fly, then a double scored another run to tie the game, and Santiago was heading for the showers. �A ground out scored another run, and Caguas had the lead. �Caguas added another run in the 5th, when they loaded the bases on a walk and two singles, and then had a hit batter force in a run. �Carolina tied the score with a solo homer to lead off the 7th inning, then a run on two singles and a balk in the 8th. �Carolina threatened in the top of the 9th, but left two runners on base. �In the bottom of the 9th, Figueroa led off by reaching base on a throwing error by the Carolina shortstop. �He moved to second base on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a single. �Another single up the middle, RF Edgardo Baez's third hit of the game, brought Figueroa in with the winning run. �The series is now tied at 3 games each. Indios de Mayaguez at Lobos de Arecibo This series is also tied at 3 games each, after Arecibo won two games on Friday to keep from being eliminated. �Unfortunately, Saturday's deciding game was interrupted by rain, with Mayaguez ahead 3-0 after 4 innings. �That game should be resumed on Sunday. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Naranjeros de Hermosillo 4, �Venados de Mazatlan 2 Hermosillo's starter Travis Blackley was in control of almost everything, as he pitched 5.2 scoreless innings. �He did give up 2 of Mazatlan's LF Jon Weber's 4 hits, though. �Hermosillo got onto the scoreboard with a run in the 3rd on two singles and a sacrifice fly, then added 3 runs in the 6th on a solo homer, a single, a walk, and a huge throwing error by 3B Heber Gomez. �Gomez tried to atone by scoring a run in the 7th with a single and a stolen base; he scored on Weber's RBI single. �Weber also doubled in a run in the 9th, but it wasn't enough to catch up. �This series is tied at 1 game each.

And the playoffs continue in the winter leagues.... though few of the Pirates' players and friends are still involved. �The Dominican League took a break from their playoff schedule, with the series between Los Leones del Escogido and Los Gigantes del Cibao tied at 2 games each. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Lobos de Arecibo 3, �Indios de Mayaguez 2 � (Game 1) Mayaguez was held to just 4 hits, and scored their runs on two solo homers. �Arecibo scored one run in the bottom of the 1st on a single, an error, and a sacrifice fly, then added two more in the 4th on a triple and two singles. Arecibo 3, �Mayaguez 0 Both teams put lots of runners on base, but couldn't get anyone across the plate until the top of the 9th -- extra innings for a double header. �In the top of the 9th, a single, two errors, and two singles scored 2 runs for Arecibo. �A walk and a 2-run single made it 4-0, and then Arecibo held off Mayaguez in the bottom of the 9th. �The two wins for Arecibo have tied the series at 3 games each. Gigantes de Carolina 6, �Criollos de Caguas 4 Carolina took a 3-2 lead in the 7-game series with this win. �Los Gigantes began the scoring with a double and three walks, forcing in a run in the 2nd inning. �They added 2 more in the 4th inning, and another 3 in the 6th on two walks, two singles, and a hit batter. �Caguas out-hit their opponents 11 to 8, led by SS Luis Figueroa, who singled three times and collected 2 RBI. �He singled in the 3rd inning rally, �had an RBI single in the 5th, and an RBI ground out following a triple in the 9th. �He also singled in the 1st but was caught stealing. VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Navegantes del Magallanes 12, �Leones del Caracas 10 Magallanes took a 2-game lead (to none) in the series with this slugfest. �The two teams combined for 32 hits, including 6 home runs. �C Carlos Maldonado homered for Caracas in the 4th inning, for two runs, to temporarily give Caracas a 4-3 lead. �Magallanes came back with 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th, and another 4 runs in the 6th. �Magallanes' 1B Yurendell de Caster hit a 2-RBI single in the 4th, and scored on a homer after being hit by a pitch in the 6th. �He also singled in the 3rd and the 8th but did not score. �DH Mike Ryan went o-for-2 with a walk for Magallanes. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Los Venados de Mazatlan 5, �Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo 3 Hermosillo got the series off to a good start with 3 runs in the top of the 1st. �Their first four batters reached base safely (three singles and a walk), bringing in two runs, and another run scored on DH Humberto Cota's RBI ground out. �Mazatlan's pitching corps settled down after that inning, though, and despite scattering four more hits and one walk over the rest of the game, they did not let Hermosillo score again. �Mazatlan got going with a solo homer in the 3rd by RF Christian Quintero. �In the bottom of the 5th, Quintero led off with a single, and two more singles brought in two runs. �CF Ruben Rivera followed with a 2-run homer to give Mazatlan the go-ahead runs. �Hometown rookie Rogelios Noris did not get into the game.

The Pirates now have righty reliever Octavio Dotel on board, and ready to be their closer. �In order to free up a space on the 40-man roster, reliever Anthony Claggett was designated for assignment. �Claggett, another righty reliever, was claimed off waivers from the Yankees in late September. �He appeared in one game for the Pirates, against the Reds on Oct 3rd. �He got a ground out and a line out, then gave up a homer to Joey Votto and a single to Brandon Phillips, then ended the inning with another ground out. �If Claggett can survive through waivers, he can still compete for a spot in the Pirates' bullpen, or be assigned to Indianapolis. Other recent signings involving former Pirates and Pirates' farmhands: SS Ray Chang (Lynchburg and Altoona) signed with the Red Sox. �OF/1B�Jamie Romak (Lynchburg and Altoona) signed with the Royals. �C Pedro Lopez (Altoona and Indianapolis) signed with the Nationals. �RHP Denny Bautista (Indianapolis and Pittsburgh) signed with the Giants. �C Michel Hernandez (Indianapolis 2008) signed with the Orioles. Some winter league playoff action: DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Leones del Escogido 3, �Gigantes del Cibao 2 Escogido scored one run in the bottom of the 1st on three singles, then added a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning. �That was all Los Leones would get, but it was enough. �Los Gigantes scored one run in the 4th on a walk, a single, and an RBI ground out, and one more in the 7th on two singles and a double. �The series is now tied at 2 games each. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Gigantes del Carolina 7, �Criollos de Caguas 3 Carolina homered in the top of the 1st to get things started, then continued adding one or two runs at a time, scattering their 7 runs throughout the game. �Caguas SS Luis Figueroa hit the first of four singles in the bottom of the 1st, and two runs came in. �Los Criollos held a brief lead again in the bottom of the 4th, on a single and a double, but while Carolina kept going, Caguas could not. �The series is also tied at 2 games each. Indios de Mayaguez 7, �Lobos de Arecibo 1 �(Game 1) Arecibo took a slim one run lead in the bottom of the 1st on a triple and an RBI ground out. �Pitching ruled after that, and Arecibo was held to just one more hit, though they held the lead until the top of the 6th. �That was when Mayaguez exploded for 7 runs -- 4 singles, 2 doubles, a hit batter, and a sacrifice fly. Indios de Mayaguez 3, �Lobos de Arecibo 2 (Game 2) Mayaguez recorded 12 hits (they had 11 in the first game), and held Arecibo to just 5 hits. �Five singles gave Mayaguez 2 runs in the 2nd, and three more singles plus a walk added another run in the 3rd. �Arecibo scored one run on a single and a double in the top of the 3rd, and their only other run came on a solo homer in the 6th. �Mayaguez leads the series 3 games to 1. VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Navegantes del Magallanes 9, �Leones de Caracas 6 Magallanes went wild for the first three innings to begin the championship series. �Four runs came in during the bottom of the 1st, on four singles, including one by 1B Yurendell de Caster, and two doubles, including one by LF Mike Ryan (two RBI). �Ryan also singled in the 2nd -- one of three singles, added to a double for three more runs. �A walk and two doubles contributed two more runs in the 3rd inning. �Caracas put a runner on base in all but two innings, but could not get any of them across the plate. �C Carlos Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk.

Neal Huntington has added several quality relievers recently, namely D.J. Carrasco, Brendan Donnelly and Octavio Dotel. In just over a week, the Pirates’...

The Pirates have officially announced the signing of Octavio Dotel, as he passed his physical today. It is a one-year deal, with a...

Octavio Dotel and the Pirates have agreed to terms.... the Pirates have to move someone else off the 40-man roster, and of course would prefer to do it via a trade. �Recently acquired Brandon Jones could be a part of such a trade. In winter league play: The Mexican Pacific League and the Venezuelan League are preparing to begin their championship rounds, but don't have any games on Wednesday. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Lobos de Arecibo 6, �Indios de Mayaguez 0 Mayaguez had base runners on in 6 of their 9 at-bats, including a bases-loaded situation in the 2nd inning, but left 9 men on base in the shutout. �Arecibo scored 3 runs in the 4th, 2 in the 6th, and one more in the 8th inning. �They posted 12 hits, including 3 hits each by 1B Michel Abreu and SS Edwin Maysonet. �The series is tied at one game each. Criollos de Caguas 2, �Gigantes de Carolina 1 Carolina was first onto the scoreboard with a run in the 2nd on two singles and a sacrifice fly by LF Edgard Clemente. �Caguas tied the score in the 7th inning, with a walk, a single, a walk, and an RBI single by DH Aaron Bates. �Each team threatened in the 8th, but couldn't push a run across. �Caguas threatened again in the 9th, still to no avail. �Finally in the top of the 10th, with one out, SS Luis Figueroa slipped a single into right field, then stole second base. �Another single by LF Eddy Martinez-Esteve allowed Figueroa to score the winning run. �Caguas now leads the series 2-1. DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Leones de Escogido 13, �Gigantes del Cibao 4 Los Leones roared loudly in the last two innings of the game, scoring 5 runs in the 8th and 4 runs in the 9th, and recorded a total of 21 hits. �Five singles and a double did the work in the 8th, and a single, a double, a sacrifice fly, a walk, then a 3-run homer brought in the 4 runs in the 9th. �Juan Perez entered the game in the 7th inning for Los Gigantes. �He loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, but left all three runners on base. �He was responsible for the first three singles and so the first three runs in the 8th inning before being relieved. �Los Gigantes scored one run in the 4th and had a 3-run homer in the 8th, but couldn't keep up with Escogido's hot bats. �Los Gigantes now lead the series 2 games to 1.

First of all, I apologize for the site being down for a few days. As you can see, we were moving to a...

While we wait to find out who else will be removed from the Pirates' 40-man roster... they have to make room for Octavio Dotel, and now for new outfielder Brandon Jones.... Jones is a 26-year old outfielder from Florida, who was the Braves' 24th pick in the 2003 draft. �He began his pro career in the 2004 season, playing for the Braves' Rookie league team, and moved through four levels in their organization in 2005. �Jones split 2006 between A+ Myrtle Beach and AA Mississippi, and split 2007 between AA and AAA Richmond. �In Richmond, he hit .300 in 44 games, with 12 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, and 26 RBI. �He made his major league debut in September, playing in 5 games for Atlanta, where he went 3-for-19. �Jones divided his time between AAA and Atlanta in both 2008 and 2009, though mostly at AAA both seasons. �He did a little better at AAA (Gwinnett) in 2009, hitting .281 (.260 in 2008), with 28 doubles, 7 homers, and 57 RBI (52 in 2008). �He also appeared in 41 games for the major league Braves in 2008 and 5 in 2009, hitting .267 in 2008 and .308 (4-for-13) in 2009. �Jones has had a high strikeout rate throughout his career, with 76 K's at the AAA level in each of the past two seasons, in a total of 202 games. �This past season, Jones had a good showing in the early months, hitting .308, .299, and .304 in April, May, and June respectively. �He slumped down to .238 in July, but recovered a bit to .265 in August. �The Pirates claimed Jones off waivers from the Braves, who had removed him from their 40-man roster to make room for Erik Hinske. �It's not clear yet what the Pirates have in mind for Jones, because it might depend on what they have to do to juggle the 40-man roster. �He could compete for an outfield position with the Pirates, knowing that he still has one option remaining -- and so could be sent to AAA Indy. �He could also be removed from the 40-man roster and re-waivered, or he could be included in another trade. UPDATE: The unlucky victim is reliever Steven Jackson. The righty was claimed off waivers from the Yankees and pitched in 40 games for the Pirates. �He finished the season with a 2-3 record and a 3.14 ERA in Pittsburgh, going 43 innings, and allowing 38 hits and 20 runs (15 earned). �He �didn't always have the greatest controll -- walked 22 batters and struck out 21. �He did best in September, when he pitched 10 innings over 11 games, and allowed just 5 hits and one earned run, with 3 BB and 6 K. �Jackson will have to go through waivers -- if unclaimed, then he can be assigned to Indianapolis. . Meanwhile, back in the Caribbean.... VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Aguilas de Zulia 8, �Tiburones de La Guaira 3 This game wraps up the round robin tournament, though neither of these teams will be in the final playoff round (that will be Los Navegantes del Magallanes and Los Leones del Caracas, beginning on Thursday). �Zulia scored 4 runs in the 3rd inning, on a homer, a triple, and two doubles. �They added one more in the 4th and a 3-run homer in the 8th. �La Guaira put several runners on base, but only scored lone runs in the 3rd, the 6th, and the 9th. �Romulo Sanchez pitched the bottom of the 9th for Zulia, and he allowed the final La Guaira run on two singles. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Criollos de Caguas 2, �Gigantes de Carolina 1 Caguas made up for being held to one hit last night by posting 1o hits tonight, to just 5 hits for Carolina. �Still not much scoring, though. �Carolina scored first, with a home run to lead off the 2nd inning. �Caguas tied it up, but not until the 7th inning. �A single, a sacrifice bunt, and a walk to CF Luis Matos put runners on first and second. �SS Luis Figueroa singled through the hole into right field, scoring the runner from second base. �The tie lasted until the bottom of the 10th, when a single and a passed ball put another runner on second base for Caguas, then an RBI single gave Los Criollos the walk-off win. �The series is now tied at 1-1. Indios de Mayaguez 8, �Lobos de Arecibo 4 Arecibo scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but Mayaguez came back with 4 runs in the 3rd inning and didn't look back, as Los Indios recorded 15 hits. �Mayaguez leads the series 1 game to none. DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Gigantes del Cibao 1, �Leones de Escogido 0 A pitching duel between Los Gigantes' Aquilino Lopez, who pitched 6 scoreless innings and allowed 3 hits (1 BB, 2 K) and Los Leones' Nerio Rodriguez, who lasted 7 innings and allowed one run on 5 hits (1 BB, no K). �The only run came in the 6th inning, on a single, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single. �Los Gigantes lead the best-of-7 series 2-0.

Things are wrapping up in the winter leagues... Pirates' players and friends in what little action there is on Monday: VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Los Navegantes del Magallanes and Los Leones del Caracas have clinched the two spots in the final series, but there are still a few games left to be played to complete the round robin tournament. Navegantes del Magallanes 7, �Tiburones de La Guaira 4 La Guaira led by a score of 4-3 until the top of the 8th, when a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a throwing error by the Tiburones' shortstop put Navegantes runners on the corners. �The next grounder to short should have been a double play, but the second baseman missed the catch, allowing the tying run to score. �SS Argenis Diaz grounded to second base, sending the go-ahead run across the plate. �A 2-run homer in the top of the 9th gave Magallanes some insurance. �Jean Machi took the mound for Magallanes in the 9th. �He had to work around a rare fielding error by 3B Yurendell de Caster and a double, but got the last two ground outs to end the inning and earn his fourth save of the post-season. �De Caster doubled in the 5th inning after a run had already scored (on a triple and a sac fly). �Diaz was 0-for-4 at the plate, with that RBI. �1B Hector Gimenez went 0-for-3 with a walk for La Guaira. Aguilas de Zulia �3, �Bravos de Margarita 2 Another late-inning rally for the win, and another save, this one for Chris Hernandez. Margarita scored two runs in the bottom of the 1st inning on a double and two singles, plus a throwing error. �Zulia came back with one run in the top of the 3rd on two singles and two ground outs. �That was all the scoring until the top of the 9th, when Zulia put two runners on board with two singles, then got a 2-RBI double to take the lead. �Hernandez preserved the lead in the bottom of the 9th, allowing just a single. DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Gigantes del Cibao 2, �Leones del Escogido 1 The best-of-7 final series began with a win for Los Gigantes. �They scored their first run in the bottom of the first, aided by an Escogido error. �Los Leones tied the score with a solo homer to lead off the 3rd inning. �The tie lasted until the 8th inning, though Escogido threatened in the 7th. �With two runners on and one out, Gigantes' reliever Juan Perez came on in relief. �Perez faced one batter, and got him to line out to center field, and then it turned into a double play when the runner from third base was doubled off. �That made Perez the pitcher of record in the bottom of the 7th, when 2B Alexi Casilla's solo home run became the winning run for Los Gigantes. �Brian Myrow pinch-hit for Escogido in the 9th, but flied out. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS The semi-finals begin today, with two best-of-7 series, though Monday's game between Mayaguez and Arecibo had to be postponed due to wet grounds. Gigantes de Carolina 5, �Criollos de Caguas 0 A one hitter! �Carolina starter Mario Santiago carried a no-hitter into the 8th inning, allowing only a walk in the 2nd inning. �He blew through the Caguas batters until the top of the 8th, when the first batter reached on a throwing error. �After a strikeout, �Caguas' 3B Cesar Nicolas squeaked a grounder into left field for Los Criollos only hit of the game. �CF Luis Matos and SS Luis Figueroa were among Santiago's victims. �Carolina scored 4 runs in the 5th on three walks, a hit batter, and two doubles, then added a solo homer in the 8th. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS The finals begin on Friday Jan 22nd, with Los Venados de Mazatlan and Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo playing a 7-game series.

In a move designed to free up a space on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have traded infielder Brian Bixler to the Cleveland Indians, for infielder Jesus Brito. Brito is a 22-year old Dominican native, who played in the US for the first time in 2009, after three seasons with the Cleveland Indians' Dominican Summer League team. �While he did not hit a lot in the DSL (.223 in 2006, and .239 in 2008), he finished the 2008 season with a bang, including an 11-game hitting streak and a .300 average in the last few weeks of the season. �Brito began 2009 with the Cleveland Arizona League team, where he hit .366 in 34 games, with 12 doubles, 8 triples, 3 homers, and 25 RBI. �He also had 18 BB and 26 K. �Brito was named to the AZL Post-season All-Star Team. �He was advanced to the short-season Mahoning Valley team (New York/Penn League) for the last month of the season, where he hit .333 in 25 games, with 7 doubles, 2 triples, and 18 RBI, plus 14 BB and 15 K. �Brito played mostly third base both in Arizona and Mahoning Valley, and combined for 19 errors over the season. �He also played one game at shortstop and six in left field (2 errors). �The Pirates have not yet decided where on the field Brito will play, and they aren't likely to need another third baseman very soon anyway. �Expect to see him at A West Virginia for 2010. Bixler, a 27-year-old native of Sandusky, Ohio (not far west of Cleveland), was the Pirates' 2nd round draft pick in 2004. �After moving up quickly through the Pirates' system, Bixler reached the AAA Indy Indians in 2007, but got stuck there. �He spent most of the next three seasons in Indianapolis, where he hit a combined .276, with 54 doubles, 23 triples, 21 homers, and 130 RBI. �Strikeouts were a problem, though, as Bixler had 336 strikeouts in 323 games. � Still, Bixler generally did well at shortstop, and was named the Indians' Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and the Team MVP in 2007. �During the 2009 season, Bixler was shuffled around, playing more second base and even some centerfield, with the thought that he could become a super-utility guy. �Bixler spent time with the Pirates in both 2008 and 2009, but struggled both at the plate and in the field in his time there. �In three separate stints in the majors in 2008, he hit only .157 in 50 games, with 2 RBI, and made 8 errors at shortstop. �In 2009, Bixler appeared in 18 games for the Pirates, and hit .227, with 3 RBI. �He made 2 errors at short and one in five games at second base. �With Ronny Cedeno and Akinori Iwamura on the Pirates' roster, it was obvious that Bixler was no longer in their plans. �Bixler did help boost his trade value a little bit this fall/winter by playing half a season (35 games) for Los Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific League. �He hit .300 for Mazatlan, with 5 doubles, a triple, 5 homers (4 in the last week he was there), and 12 RBI. �He did strikeout 42 times, though. �Cleveland will give Bixler a chance to compete for a middle infield spot on with the team.