Tag: Dejan Kovacevic

The Pirates traded reliever Javier Lopez to the Giants today for first baseman John Bowker and right-handed pitcher Joe Martinez. Both players will be assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. The Bucs also dealt closer Octavio Dotel to the Dodgers for right-handed pitcher James McDonald and outfield prospect Andrew Lambo. The Pirates are paying Los Angeles $500,000. McDonald will join the major league team and Lambo will head to Double-A Altoona.

The Pirates have acquired catcher Chris Snyder and a minor leaguer from the Diamondbacks. Arizona will receive D.J. Carrasco, Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby in the deal.

Double-A prospect Gorkys Hernandez has been placed on the disabled list with a broken finger. Hernandez was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt.

Ryan Doumit is out of the lineup tonight after a foul tip struck his mask in last night's game. Erik Kratz will start in his place. Doumit may be available to pinch-hit.

The Pirates have suspended Altoona closer Diego Moreno for "unprofessional conduct." No other details are known.

Andrew McCutchen left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury that he sustained while making a diving catch. He was officially diagnosed with a mildly sprained AC joint, which will likely keep him out of action for a few days. McCutchen will be reevaluated today, and the Pirates have not yet ruled him out for tonight's game.

Dejan reported this eveningthat pitching prospect and 2009 draftee Jeffrey Inman "has been slowed by elbow discomfort." I don't think that his mysterious absence from game action had been previously explained.

As expected, the Pirates will promote Triple-A catcher Erik Kratz in time for Friday's game against the Astros. Chris Jakubauskas will likely be moved to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Kratz on the 40-man roster.

Immediately following his start Wednesday night, Daniel McCutchen was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. The move opens a roster spot for newly acquired Sean Gallagher.

In today’s Q&A at the PBC Blog, Dejan Kovacevic discussed the idea of converting Evan Meek to a starting pitcher. When I first read Dejan’s feature article on Meek a couple weeks ago, I had the same thought. "I wonder if Meek could become a starting pitcher. Maybe he could be the type of diamond in the rough that the Pirates desperately need." So I started digging.

Dejan Kovacevic reports that the Pirates have signed six international players, pitchers Cristian Henriquez, Yunior Montero and Melvin Rosario, outfielders Miguel De Aza and Yunior Valdez, and shortstop Rodney Polonia. See link for brief scouting reports on each player.

Pirates reliever Evan Meek was named to his first All-Star game today. Meek's 0.98 ERA is the best in baseball among pitchers with 40+ innings.