News & Notes: Shreve Signed; Something To Crowe About; Camp Time; Ex-Bucs Find New Nests; 2021 Rules

Baseball stuff between the Super Bowl and DC Stuff:

• The Pirates signed LHP Chasen Shreve, 30, to minor league deal with a camp invite worth an estimated $1.25-1.5M if he sticks with the big club. Shreve has tossed for seven MLB campaigns (Braves, Yankees, Cards and Mets) with a slash of 7-2-2/3.74 and 10.5 K/per 9. The southpaw was 1-0/3.96 with the Mets in 25-2020 IP, has a nasty splitter, is a multi-inning guy and a rare lefty signing.

• The biggest acquisition of the year for the Pirates? Per Will Leitch of MLB.com, it’s RHP Wil Crowe, acquired via trade with Nationals. They added “It is probably going to be a long year in Pittsburgh. But you knew that.”
• The trucks are rollin’ south from PNC Park: The pitchers and catchers report on February 15th with their first workout on the 17th. The first full team practice is slated for the 22nd. Opening Day is April 1st at Wrigley Field with the Home Opener on April 8th v the Cubbies as of now, but stay tuned.
• Philadelphia has agreed to terms with OF Matt Joyce on a minor league deal with an invite to camp. The fourth OF’er hit .242 w/13 HR and a .403 OBP for the Bucs in 2016.
• The Twins inked OF Keon Broxton to a minor league deal as an NRI. The ex-Bucco property made a living off the Pirates when he was with Milwaukee, but overall sports a .209 BA and 39% K rate in the show.
• The Rays signed RHP Hunter Strickland to a minor league contract with an invite to camp. He was in the Bucco org from 2009-13 before being claimed by the Giants. Hunter tossed well for the Bay Boys, but the past two seasons have been rough while he played for three different clubs (Mariners, Nats & Mets). Tampa can’t keep its hands off old Bucco prospects: RHP Stetson Allie, who had quite a storyline with the Pirates, also inked a minor league deal with an invite to camp. 
• MLB and the Players Association have agreed to seven-inning doubleheader games (yay), placing a runner on second base to begin extra innings (boo) and adopting some of the Covid protocols used by the other major sports (yay) for the 2021 campaign. The universal DH didn’t make the cut and there’s a push to use a relatively dead ball this season.