Notes: Cutch Back, Young NRI; Arb News; International Signees; Camp Dates; AAA Robo Umps; Exes On The Move

Any more outfielders out there…?

Notes:

• One winter rumor did come true – Cutch is a physical away from coming home to Pittsburgh on a one-year/$5M deal. It could be quite the reunion tour after a five-year hiatus; he needs 52 hits to reach 2,000 and 13 dingers to get to 300. It’ll be interesting, too, to see how the Pirates finagle carrying 10 OFs on the 40-man roster.

• The Pirates acquired minor-league OF Chavez Young from the Toronto Blue Jays for recently DFA’ed RHP Zach Thompson. The switch hitter plays all three OF spots, has speed, a strong, accurate arm, and is adept at base stealing, but hitting remains a question mark. He’s AAA depth at this point, with the consensus being that his ceiling is as a MLB fourth outfielder type.
• 1B Ji-Man Choi was the only arb guy unsigned by the Friday deadline, filing for $5.4M with the Bucs countering at $4.65M. Agreeing on deadline deals were RHPs JT Brubaker for $2.275M, Mitch Keller for $2.4375M, Robert Stephenson for $1.75M and Duane Underwood Jr. for $1.025M. All the salaries were in the same ballpark as the projected arb settlements of MLB Trade Rumors Steve Adams, who has Choi pegged at $4.5M.  Michael Andujar settled earlier at $1.525M while Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes are under contract this year.
• The international signing period began Sunday. The Pirates agreed to deals with Korean RHP Jun-Seok Shim, #10 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospect list, and Dominican OF Raymond Mola, who ranks #26. They led a class of 22 first-day signees.

• And yes, it is that time of year - Pirates pitchers and catchers report February 15th and the full squad on the 20th.
• Piratedom’s favorite whipping boy last year, utility guy Josh VanMeter, signed a minor league deal with the Brewers that includes an invite to camp after being released by the Bucs in September.
• OF Greg Allen, who was released by the Bucs in September after batting .186 in 46 games, signed as a NRI with the Red Sox.
• The Tigers signed LHP Chasen Shreve to a minor league NRI deal worth up to $2M if he comes north with the club. He did a creditable job with the Bucs in 2021 (3-3/3.20), but was non-tendered after the year and signed with the Mets. Shreve was rocked there and went to Motown as a FA.
• OF Corey Dickerson (2018-19 Pirates) signed a one-year/$2.25M agreement with the Nats. DC was overloaded with RH outfielders, a situation that Dickerson helps balance.
• OF Tito Polo, who was in the Buc system until 2016, when he was part of the Ivan Nova trade, has been playing in the Latin leagues for the past four years. He gets another opp at age 28 to mount an MLB comeback after signing a minor league deal with Washington.
• All AAA teams will use robo-umps to call balls and strikes this year…oh, the humanity!