Camp Notes

Everybody is in camp (we think…can’t confirm Pablo Reyes) and it’s a five-way tie for first in the Central so far…

• Clint Hurdle announced that Jameson Taillon will be the Opening Day starter (3/28 v Reds) and Chris Archer will start Home Opening Day April 1st v the Cards.

• The Pirates signed RHP Rookie Davis to a minor league deal with NRI. The 25-year-old missed most of last year following hip surgery, and is a depth guy looking to establish himself at this point.
• Archie’s off season and rehab goes under the microscope of the P-G’s Bill Brink.
• Kevin Gorman of the Trib checks out Big Joe Musgrove’s winter.
• Colin Moran warmed up at the plate in the final few weeks and has meet with Rick Eckstein; he’s also worked during the offseason on flexibility and fast-twitch to improve his range at the hot corner, per Adam Berry of MLB.com.
• Nubyjas Wilborn of the Post-Gazette highlights an issue that was off the radar last year: Kevin Newman couldn’t keep his weight up (a problem unknown to this blogger).
• Old Buccos in camp: Steve Blass, Manny Sanguillen, John Candelaria and Rennie Stennett. And ol’ million-dollar arm turned pro wrassler Rinku Singh showed up to say hi to his former dogs.
• The Yankee’s Luis Severino and the Phils’ Aaron Nola have signed extensions, which should provide a template for the Pirates to tie up a similar guy, Jameson Taillon. Which, btw, they have shown no interest in doing, per Jamo.
• Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at a heated Central Division and is expecting a dogfight, with the Pirates being one of the pooches in the melee.
• The Mets signed IF Adeiny Hechavarria to a minor league deal with a camp invite. He got a month-long look here last August before being sent to the NYY in September.
• RHP John Axford, once briefly a Bucco, and the Blue Jays have reached an agreement on a minor league contract that would pay him $1.65M if he makes the club.
• Bobbleheads! Yay! The Bucs have announced their 2019 bobblehead nights.