No One's Too Old Nowadays

A couple of days ago when the Red Sox designated John Smoltz for assignment I suggested that it might be the end of the road for the 42 year old right-hander.  However, it looks like the Rangers, and four NL teams, the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers and Astros, may all have some interest in seeing for themselves whether Smoltz is really washed up.

Here’s an article from ESPN’s Buster Olney on Smoltz and his future prospects.

The Nationals’ shortstop Christian Guzman apparently cleared waivers, because although he is hitting .317 with a .774 OPS, he has another year at $8 million in salary following this one.  If the Nationals are now checking out trade interest in Guzman, I wonder why they didn’t find a suitor before the July 31 trade deadline.

One report has the Red Sox showing some interest in Guzman, which seems kind of strange since the BoSox just traded away Julio Lugo.

Finally, the Pirates are serious about rebuilding their organization.  Aside from trading away all of their veteran players, they were extremely aggressive this year in the amateur draft.  They have now signed their sixth (high school pitcher Zack von Rosenburg) and eighth round (high school pitcher Colton Cain) picks for more than $1 million each to forego college ball.

The Pirates also signed their fourth round pick, yet another high school pitcher Zackry Dodson, for $600,000.  The Bucs now apparently have deals agreed upon, at least orally, with all of their first ten picks in the 2009 Draft.

High school pitchers are the highest risk commodity in the draft, mainly because so many young pitchers hurt their arms before they are ready to pitch in the majors.  Still, it’s good to see the Pirates trying to rebuild their system and develop players from within.  It’s definitely the best way for a small market team like the Pirates to compete.

Meanwhile, the Pirates’ top pick last year (No. 2 overall), third baseman Pedro Alvarez has gotten red hot since being promoted to AA Altoona in late June.  He’s now hitting .320 with a .947 OPS in 40 games in the Eastern League, substantially better than he played in the Class A+ Carolina League in 66 games starting the season (.247 batting average, .827 OPS).

If Alvarez plays well after his September call-up and has a good Spring Training next year, the odds are good that he will start 2010 as the Pirates’ starting third baseman.  In fact, the thing most likely to keep him in the minors for the first couple of months of 2010 may be the fact that his arbitration and free agent eligibility can be pushed back a year by not calling him up until June or July 2010.  For a poor team like the Pirates, that’s certainly major consideration.