Pittsburgh Pirates Add Two Relievers

After focusing on improving their offense for the first half of the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shifted their focus to the bullpen.

According to various outlets, the Pirates have signed right-handed relievers DJ Carrasco and Brendan Donnelly. Carrasco was signed to a minor-league deal, and Donnelly signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract.

 

Donnelly had a 1.78 ERA with the Marlins in 2009

Carrasco and Donnelly will join a bullpen that already consists of Joel Hanrahan, Steven Jackson and Donnie Veal, among others.

Carrasco, 32, was non-tendered by the Chicago White Sox in December. In 2009, he had a 3.76 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 93.1 innings pitched. His 89.1 innings as a reliever led all of baseball.

While Carrasco did sign a minor-league contract, he is almost a shoe-in to land a spot in the Pirates’ bullpen out of spring training.

On the other hand, Donnelly’s deal is a little more interesting. He is 38 and hasn’t pitched more than 30 innings in a season since 2006. He had Tommy John surgery in 2007 and has only pitched in 39 innings over the last two years.

It seems like $1.35 million is a lot to give a guy who may or may not make it past the All-Star break. If the Pirates don’t make any more moves to their bullpen, Donnelly could be setting up Hanrahan in the eighth inning.

I wonder if the signings of Carrasco and Donnelly eliminate the possibility of the Pirates signing Octavio Dotel? The Pirates have been rumored to be interested in signing Dotel and many thought they would have inked him last week.

Moves like Carrasco and Donnelly are no-harm, no-foul decisions for the Pirates. If they work out, perhaps the Pirates can trade them to a contender at the trade deadline for prospects, and if they don’t, their contracts won’t be an albatross.

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