Pirates 2013-2014 Offseason Transactions

- Under Contract
・Jason Grilli, RHP $4M
・Francisco Liriano, LHP $6M
・Russell Martin, C $8.5M
・Andrew McCutchen, CF $7.25M (2014)
・Wandy Rodriguez, LHP $13M  [11/1: exercised player option. Payments from Astros $5.5M]
・Jose Tabata, RF/LF $3M (2014)

- Arbitration Eligible Players
Pitchers
・Vin Mazzaro, RHP, $950K (projected: $800K)
・Mark Melancon, RHP, $2.595M (projected: $3M)
・Charlie Morton, RHP, 3year/$21M contract extension

Infielders
・Pedro Alvarez, 3B, $4.25M (projected: $4M)
・Gaby Sanchez, 1B, $2.3M (projected: $2.3M)
・Neil Walker, 2B, $5.75M (projected: $4.8M)

Outfileder
・Travis Snider, RF, $1.2M (projected: $1.4M)

- Free Agents
・Jeff Karstens, RHP
・A.J. Burnett, RHP [2/16: Signed with Phillies (1year/$16M)]
・Kyle Farnsworth, RHP [2/3: Signed minor league deal with Mets]
・Clint Barmes, SS [12/12: Resign 1year/2$M]
・John Buck, C [1/16: Signed with Mariners (1year/$1M)]
・Felix Pie, OF　[11/1: Opted for free agency. 12/10: Close to deal with Hanwha Eagles]
・Marlon Byrd, RF   [11/12: Signed with Phillies (2years/$16M)]
・Justin Morneau, 1B [12/3: Signed with Rockies (2years/$13M)]

- Designated for assignment
・Garrett Jones, 1B/RF [11/25: DFA'd] [12/2: non-tendered] [12/10: Signed with Marlins]
・Kyle McPherson, RHP [11/25: DFA'd] [12/2: non-tendered] [12/18: Resigned a Minor League Deal]
・Michael McKenry, C [12/2: DFA'd] [12/2: non-tendered] [1/16: Signed with Rockies]
・Ryan Reid [12/13: To make room for Volquez and Barmes] [12/23: Claimed by Mets]
・Jerry Sands [12/13: To make room for Volquez and Barmes] [12/23: Claimed by Rays]
・Chase d'Arnaud [2/24: To make room for Brent Morel]

- Traded
・Alex Dickerson, RF/LF/1B (Double-A) [11/25: Traded to Padres]
・Kyle Haynes, RHP (Single-A) [12/11: Traded to Yankees]
・Miles Mikolas, RHP [12/30: Traded to Rangers]

- Rule 5 Draft
・Wei-Chung Wang, LHP [12/12: Selected by Brewers]

・Minor League Free Agents

- Player Added
via Free Agent
・Edinson Volquez, RHP [12/11: 1year/$5M]
・Clint Barmes, SS [12/12: Signed 1year/$2M w/ $1M incentives based on games started]
via Trade
・Miles Mikolas, RHP [11/25: Traded from Padres for Alex Dickerson]
・Jaff Decker, OF [11/25: Traded from Padres for Alex Dickerson]
・Chris Stewart, C [12/2: Traded from Yankees for Kyle Haynes (as PTBNL)]
・Chris McGuiness, 1B [12/30: Traded from Rangers for Miles Mikolas]
・Vance Worley, RHP [3/25: Traded from Twins for cash]

- Via Waiver Claim
・Brent Morel, 3B [2/24]

via Rule 5 Draft
[Triple-A Phase]
・Tyler Sample, RHP
・A.J. Morris, RHP
・Felipe Gonzalez, RHP

Minor League Free Agents & NRI
・Eliecer Navarro, LHP (Resign)
・Andy Vasquez, OF/IF (Resign)
・Jhonathan Ramos, LHP (Resign)
・Francisco Diaz, C (Resign)
・Miles Durham, OF *coach/player (Resign)
・Ralph Henriquez, C
・Mitch Slauter, C
・Erick Ferandez, C
・Mike Spano, C
・Blake Davis, SS
・Quincy Latimore, OF
・Brandon Mann, LHP
・Marek Minarik, RHP
・Collin Balester, RHP
・Seth McClung, RHP
・Elvin Ramirez, RHP
・Jen-Lei Liao, RHP
・Jake Brigham, RHP -- non-roster invitee
・Jay Jackson, RHP -- non-roster invitee
・Josh Kinny, RHP  -- non-roster invitee
・Cody Eppley, RHP -- non-roster invitee
・Yao-Hsun Yang, LHP -- non-roster invitee
・Nevin Ashley, C -- non-roster invitee
・Omir Santos, C -- non-roster invitee
・Michael Martinez, UT -- non-roster invitee
・Travis Ishikawa, 1B -- non-roster invitee
・Kyle McPherson,  RHP (Resign) -- non-roster invitee
・Daniel Schlereth, LHP -- non-roster invitee
・Adam Wilk, LHP -- non-roster invitee
・Chris Dickerson, RF -- non-roster invitee
・Roberto Andino, SS (Resign) -- non-roster invitee

Bucs Signed Taiwanese LHP Yao-Hsun Yang

The United Daily News reported that the Pirates are "likely" to sign left-handed pitcher Yao-Hsun Yang.

Yang, who turned 31 on January, pitched 5 seasons in Japan for Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. He elected free agency after 2013 season because he hopes to play in the bigs.

The Taiwanese lefty had tryouts last month with big league clubs include the Pirates, Phillies, Rangers, Reds and Mariners. He was sitting between 91-93 MPH with his fastball during his workouts.

According to the report, Yang could be joining the Pirates on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. The deal is expected to become official next week.

[UPDATE: 2/13]
Wang Wanling of TSNA reported that Yang has arrived in the United States for physical.

Pirates Prospects has confirmed that the Pirates have reached an agreement with Yang on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to big league spring training.

The Pirates announce the signing of Yang.


Yao-Hsun Yang (陽耀勲)
Born: January 22, 1983
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Height: 5' 10" Weight: 192
Country: Taiwan
College: Chinese Culture University
Agent: SCOTT BORAS

A Daniel Schlereth-type pitcher.
Yang's fastball sits 90 MPH. He also throws curve, slider and splitter. (NPB Tracker has an awesome velocity chart)
Control of his pitches has been a big problem for Yang throughout his career. He tends to lose his pitches when runners are on bases. He missed most of 2013 with left arm injury and right thigh strain. His brother, Dai-Kang Yang is such a good athlete.

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	WP	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2006	23	Softbank	JPPL	0	0	9.00	5	0	0	0	2.0	4	2	2	0	2	0	1	0	0	3.000	18.0	0.0	9.0	4.5	0.50
2008	25	Softbank	JPPL	1	2	17.18	6	1	0	0	3.2	5	7	7	0	3	0	3	4	0	2.182	12.3	0.0	7.4	7.4	1.00
2009	26	Softbank	JPPL	0	0	6.52	4	0	0	0	9.2	12	10	7	0	6	0	10	2	0	1.862	11.2	0.0	5.6	9.3	1.67
2010	27	Softbank	JPPL	2	0	2.20	14	4	0	0	32.2	33	18	8	2	18	0	28	3	1	1.561	9.1	0.6	5.0	7.7	1.56
2012	29	Softbank	JPPL	2	3	1.48	9	7	1	1	42.2	24	10	7	1	18	0	45	4	1	0.984	5.1	0.2	3.8	9.5	2.50
5 Seasons				5	5	3.08	38	12	1	1	90.2	78	47	31	3	47	0	87	13	2	1.379	7.7	0.3	4.7	8.6	1.85

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/8/2014.

Pirates Sign Jen-Lei Liao

According to the minor league transactions page on Baseball America, the Pirates have signed Taiwanese pitcher Jen-Lei Liao to a minor-league deal.

Liao born and raised in Taiwan, but somehow pitched in Japan, for Okayama Kyosei high school in 2010 and 2011 season. He went back to his country, and played for Kainan University last two years.


The 20-year-old righty has a huge 6' 6", 264 lb frame. However, he is not a hard wine&cheese thrower like Luis Heredia. Liao's fastball sits at around 88 MPH and tops out 92 MPH and he mixes it with a curve and forkball. He has trouble repeating his delivery.

Obviously, he is really raw. He still could add to his fastball velocity because of his size/frame though.


Here're his profile and videos.

Jen-Lei Liao (廖任磊)
Born: August 31, 1993
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6' 6" Weight: 264
Country: Taiwan
College: Kainan University

Bucs Sign Brandon Mann

The Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher Brandon Mann, according to Baseball America minor league transactions.


Mann (also known as ブランドン by Japanese fans) has pitched in Japan for the last three seasons, and posted a 4.27 ERA with 3.6 BB/9 and 5.7 K/9 in 92.2 inning for the Yokohama DeNa BayStars (2011-2012). In 2013, he was released from Washington Nationals in March and signed with Shinano Grandserows, a team in the Japanese independent league. He had a 4.73 ERA with 41 walks and 62 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. Last month, he pitched in Fukuoka Softbank Hawks' tryouts, but it didn't work.

Mann throws a 90-92 MPH fastball, a mid-80's slider, a high-70s curve, and a 80 MPH change up. Last September, he changed his motion to a sidearm delivery and got more movement on his slider. The lefty has struggled with his control but the mechanical change led to better control for him.

He will likely provide bullpen depth at Altoona or Bradenton.
However, I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to Japan at the some point next season.

Pirates Add Add Pitcher from Czech

According to MisterBaseball, Pirates signed 20-year-old Czech righty Mark Minarik to  a minor league contract. The deal is pending some visa issues.

Minarik pitched 2 seasons (2011-2012) for GCL Phillies. However, Phillies released him in last spring. He spent the 2013 season in Czech league.


Tall, skinny and raw, the 6' 7", 195 lb kid has a fastabll which can touch 93 MPH but usually sits around 88-91. Minarik has a good frame and the potential to add some velocity. He also throws 12-6 curve and split-like change up. I think adding sinker is going to help him.

Minarik has posted a good BB/9 numbers (1.4) in the minors, but clearly has control problems. He should learn to repeat his mechanics.