Pirates move to cut ties with Karstens

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-hander Jeff Karstens for assignment and claimed right-hander Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle.

Final notes from Arizona Fall League

...pitchers who didn't necessarily fit that description: Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Donnie Veal pitched well down here and...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 20, 2009

MLB Free Agency: Not Always Money Well Spent

Tom Pigeon /Getty Images If they didn't pay for Derek Bell, the Pirates could have bought a lot of toy mustaches. MLB free agency begins at 12:01 AM Friday...

Cubs, Grabow agree to 2-year deal

The Chicago Cubs and John Grabow have agreed to terms of a tw-year deal.

Closing the market

...series of kids through the role, including this year's AL Rookie of the Year, Andrew Bailey. Pittsburgh has said it views relievers as risky commodities and will build its 'pen on the cheap. The...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 19, 2009

...St. Louis Cardinals' Adam Wainwright pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates' in the baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug...

Tracy, Scioscia named top managers

Jim Tracy of Colorado has won the NL Manager of the Year award and Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels has been selected for the AL honor.

Those who favored King Felix and Verlander

The AL Cy Young Award went more or less as expected, with the very deserving Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals running away with it, nabbing 25 o...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 18, 2009

Holliday vs. Bay: D is the difference

Baseball Prospectus analyzes the defensive aptitude of Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. The outcome? Holliday is clearly more valuable, but a fit is easier to find for Bay.

Story | Conversation | November 18, 2009

Darvish, Ramirez win MVPs in Japan

Venezuelan outfielder Alex Ramirez was named MVP of Japan's Central League for the second straight year on Wednesday while pitcher Yu Darvish took the Pacific League honors.

The market for those coming off injuries

One problem with market inefficiencies is that, once they're identified, it's usually a matter of time before they disappear as more players bid up th...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 17, 2009

Money talks, but baseball won't listen

Did the Yankees buy a World Series celebration? Their money didn't hurt, but that $207 million payroll is the least of baseball's competitive-balance problems.

AFL position wrap: Outfielders

The key names here at the Arizona Fall League: Grant Desme, Oakland Athletics: I first wrote about Desme here. Yes, I am fully aware the headline of ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 16, 2009

PITTSBURGH - JUNE 28: Pitcher Zack Greinke #23 of the...an interleague MLB baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 28, 2009 in...

My 2009 awards picks

Here are my fictional ballots for five of the six postseason awards. I've omitted my NL Cy Young ballot because I had a formal vote on that award and ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 13, 2009