Reports Say Money Talks, Pirates Walk Away From De La Rosa

The Pittsburgh Pirates

were said to have made Jorge De La Rosa their top target this off season.  The Pirates were going to go after the left hander to sure up a starting rotation that was awful last season.

We have now heard that yes, the Pirates did talk with Jorge De La Rosa’s people including agent Bobby Barad, but an offer for the pitcher was never made?  A three-year deal has been reported to be on the table from the Rockies for three years $30 million.  It’s 10:45pm and the tweets are rolling in that a deal is near completion that will keep the leftie with the Rockies.

All month long Pirates fans voted on the RumBunter poll and it was overwhemingly against signing the Rockies leftie.  It now looks like he will return to the Rockies and a reunion with Clint Hurdle is not going to occur in 2011.

We have to believe that a three-year deal was a must have for the anything but a workhorse pitcher.  The bottom line guess on our part is the Pirates simply weren’t interested in tying up the big money it would have taken to land him.  Maybe he wanted four years from the Bucs?  It looks like we will never know for sure, and we can’t say we blame the Pirates for not pulling the trigger.  There are no guarantees in the game and does anyone believe the Rockies will get 600 innings out of a three-year deal?

What is perceived as ridiculous to some fans is the fact that it was mentioned he was the Bucs top target.  If you are going to play the free agent game, a team must at least send in a bid, because if you don’t send a written bid–well, you won’t sign anybody.

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It didn’t take long for Jesse to jump in on the DLR contract talks.  Follow Jesse on Twitter for more insight.