Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Rumors: Another Day, More Joel Hanrahan Speculation

Another day, another Pittsburgh Pirates trade rumor surrounding Joel Hanrahan to relay to everyone.  Today, Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune Review backed up a recent rumor by CBS Sports’ Danny Knobler that discussed a possible trade of Hanrahan to the Detroit Tigers for Rick Porcello.

Hanrahan certainly has value for the Tigers whose bullpen consists of of  the lackluster corps of  Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke and Bruce Rondon, an uproven rookie that we have discussed in detail in past rumors surrounding the Tigers and Bucs.

Porcello is a 24 year-old right handed starter whose value is about to rise in the starter strapped world of Major League Baseball.  It would seem to me that the Los Angeles Angels might be a better fit for the Tigers as L.A. has said to be willing to move Peter Bourjos who is regarded as one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Defense wasn’t a strength for Detroit during the 2012 season.

But Bourjos can’t hit for shit.  (EDIT:  936PM–And he just became their centerfielder after Kendrys Morales was sent to Seattle tonight) It doesn’t seem likely Porcello, a 180-200 innings eater is worth a platoon outfielder, now if the Angels would want to add Mark Trumbo to the mix, the Tigers might listen.

But Hanrahan for Porcello is a deal that just doesn’t add up.  Not yet anyway.   Both pitchers are on their way out, it’s just the specific pieces that need added to the puzzle.