Woah! Wait A Minute On That Francisco Liriano Deal Pittsburgh Pirates

Sept 15, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (58) watches a home run leave the field in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The White Sox won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates thought they had been able to land free agent pitcher Francisco Liriano to a two-year, $12.75 million dollar deal.   Hold on a minute, this just got complicated.

Today Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review sent out a report that the southpaw hurler suffered an injury to his right arm in December.   Biertempfel mentioned that that the Pirates are talking with Liriano’s agent and a deal isn’t imminent. 

We reached out to some people but they were limited with what information they could provide.

So now a report that I wouldn’t pay a whole lot of attention to, has gained my full attention–there is something to this madness.

It makes me wonder what in the world Liriano could have been doing to suffer an injury that would prevent a deal getting done?   If it was a scratch or an insignificant injury, we have a hunch that this wouldn’t have been a story.

One piece of speculation is that until Liriano shows his face, all that people can do is speculate on his situation.  If there isn’t a significant injury, the guy should show up and get the physical done.

The delay sucks because we felt the Bucs were on the right track with grabbing a lefty like Liriano for PNC Park.   Here was our post in October on our affection for the 6’2″ Dominican born pitcher.

Liriano is 29 years old and a couple of good years in the Burgh could put him in line for another payday.  As you know, last year was not a good season for Liriano who still made 28 starts for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.  Of course he was with the Twins most of his career and had the breakout season back in 2006 with the Twinkies.

If you recall, he suffered a torn elbow ligament that forced him to miss all of 2007.  So the big guy has dealt with injuries in the past and has rebounded nicely.  Including 2010, when he was the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

Let’s just trust this was a bruise from deadlifting 400 pounds as he prepares himself to be in the best shape of his life.

It doesn’t hurt to dream does it?