Pittsburgh Pirates Hot, Hot Stove

Wandy Rodriguez

is a Pittsburgh Pirate” src=”https://rumbunter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/4/files/2012/07/072512wandy18.jpg” width=”495″ height=”658″ /> Wandy Rodriguez is a Pittsburgh Pirate

The Pittsburgh Pirates have all kinds of things happening.  Piratefest is probably about 45 days away one would guess.  Wandy Rodriguez is, to nobody’s surprise, taking those $13 MILLION dollars after missing the last 120 days or so of the Bucs season.  And Jonathan Mayo states the Pirates have the best farm system in Major League Baseball.

For Rodriguez, a club option became a player’s option when the Bucs landed the southpaw back in July of 2012.  The Pirates will get some payroll relief from the Houston Astros to the tune of $5.5 million this coming season.  The 35-year old will be well rested after discomfort in his forearm put him on the DL.

While Mayo went with Pittsburgh for his top farm, Jim Callis selected Houston.  Mayo cited the obvious in Jameson Taillon, but also noted Gregory Polanco the Winter League Ripper and Alen Hanson, who was named to the Arizona Fall League Fall Star roster, on his top prospects list.

In all six Buccos were in the Top 100 and it could be easily eight if you were to look close enough.

The hot stove should be heating up in a pivotal offseason for the Bucs as they move from doormats to the darlings of Pitttsburgh.  So many difficult decisions are forthcoming in the first offseason we have been looking forward to in a very long time.

The Pirates are back Pittsburgh.

And it’s so damn fun to write that.