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Pittsburgh Pirates sign two players to Minor League deals
By Marty Leap
On Thursday the Pittsburgh Pirates inked a pair of players to Minor League contracts
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed a pair of players to Minor League contracts. These two players are outfielder Todd Cunningham and right-handed pitcher Richard Rodriguez. Both players also earned an invite to Spring Training.
28-year-old Todd Cunningham is a former second round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves. Cunningham is a switch-hitter, and he has spent time in the Major Leagues with the Braves and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
In 130 career Major League plate appearances Cunningham owns a .256 on-base percentage, .264 slugging percentage, a .230 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 40. His lifetime fWAR is -0.1.
Todd Cunningham spent all of 2017 at the Triple-A level. As a member of the Dodger organization, he posted an on-base percentage of .417, to go with a .393 wOBA and a 135 wRC+. He also possessed good power with a .129 ISO and a slugging percentage of .468.
He was then traded to those evil, vile, nasty, no good St. Louis Cardinals. At Triple-A for the Cardinals his numbers slipped to a .401 on-base percentage, .366 wOBA, 117 wRC+, and a .400 slugging percentage.
In 2018, Todd Cunningham will most likely be a starting outfielder for the Indianapolis Indians and serve as nothing more than organizational depth.
As for Richard Rodriguez, the 27-year-old righty reliever made his Major League debut for the Baltimore Orioles in 2017. Rodriguez allowed 12 hits, four home runs, he walked three batters, and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He owned a 14.29 ERA and a 13.39 FIP.
At Triple-A last season Rodriguez averaged 10.19 K/9 and 2.29 BB/9 in 70 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed just 56 hits and five home runs while posting a 2.42 ERA and a 2.88 FIP.
Next: Should the Bucs pursue Xavier Cedeno?
Both todd Cunningham and Richard Rodiguez appear to be Quad-A players. Both should start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, and, most likely, both will spend the entireties of their seasons at Triple-A.