Shots Across the Bow: Late inning questions

Tuesday, 11 December 2012 01:05

Written by Bill Brink

In today's Post-Gazette: The Pirates and Jason Grilli agreed to terms on a two-year, $6.75 million contract.

This will intensify the speculation that the Pirates will trade Joel Hanrahan, and for good reasons. Hanrahan is a free agent after 2013, he will make around $7 million through arbitration, the Pirates won't be able to get draft pick compensation if he leaves via free agency unless they offer him a qualifying offer (which they won't do) and the Pirates need starting pitching.

That does not make it certain that Hanrahan is traded, only more likely. The Pirates front office won't trade him for the sake of trading him. They need to get what they believe is adequate value in return.

Paying two relief pitchers who will pitch about 60 innings apiece a combined $10 million or so in 2013, however, may handicap the Pirates' payroll to the point where they have to lower their asking price for Hanrahan. The raises the rest of the arbitration-eligible players will receive adds to this problem.