Shots Across the Bow: Grilli's return

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 23:33

Written by Bill Brink

We learned a couple things from Jason Grilli and Neal Huntington during the press conference Wednesday officially announcing Grilli's two-year contract. In today's Post-Gazette, Grilli and Huntington talk about the deal, what this means for Joel Hanrahan and why Grilli chose to return.

***Grilli took less money to return to the Pirates: "There's sometimes not enough money that can be a good trade-off to being comfortable and knowing what to expect," he said.

***Huntington is comfortable carrying both Hanrahan and Grilli on the roster. “They were a dynamic pair at the back end of the bullpen last year and if that’s our best team, absolutely,” Huntington said. "Jason and I were open with each other during the process. Option one, option two, option three, option 97 in terms of how it could play out. I think we laid our cards on the table.”

The Pirates have $54.95 million committed to nine players so far for next season, $41.45 million of that out of their own pocket. Between the five arbitration cases, 11 players making around the minimum and the 15 40-man players in the minor leagues, conservative estimates put the payroll at $75-77 million, with around $65 million of that from the Pirates. Higher attendance, revenue sharing and money not spent in the draft due to the new CBA could help alleviate that high payroll, or the Pirates could move someone like Garrett Jones to reduce payroll and fit Hanrahan and Grilli into the budget.

***The main reasons Grilli returned: comfort and positive outlook of the Pirates' near future.

"Neal's committed to putting together a great team," said Grilli, who noted the excitement in Detroit while playing with the Tigers, who made the World Series in 2006 after finishing 71-91 the year before. "I want to be a part of that."

***Grilli heard from A.J. Burnett and other Pirates saying they were happy for him, the former fourth overall draft pick in 1997 who is signing the biggest contract of his career at age 36.

***Loyalty to Clint Hurdle, Grilli's manager in Colorado as well as in Pittsburgh, contributed to Grili's return.