Sunday's news online had all sorts of interesting little tidbits that has made this very long and boring spring training look to pick up as well enter the final week. First the Pirates get back Kyle Bloom, the upstart prospect taken by the Tigers in the Rule Five draft. Bloom had a rough spring with Detroit and he was offered back to the Bucs. It is great to have him back, as we will see if he continues to build on that good winter performance he had in Hawaii. It is well worth it having him around, as this organization needs to have as much pitching as possible.
The story that led the day in the morning was that Jack Wilson has approached the team about an extension and it appears he is willing to take a paycut. This story of Wilson and the Pirates has had so many turns one would think it was a soap opera plot. We do have an option on Wilson for next season, but it is at $8.4 million, way, way too much for what he brings. I am sure that we would gladly pay the buyout on that one.
Wilson approaching the club makes things at least interesting. The team may actually take a good long look or have discussions about whether it would be a good idea to bring him back. The other options in house are Brian Bixler and a bunch of other prospects slowly coming up through the system, starting with Brian Friday at AA. Bixler has seemingly turned heads this spring, but his performance last year in Wilson's absence is less than promising.
Bringing Wilson back would also have drawbacks, as he is getting older and decline in skills and risk of injury could start to wear on a guy that plays such a demanding position. I am not immediately advocating signing him, but if it is apparent the Bixler won't cut it or Friday can't make such big leap to the majors, then we may have little choice but to see what Wilson would want.
Perhaps the nugget that, to me, is most interesting is the response of Neal Huntington to questions from reporters about the performance of Andrew McCutchen. He went 5-5 on Saturday and has, by all accounts, impressed greatly. Listening to the game on Saturday, Steve Blass was stating that every team they play in the spring can't stop talking about McCutchen. One would then think that he is ready, but it is something that Huntington is not yet ready to firmly commit to.
I understand his tough spot. This looks to be a lost season for the Pirates, why waste a year of service time on a great player now. At the same time it is ridiculous to not have him on the roster, as he has proven himself, while Nyjer Morgan has not. The Pirates are best served with McCutchen in the outfield and if he does not start the season in St. Louis with the team, then he should be up in very short order, akin to the Rays and Evan Longoria last season. Enough with the "he needs to work on the little things" stuff, he is ready, just admit it is a financial decision if he does not start the year with the big league club.
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