Pirates sign Church

[Post Count Padder]

The Pirates have agreed to terms on a contract with outfielder Ryan Church, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Church hit .273/.338/.384 with four home runs and 40 RBI last year. If he plays well enough in the early going he may be able to snag playing time from Garrett Jones and Brandon Moss in right field. The 31-year-old is a .272/.345/.441 career hitter and hit 15 home runs back in 2007 with the Nats.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[BCVM22]

Spilborghs it is, then.

[Schwarber Fan]

Typical Pirate move; he'll be gone by the deadline

[SouthSideRyan]

Typical Pirate move; he'll be gone by the deadline

 

How is this a typical Pirate move?

[Schwarber Fan]

Typical Pirate move; he'll be gone by the deadline

 

How is this a typical Pirate move?

 

Typical Pirate player is a better term; solid OF bat that will be a solid pickup for a contending team at of before the deadline.

[Sammy Sofa]

Given the young players they've got getting another one or two on the pile for Church at the deadline if he does well wouldn't be bad at all.

[NCCubFan]

Hendry will call him up before the deadline. :D

[Jake]

The more interesting effect of this is Ankiel.

 

His last known potential suitor just signed someone else.

 

This is good for us.

 

We have Tabata who will probably get called up during the year. In the meantime, Church will push a couple of people for playing time. No one is handed a job, no one is blocking Tabata. It means guys who were on our bench last year have more competition for jobs. Probably means bye bye brandon moss.

 

Anyone who thinks this is supposed to be a game changing signing must still think Littlefield is running the team.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The more interesting effect of this is Ankiel.

 

His last known potential suitor just signed someone else.

 

.

 

This being said, Id be very interested in Ankiel if hed take something like a 1/3 deal.

[Backtobanks]

The more interesting effect of this is Ankiel.

 

His last known potential suitor just signed someone else.

 

.

 

This being said, Id be very interested in Ankiel if hed take something like a 1/3 deal.

 

Certainly no more than $3 million. He made $2.8 million last year and didn't do anything to deserve a raise.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The more interesting effect of this is Ankiel.

 

His last known potential suitor just signed someone else.

 

.

 

This being said, Id be very interested in Ankiel if hed take something like a 1/3 deal.

 

Certainly no more than $3 million. He made $2.8 million last year and didn't do anything to deserve a raise.

 

Thats what IM saying. As of now, Fuld and Hoff are perfectly adequate as 4th and 5th outfielders, but if we could get an experienced lefty power bat for a scrap heap price, who also plays a pretty solid defense, Id be all for it.

[cubfan]

The more interesting effect of this is Ankiel.

 

His last known potential suitor just signed someone else.

 

.

 

This being said, Id be very interested in Ankiel if hed take something like a 1/3 deal.

 

I'm going to predict that no one signs him and he goes to the minors and trys to turn into a pitcher :)

[Little Slide Rooter]

Actually, considering Khalil Green went for 750K, Ankiel might be had for 1.5 mil.

[dew1679666265]

I'd be much more in favor of a right handed outfielder who could platoon with Kosuke at this point. I'd prefer a cheap Hoff over Ankiel as well.

[Cubswin11]

I'd be much more in favor of a right handed outfielder who could platoon with Kosuke at this point. I'd prefer a cheap Hoff over Ankiel as well.

Agreed what's the deal with Baldelli? He could be a good option for a RH 4th/5th OF and RH pinch hitter. He shouldn't command more than a 1 yr. deal and less than $2m. He's probably one of the few FA OF options that if we had a injury he wouldn't be a horrible option to have playing everyday (or close to it) for an extended period of time. The other OF I hope Jim kicks the tires on is Randy Winn, he should be cheap and shouldn't command a long term deal, and can play the corner OF spots and CF in a pinch.

[dew1679666265]

I'd be much more in favor of a right handed outfielder who could platoon with Kosuke at this point. I'd prefer a cheap Hoff over Ankiel as well.

Agreed what's the deal with Baldelli? He could be a good option for a RH 4th/5th OF and RH pinch hitter. He shouldn't command more than a 1 yr. deal and less than $2m. He's probably one of the few FA OF options that if we had a injury he wouldn't be a horrible option to have playing everyday (or close to it) for an extended period of time. The other OF I hope Jim kicks the tires on is Randy Winn, he should be cheap and shouldn't command a long term deal, and can play the corner OF spots and CF in a pinch.

 

I think I'd be more interested in Winn than Baldelli in a bench role, but I'm not very crazy about either. Baldelli has a career .320-ish OBP and a .279 average. He's only 27, but his bat wouldn't be a reason to bring him in. Winn has been good recently (for a potential bench bat), but wasn't good at all last year and is 35.

[Jake]

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The terms of the Pirates' agreement with free-agent outfielder Ryan Church -- still not a signed contract -- is for one year and a guaranteed $1.5 million, plus as much as $1.32 million in performance bonuses.

 

The bonuses: $75,000 each for 350, 375 and 400 plate appearances, $125,000 each for 425, 450 and 475 plate appearances, and $180,000 each for 500, 550, 575 and 600 plate appearances.

 

Just ran into Neal Huntington here a little bit ago, and he had not heard back about Church's physical, which took place in Pittsburgh.

 

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/archive/2010/01/12/church-one-year-1-5m-guaranteed.aspx