MLB Free Agency: John McDonald Re-Signs With Diamondbacks, Juan Rivera With Dodgers - Implications For Pirates?

Two N.L. West players have re-signed with their teams, as shortstop John McDonald returned to the Diamondbacks for two years and $3 million, and Juan Rivera agreed to terms with the Dodgers for one year and $4.5 million.

Both moves have potential implications for the Pirates. After declining Ronny Cedeno's option earlier this week, the Pirates will have to look for shortstop help this offseason. One Pittsburgh writer had already speculated that the Pirates could sign McDonald. Obviously, that didn't happen, and that's a good thing, since there's practically no upside for the Pirates in signing a 37-year-old infielder who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat.

As for Rivera, Wilbur Miller at Bucs Dugout points out that his signing could set the market for Garrett Jones, a younger version of Rivera, should Jones become a free agent. The Pirates have to decide whether to offer Jones arbitration. If they did, he'd likely get $2-3 million, much less than Rivera is getting, and probably also less than Jones would get in free agency. Tendering a contract to Jones seems like a no-brainer, particularly given all the uncertainty surrounding the first-base position for the Bucs next year, but there are still rumors that the Pirates will non-tender him.