Pirates Release Fernando Nieve

The Pirates today released pitcher Fernando Nieve shortly after assigning him to minor-league camp, the Post-Gazette reports. Nieve is a high-strikeout, high-walks pitcher who hadn't appeared to have much of a shot at making the team. It's unclear whether the Pirates would have wanted to keep him around in Indianapolis, although I assume they would have. The Bucs can spare him, however, since the Indy pitching staff has a ton of pitching in both the rotation and the bullpen.

Nieve had posted a 9.82 ERA in five Spring appearances for the Bucs, with eight strikeouts and two walks to go with 17 hits in 7.1 innings. He pitched for most of the last two years in the Mets bullpen, where he had a 6.00 ERA in 42 innings last year while striking out 38 and walking 22. He also allowed a huge number of homers, with 10. He might well have wound up with the Pirates at some point this year, but it's fine with me if the Bucs have to turn to someone else.