According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Pirates are attacking the free agent relief pitcher market now after adding starters Kevin Correia and Scott Olsen on the first day of MLB's Winter Meetings in Orlando Florida.
%20#C0DEED;padding:20px;%7D%20p.bbpTweet%7Bbackground:#fff;padding:10px%2012px%2010px%2012px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px%20!important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px%7D%20p.bbpTweet%20span.metadata%7Bdisplay:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px%20solid%20#fff;border-top:1px%20solid%20#e6e6e6%7D%20p.bbpTweet%20span.metadata%20span.author%7Bline-height:19px%7D%20p.bbpTweet%20span.metadata%20span.author%20img%7Bfloat:left;margin:0%207px%200%200px;width:38px;height:38px%7D%20p.bbpTweet%20a:hover%7Btext-decoration:underline%7Dp.bbpTweet%20span.timestamp%7Bfont-size:12px;display:block%7D</style>%20<div%20class='bbpBox12229934030266368'><p%20class='bbpTweet'><a%20href=%22http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Pirates%22%20title=%22#Pirates%22%20class=%22tweet-url%20hashtag%22%20rel=%22nofollow%22>#Pirates</a>%20showing%20interest%20-%20and%20making%20offers%20-%20on%20a%20number%20of%20FA%20relievers.%20Were%20in%20on%20Putz.%20Also%20looking%20at%20guys%20like%20Gregg.%20<a%20href=%22http://twitter.com/search?q=%23MLB%22%20title=%22#MLB%22%20class=%22tweet-url%20hashtag%22%20rel=%22nofollow%22>#MLB</a><span%20class='timestamp'><a%20title='Tue%20Dec%2007%2019:40:18%20+0000%202010'%20href='http://twitter.com/#!/Ken_Rosenthal/status/12229934030266368'>less%20than%20a%20minute%20ago</a>%20via%20<a%20href=%22http://blackberry.com/twitter%22%20rel=%22nofollow%22>Twitter%20for%20BlackBerry%C2%AE</a></span><span%20class='metadata'><span%20class='author'><a%20href='http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal'><img%20src=){kind=link}
#Pirates showing interest - and making offers - on a number of FA relievers. Were in on Putz. Also looking at guys like Gregg. #MLB
Ken Rosenthal
Ken_Rosenthal
"Putz" in the tweet refers to former White Sox pitcher J.J. Putz. In 60 appearances with Chicago in 2010, Putz was 7-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 65 strikeouts against 15 walks in 54 innings pitched. His WHIP of 1.04 is very attractive as well, and speaks well to his control when healthy. Putz saved 40 games for Seattle in 2007 before blowing eight saves in 23 chances for the Mariners in 2008. In 2009, he pitched for the Mets, but made only 29 appearances as a result of injury troubles. He bounced back in Chicago, however, and would have been a nice add for the Bucs until he signed with Arizona.
Kevin Gregg saved 37 games for Toronto last season and posted a 2-6 record with a 3.51 ERA and 58 strikeouts against 30 walks. Gregg has been a closer for most of his last four seasons with the Marlins, Cubs and Blue Jays. His control isn't nearly as impressive as Putz's and he has a tendency to blow up in dramatic fashion sometimes, but considering the state of the Pirates bullpen behind Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan, he'd be a welcomed addition as well.