Various sources on Twitter indicate that the Pirates’ signing of shortstop Clint Barmes is now complete. The deal is for two years and $10.5 million, and catcher Brian Jeroloman – who the Pirates claimed from the Blue Jays just a couple days ago – has been dropped from the 40-man roster to make room.
Barmes replaces Ronny Cedeno as the Pirates’ starting shortstop. Barmes’ defense is good, and consistent, but his hitting leaves much to be desired, and he should struggle in PNC Park, which is hard on right-handed hitters. The Bucs’ decision to give him two years is a debatable one – at age 33 next season, Barmes could easily decline, giving the Pirates little value in 2013. We’ll have to see what role manager Clint Hurdle (who managed Barmes when the pair were both with the Rockies) played in the Bucs’ decision. Hurdle didn’t seem to be much of a fan of Cedeno’s frequent mental lapses. In truth, none of us were, but Cedeno’s solid defense and cheap one-year option might have made him a better choice, allowing the Pirates to spend freely to fix their obvious problems at first base and starting pitcher.
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