John Bowker Designated for Assignment

In the corresponding roster move to add waiver claim Xavier Paul, the Pirates announced that they have Designated OF John Bowker for Assignment.

Bowker came to the Pirates last season from the Giants in a deal involving Javier Lopez going to the Giants with Bowker and Joe Martinez coming to the Pirates. This will now close the book on yet another trade in which Huntington traded MLB talent for marginal (at best) MLB ready guys.

I don't really like the move personally. As I said when the claim was made they can option Pearce to AAA and keep them all. This is a poor allocation of resources for a team that isn't contending. Bowker was never really given much of a chance to perform in Pittsburgh but his power potential made him a threat off the bench.

I really dislike that it sounds like maybe they like Paul because he is a better pinch running option than Bowker, too. Either way it's probably nothing to get worked up about, I just think Bowker has a better chance of carving out a niche than Paul does.