In another cost cutting move the Pirates traded reliever Chris Resop to the Oakland Athletics for 24 year old, A-ball reliever Zach Thornton. Thornton was drafted out of college by the A’s and has spent three years in the minors, making it to AA last year for the first time where he pitched 3.0 innings in one game.
In addition to being old for his age Thornton gives up a lot of hits to substandard competition, posting a 1.416 WHIP and 4.53 ERA in A+ Stockton.
Chris Resop was due for a raise, and was expected to make $1.3 to $1.7 million depending on who is estimating the numbers.
Many Pirates fans disliked Resop. While he wasn’t without his warts he was never as bad as made out to be. Let’s face it Resop is replaceable. This move likely isn’t that big of a deal, unless of course his replacement is worse. Which isn’t out of the question considering the Pirates ended up with Chad Qualls and Hisanori Takahashi to bolster their playoff chances after the break.
It also means that one of the best bullpens in baseball during the first half of last year now has lost three big pieces.
Hopefully the general theory that Neal Huntington is a master at creating a bullpen is true, because he is rapidly destroying his.
The Pirates also traded infielder Yamaico Navarro to the Orioles for Jhondaniel Medina. Navarro was DFA’d a few days back and apparently the Pirates didn’t have any plans for him. Medina is 19, which is at least a good age, but he’s small and doesn’t have the best stuff. Not much to see here.
