At least that’s how it sounds. The rumored return is apparently Jerry Sands, with another player or players also coming the Pirates way.
Joel Hanrahan has been good, not great for the Pirates. He’s been a solid pitcher and the Pirates squeezed a ton out of him.
Sands is 25 year old righty that can play two corners and first base. He brings power. He also brings a looooooong swing and lots of strikeouts.
| Year | Tm | G | PA | AB | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Dodgers | 46 | 185 | 146 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 33 | 29 | 43 | .205 | .346 | .438 | .784 |
| 2009 | 2 Teams | 73 | 308 | 267 | 16 | 4 | 19 | 58 | 37 | 60 | .315 | .401 | .618 | 1.019 |
| 2009 | Ogden | 41 | 185 | 163 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 39 | 22 | 28 | .350 | .427 | .687 | 1.114 |
| 2009 | Great Lakes | 32 | 123 | 104 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 32 | .260 | .361 | .510 | .870 |
| 2010 | 2 Teams | 137 | 590 | 502 | 28 | 5 | 35 | 93 | 73 | 123 | .301 | .395 | .586 | .981 |
| 2010 | Great Lakes | 69 | 287 | 243 | 16 | 3 | 18 | 46 | 40 | 61 | .333 | .432 | .646 | 1.078 |
| 2010 | Chattanooga | 68 | 303 | 259 | 12 | 2 | 17 | 47 | 33 | 62 | .270 | .360 | .529 | .889 |
| 2011 | Albuquerque | 94 | 418 | 370 | 21 | 3 | 29 | 88 | 38 | 86 | .278 | .344 | .586 | .931 |
| 2012 | Albuquerque | 119 | 522 | 452 | 17 | 4 | 26 | 107 | 59 | 106 | .296 | .375 | .524 | .900 |
| 5 Seasons | 469 | 2023 | 1737 | 86 | 16 | 119 | 379 | 236 | 418 | .289 | .376 | .562 | .938 | |
| A (2 seasons) | 101 | 410 | 347 | 23 | 5 | 23 | 65 | 55 | 93 | .311 | .411 | .605 | 1.016 | |
| Rk (2 seasons) | 87 | 370 | 309 | 13 | 2 | 24 | 72 | 51 | 71 | .282 | .386 | .570 | .956 | |
| AAA (2 seasons) | 213 | 940 | 822 | 38 | 7 | 55 | 195 | 97 | 192 | .288 | .362 | .552 | .914 | |
| AA (1 season) | 68 | 303 | 259 | 12 | 2 | 17 | 47 | 33 | 62 | .270 | .360 | .529 | .889 | |
Again. Huntington is taking a gamble. Sands is completely unproven and made his reputation in an immense hitters league. On top of that, he will be going to a park that punishes righties.
There is now a logjam of outfielders. One has to assume that this isn’t the only trade that is going to happen. A guy like Jose Tabata or Alex Presley is probably not safe at this point. If he is going to play first he makes Gaby Sanchez expendable as well.
This has the potential to be a coup for the Pirates honestly. It also has the potential to be another Jeff Clement.
UPDATE – RHP Stolmy Pimentel is also coming to the Pirates in the trade. Pimentel has decent stuff but he is inconsistent. Very good chance he ends up a late inning reliever if he figures it out.
