The Pirates selected left-handed pitcher Jose Hernandez from the Dodgers system yesterday in MLB’s Rule 5 draft, but lost catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol to the Reds. Cincinnati then traded Sabol to the Giants.
Hernandez was 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 51 games last season, averaging 10.4 strikeouts and 3.8 walks per nine innings last season in High-A and Double-A.
In the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, the Bucs chose right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang from the Giants in the first round and outfielder Joshua Palacios from the Nationals in the second round. They lost eleven players, nine of them pitchers, including right-handed pitcher Trey McGough, the Johnstown native and Ferndale graduate who played for Indianapolis last season. McGough was chosen by the Orioles. Outfielder Jared Oliva went to the Angels.
MLB
The Winter Meetings wrapped up yesterday in San Diego with a flurry of signings, including former Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts agreeing to a deal with the Padres for 11 years and $280 million, the Cardinals inking catcher Willson Contreras for 5 years at $87.5 million, and the Mets signing former Pirates pitcher Jose Quintana for two years and $26 million. Ex-Bucco Jameson Taillon had signed a four-year deal with the Cubs earlier yesterday.
