Pirates sign Felix Pie

Yet another fourth outfielder type.  Why Opie is signing a guy like this, unless it is for organizational depth, is beyond me.  We've already got Tabata and Presley for the fourth and fifth outfielder roles, unless of course either or both is ticketed for a trade.  I suppose Presley is the more likely to go simply because the Pirates signed Tabata to a longer term deal that is relatively team friendly---so I guess they're more likely to stick it out with him for at least another year to try and get their money's worth. 


Anyway, Pie is like a lot of other "just a guy" types: in just under 1,000 career at bats he has shown some extra base power---44 doubles, 13 triples, and 17 home runs---and he doesn't strike out an inordinate amount, but he doesn't draw walks, which kills his on base percentage.  He also doesn't steal many bases; his career total is 20, with 8 caught stealing.  In short: a journeyman who can probably help you a little if you pick your spots with him. 


I'd much rather have Presley, who has better speed and is otherwise comparable-to-slightly-better than Pie.  I can't speak for Pie's defensive ability, but he'd have to be pretty good to be significantly better than Presley. 


Pie's career statistics: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piefe0 1.shtml  

Presley's career statistics: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/presla l01.shtml

williamjpellas wrote: Yet another fourth outfielder type.  Why Opie is signing a guy like this, unless it is for organizational depth, is beyond me.  We've already got Tabata and Presley for the fourth and fifth outfielder roles, unless of course either or both is ticketed for a trade.  I suppose Presley is the more likely to go simply because the Pirates signed Tabata to a longer term deal that is relatively team friendly---so I guess they're more likely to stick it out with him for at least another year to try and get their money's worth. 


Anyway, Pie is like a lot of other "just a guy" types: in just under 1,000 career at bats he has shown some extra base power---44 doubles, 13 triples, and 17 home runs---and he doesn't strike out an inordinate amount, but he doesn't draw walks, which kills his on base percentage.  He also doesn't steal many bases; his career total is 20, with 8 caught stealing.  In short: a journeyman who can probably help you a little if you pick your spots with him. 


I'd much rather have Presley, who has better speed and is otherwise comparable-to-slightly-better than Pie.  I can't speak for Pie's defensive ability, but he'd have to be pretty good to be significantly better than Presley. 


Pie's career statistics: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piefe0 1.shtml  

Presley's career statistics: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/presla l01.shtml

It's a minor league deal with an NRI. It's a no-risk move. If he can't make the team, he'll end up at Indy as security in case Presley or Tabata (or both) struggle early.

He has no chance to play in the majors. He's simply to play OF in AAA. He's simply taking Brandon Boggs spot in the organization.

The AAA team is losing a lot of players that began the year there. Marte, Boggs, Hernandez, Clement and possibly Hague assuming he gets removed off the 40 man roster today will all be gone so they need to bring in a bunch of guys for depth at AAA.

What happened with Boggs?  Did he sign with another organization, or did the Pirates just not want him back?  I still think bringing Pie in could be a precursor for a trade involving Presley.  I hope not.  I'm not sure why Hague is still hanging around the organization, given the bad season he just had and given how many players more talented than him are coming up from the lower minors at his position.

Guys like Boggs and Pie are AAAA players. They don't get added to 40 man rosters so they rotate from organization to organization every year. The money is the same but some other team might of been more appealing to him as they might be thinner in the OF depth department. The only way guys like Pie and Boggs make the majors is if you have injuries to 3-4 other outfielders at the same time.

Injuries happen, so there's a good chance Pie sees Pittsburgh next year.

I would take the under on that bet. We already have a glut of outfielders. McCuthcen, Tabata, Snider and Marte are all likely to break with the team. Then you still have Garrett Jones and Josh Harrison that can play the outfield although in the case of Harrison it isn't very well. Even if one outfielder gets injured you won't need to recall an outfielder. If a second one gets injured at the same time you have Presley who will almost surely start the year in AAA as he is the outfielder of the Tabata/Snider/Presley trio that has an option left. If a third outfielder gets hurt at the same time they would go with a guy like Yamacio Navarro since he's already on the 40 man roster.

Pie will be just like Boggs last year who never sniffed the light of day even when Tabata and Presley were injured or demoted. 40 man roster spots are too valuable and the Pirates really have no need to add him to that roster. If they get so ravaged by injury they would make a trade or a waiver claim just like last year when they acquired Sutton and got him some at bats. Now if Pit hits .350/.425/.550 I'm sure they will give him a chance it just won't happen because of injury.

We'll see.