AP UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Pirates and McClouth have agreed to a one-year deal, pending a physical.
5:24 PM: Yesterday’s “mutual interest” in a Nate McLouth-Pirates reunion is apparently close to becoming a done deal and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports that they’re also close to signing Wilson Betemit.
McLouth would likely be a backup outfielder after two disastrous seasons with the Braves, while Betemit could push Pedro Alvarez at third base and provide an option at first base.
Betemit isn’t much of a defender, but the switch-hitter batted .290 with an .838 OPS in 181 games for the Royals and Tigers during the past two seasons. At worst he’s an excellent bench bat.
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- WhenMattStairsIsKing - Dec 6, 2011 at 5:33 PM
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These are deals Pittsburgh should be making; short-term, low-risk guys while they develop from within. They’re getting there with guys like Walker and Alvarez.
Nice job, Huntington.
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- fastwillie39 - Dec 6, 2011 at 6:46 PM
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Disagree with McLouth, he has looked horrible, Betemit is fine, Barmes as shortstop is weak also, could be a similar year in 2012 for bucs
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- 78mu - Dec 6, 2011 at 7:44 PM
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Look at his numbers in his last full year as a Pirate and then look at the number of games he played in as a Brave. I bet his injuries had something to do with the drop in performance and I hope he’s healthy. Could be a nice late round pickup in my fantasy league.
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- A.J. - Dec 7, 2011 at 2:53 AM
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I wish McLouth hadn’t been so lousy with the Braves, but I do hope he gets back to some success in Pittsburgh because I just don’t believe he is as awful as he looked in 2010.
Last season he looked like he might be solid in a platoon vs. RHP, but he may need to be more than that if his D is as bad as it was the last 2 years.
