3-2 Changeup
01-27-2003, 02:05 PM
Giles may shift to center field
By John Perrotto, Times Sports Staff 01/26/2003
While the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to add more free-agent pitchers, their search for a center fielder could turn to left field.
The Pirates signed left-handers Mike Holtz and Dennys Reyes to minor-league contracts as free agents Friday and invited them to spring training. Now, General Manager is looking for one more outfielder and a veteran starting pitcher.
Littlefield said Saturday that star left fielder Brian Giles is a possibility to be in center field when the season opens March 31 at Cincinnati. Giles has given his blessing to the potential move, and it appears to stand a decent chance of happening.
"(Pirates manager) Lloyd McClendon has talked to Brian about it, and he is agreeable to doing it," Littlefield said. "The only thing Brian has asked is we try to keep him in one spot all season. We're agreeable to that, too."
While Littlefield stopped short of saying Giles will be the Pirates' center fielder in 2003, he admitted the Pirates' attempts to add an outfielder have expanded to corner players.
"Realistically, it's probably going to be easier to find someone to play on the corner than it is in center," Littlefield said. "It's always more difficult to find players who can play in the middle of the field - catchers, second baseman, shortstops and center fielders - and also do the job with the bat."
Giles made 150 of 151 starts in left field last season. In his four seasons with the Pirates, he has started 303 games in left, 236 in center and 61 in right.
At the moment, Rob Mackowiak is penciled in as the starting center fielder. The Pirates, though, would prefer to use him in a super utility role. He has played all nine positions during his pro career.
The only pure center fielder left on the free-agent market is Kenny Lofton, who hit leadoff in the World Series for San Francisco last October but was not retained by the Giants. While Lofton has appeared in five All-Star Games in his career and won four Gold Gloves, the Pirates would only be interested in the declining 35-year-old if he signed for a low base salary with performance bonuses.
The Pirates also have interest in Jose Cruz Jr., who became a free agent in December when he wasn't offered salary arbitration by Toronto. Cruz was a 30-30 man in 2001 with 34 homers and 32 steals but hit just .245 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs last season.
Baltimore seemed to be the favorite to sign Cruz, but broke off talks Friday when he turned down a one-year contract offer worth $2 million. San Francisco and Tampa Bay also are said to have interest.
Cruz has played center field at various times in his career, but some scouts believe he has become too heavy to handle that position on a regular basis.
Littlefield said the Pirates probably won't add any more relief pitchers before spring training opens Feb. 14 but would like to add one more starting pitching candidate.
"I really think we need to bring in one more pitcher who has been a starter in the majors, a guy who has done it and has experience," Littlefield said. "I'd feel better about our pitching staff if we could add that kind of guy."
Among the free agents who meet that criteria are Chuck Finley, Rick Helling, Esteban Loaiza, Chuck Person, Kenny Rogers and Julian Tavarez. Finley and Rogers are likely out of the Pirates' price range and it is doubtful they have interest in Loaiza.
Meanwhile, Holtz and Reyes have been added to an increasing crowded field competing to make the Pirates pitching staff.
Holtz, 30, has made 350 relief appearances in the majors. He is a graduate of Central Cambria High School in Ebensberg and lives in Hollidaysburg. He split last season between Oakland and San Diego, going 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 49 games. He has a 16-20 lifetime record with three saves and a 4.68 ERA in seven seasons.
Reyes, 25, will be looked at as a starter at the start of spring training but could wind up winning a bullpen job.
Reyes, 25, spent last season with Colorado and Texas and went a combined 4-4 with a 5.33 ERA in 58 games, five starts.
The Pirates also signed right-hander Brett Laxton, 29, who has pitched in the major leagues with Oakland (1999) and Kansas City (2000), to a minor-league contract as a free agent.
By John Perrotto, Times Sports Staff 01/26/2003
While the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to add more free-agent pitchers, their search for a center fielder could turn to left field.
The Pirates signed left-handers Mike Holtz and Dennys Reyes to minor-league contracts as free agents Friday and invited them to spring training. Now, General Manager is looking for one more outfielder and a veteran starting pitcher.
Littlefield said Saturday that star left fielder Brian Giles is a possibility to be in center field when the season opens March 31 at Cincinnati. Giles has given his blessing to the potential move, and it appears to stand a decent chance of happening.
"(Pirates manager) Lloyd McClendon has talked to Brian about it, and he is agreeable to doing it," Littlefield said. "The only thing Brian has asked is we try to keep him in one spot all season. We're agreeable to that, too."
While Littlefield stopped short of saying Giles will be the Pirates' center fielder in 2003, he admitted the Pirates' attempts to add an outfielder have expanded to corner players.
"Realistically, it's probably going to be easier to find someone to play on the corner than it is in center," Littlefield said. "It's always more difficult to find players who can play in the middle of the field - catchers, second baseman, shortstops and center fielders - and also do the job with the bat."
Giles made 150 of 151 starts in left field last season. In his four seasons with the Pirates, he has started 303 games in left, 236 in center and 61 in right.
At the moment, Rob Mackowiak is penciled in as the starting center fielder. The Pirates, though, would prefer to use him in a super utility role. He has played all nine positions during his pro career.
The only pure center fielder left on the free-agent market is Kenny Lofton, who hit leadoff in the World Series for San Francisco last October but was not retained by the Giants. While Lofton has appeared in five All-Star Games in his career and won four Gold Gloves, the Pirates would only be interested in the declining 35-year-old if he signed for a low base salary with performance bonuses.
The Pirates also have interest in Jose Cruz Jr., who became a free agent in December when he wasn't offered salary arbitration by Toronto. Cruz was a 30-30 man in 2001 with 34 homers and 32 steals but hit just .245 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs last season.
Baltimore seemed to be the favorite to sign Cruz, but broke off talks Friday when he turned down a one-year contract offer worth $2 million. San Francisco and Tampa Bay also are said to have interest.
Cruz has played center field at various times in his career, but some scouts believe he has become too heavy to handle that position on a regular basis.
Littlefield said the Pirates probably won't add any more relief pitchers before spring training opens Feb. 14 but would like to add one more starting pitching candidate.
"I really think we need to bring in one more pitcher who has been a starter in the majors, a guy who has done it and has experience," Littlefield said. "I'd feel better about our pitching staff if we could add that kind of guy."
Among the free agents who meet that criteria are Chuck Finley, Rick Helling, Esteban Loaiza, Chuck Person, Kenny Rogers and Julian Tavarez. Finley and Rogers are likely out of the Pirates' price range and it is doubtful they have interest in Loaiza.
Meanwhile, Holtz and Reyes have been added to an increasing crowded field competing to make the Pirates pitching staff.
Holtz, 30, has made 350 relief appearances in the majors. He is a graduate of Central Cambria High School in Ebensberg and lives in Hollidaysburg. He split last season between Oakland and San Diego, going 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 49 games. He has a 16-20 lifetime record with three saves and a 4.68 ERA in seven seasons.
Reyes, 25, will be looked at as a starter at the start of spring training but could wind up winning a bullpen job.
Reyes, 25, spent last season with Colorado and Texas and went a combined 4-4 with a 5.33 ERA in 58 games, five starts.
The Pirates also signed right-hander Brett Laxton, 29, who has pitched in the major leagues with Oakland (1999) and Kansas City (2000), to a minor-league contract as a free agent.