Pirates Looking At Free Agent Starter

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From ESPN Insider

The Pirates have considered bidding for free-agent right-hander Ryan Franklin to add depth to the starting rotation, the Beaver County Times reports. Franklin, who became a free agent when Seattle declined to tender him a contract, is attracting plenty of interest from teams in the market for a back-end-of-the-rotation starter, reports ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

That would put Snell and Santos into the bullpen mix, filling the last of the three holes Littlefield said he wanted to address--RH bullpen depth. Franklins is 32 years old and a RHP with about a .500 record as a No. 5 starter.

[ed500]

does this mean another trade is in the works?
trading an sp ,and /or Craig Wilson

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I'm not sure about how that would impact Craig or another starter. Franklin is a free agent, so if he were signed as the #5 starter then that would mean that Snell would go to the pen, return to Indy or be traded. The Bucs brass has felt all along that Snell is better suited to the pen because of his small physical stature. And Vogelsong would likewise stay in the pen or be traded.

[Greymire]

The only way this would affct Craig is with the money angle. If we spend more cash on a starter, his contract may become more than the Pirates want to handle for a guy off the bench. It has just seemed to me that the Bucco's have been pushing Craig out all off season. I expect him to be gone, especially with Garut signed. Of course Jody could be dealt as well, but he would be a cheaper bat, with more upside (power, defense and average) if he can rebound from knee problems.

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I wouldn't be surprised if they don't trade Craig for a no-name prospect or "Future Considerations" or PTBNL in a pure salary dump. Franklin reminds me of Jeff Suppan--an unspectacular innings eater.