BleacherCoaches.com

The Pirates spending money??? No way in the world.....this is just a ploy to the fans making it look like they are trying.

Russell Martin 2 yrs 17 million

Who would have thought that the Pirates would spend money! This is a good start, hopefully they're not done yet. My christmas wish is a proven and reliable starting pitcher.

A.J Burnett is pretty reliable with and 8 game win streak last year at home

A.J., Wandy R., Jeff K. (if he can stay health), and J-Mac ( if he gets his head straightened out) are a good rotation....but having another good arm can't hurt. They have some good arms coming up in the minors, but not proven yet. They need to work some of these guys in to see what they can do.

I don't know who they could pick up but that Garret Cole from Altoona looked really good last year was just to inexperienced and maybe now he will be good

The key with McDonald is his curve ball. There was nothing wrong with his fastball in the second half of last year. The reason he struggled was because he had no idea where his deuce was going. When he's going good he can place it from the bottom of the zone to the dirt accurately. When he's going bad it hangs or misses the zone completely. If he can control that pitch all year he will win 14-17 games. If he can't he'll be out of the rotation by May.

@BiertempfelTrib: #Pirates will NON-TENDER Jeff Karstens. That will make room for Russell Martin.

The only for sure starters right now are AJ and Wandy they could lose the rest as of now. Can't believe they didn't try to deal Karstens.

I liked Karstens, crafty, not great stuff but he knows how to pitch. Don't forget about Charlie Morton will be back from surgery...I know I know, but they stick with certain guys way too long when they trade for em...see Jose Tabata.. and cut some guys loose without a real shot...I think this organizations biggest problem isn't personell moves, it's a lack of real baseball guys developing the younger talent....anyway before I go too far off on a tangent, they for some reason will stuff Morton into the rotation one way or another....I was hoping for a Dan Haren, or Fausto...errr I mean Roberto Hernandez....probably won't happen..they've spent some money on a need, then will try to bandaid everything else.