來源：
mlbtraderumors
標題：
Pirates Sign David Freese, Designate Jesse Biddle
內文：
By Jeff Todd | March 11, 2016 at 5:24pm CST
The Pirates have signed third baseman David Freese to a one-year deal, per a
club announcement. The CAA client will earn $3MM on a straight guarantee
without any available incentives, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review reports on Twitter. Pittsburgh also announced that it has
designated southpaw Jesse Biddle for assignment to create roster space.
Freese, who’ll turn 33 at the end of April, has settled in as a steady but
unspectacular performer at the hot corner. After some strong offensive years
earlier in his career with the Cardinals, he’s generally posted slightly
above-average results. All told, Freese slashed a sturdy .258/.322/.401 with
24 home runs in 981 plate appearances over his two years with the Angels, who
reportedly considered a qualifying offer this winter but ultimately allowed
Freese to leave uninhibited. Though his line-drive and hard-contact rates
both fell last year, with his walk rate continuing to trickle downward,
Freese did still manage to significantly increase his ISO in 2015 as against
his prior year’s work.
Much the same holds on the defensive side of the equation, as Freese has
generally graded out as roughly average with the glove before and since a
one-year downturn (2013, his final year in St. Louis). He is a poor overall
baserunner and has had his share of injury troubles, though it’s hard to
blame him for missing time recently after being struck by pitches.
It took some time for his market to thaw, but Freese will presumably step
right into Pittsburgh’s Opening Day lineup. Though the team has Jung Ho Kang
and Josh Harrison under contract as options at second and third, Kang has
only just reached the point of straight-line running after suffering a
serious leg injury last year. Indications were that Kang may be available
within a month or so of the season’s start, but Pittsburgh obviously decided
there was enough uncertainty to make another addition.
Even when Kang does make it back, it’s not hard to see the value of bringing
in the respected veteran. It’s expected that Freese will eventually form the
right-handed side of a first base platoon with John Jaso, Stephen Nesbitt of
the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. He’ll also deepen the overall infield
unit. Harrison took a step back in 2015, as did shortstop Jordy Mercer, and
the other options on hand (glove-first shortstop Pedro Florimon, prospect
Alen Hanson, utilityman Sean Rodriguez) all come with their share of
questions and uncertainties.
Nevertheless, the move comes as a bit of a surprise, though MLBTR’s Steve
Adams did name the Bucs as one of only six teams that made much sense as a
destination for Freese as of mid-February. It is a bit unclear what
Pittsburgh will do with Rodriguez and, especially, Michael Morse with Freese
now under contract. The former is owed $2.5MM this year after re-signing,
while the latter is largely a free-roll after he was swapped for another bad
contract (Jose Tabata) last summer. Those two could still conceivably see
time in the outfield, but there probably won’t be many plate appearances
available there. Adding Freese also seemingly tamps down the likelihood of an
early promotion for first base prospect Josh Bell.
Freese isn’t the most exciting player, but his ultimate contract still comes
as a shock. Indeed, he’ll earn less than other recent players to sign,
including fellow third baseman Juan Uribe, former Pirates first bagger Pedro
Alvarez, and center fielder Austin Jackson.
As for Biddle, who was acquired in a DFA limbo swap earlier in the winter,
Pittsburgh may be hoping tha the can clear waivers at this stage of the
offseason. The one-time top prospect will be returning from Tommy John
surgery and has had serious control problems, but remains an interesting
project for whatever organization ends up with his rights.
網址：
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/pirates-sign-david-freese.html
備註(有錯誤煩請不吝指教)：
1. 海盜隊以$3MM/1YR簽下三壘手David Freese，沒有附帶其他激勵獎金，海盜隊為此
DFA左投Jesse Biddle。
2. 據報導指出，天使隊一度想提QO，不過最後還是離開了。
3. 各方面總評：守備方面為聯盟平均、跑壘方面不太好，偶有受傷的問題、但打擊方面
仍有一定水準。
4. 海盜隊未來可能的內野陣容(參考去年與簽約)：
(1) C: Francisco Cervelli、Chris Stewart。
(2) 1B: John Jaso、David Freese、Michael Morse。
(3) 2B: Sean Rodriguez、Josh Harrison。
(4) 3B: Jung Ho Kang(腳部受傷中)、Josh Harrison、David Freese。
(5) SS: Jordy Mercer、Pedro Florimon及潛力新秀Alen Hanson。
5. Jesse Biddle曾是費城人的潛力新秀，在動了Tommy John手術後，他除了復健還要面對
嚴重的控球問題。
6. David Freese在去年球季的成績表現(今年33歲；去年球隊：LAA；薪水：$6.425MM)：
G H HR RBI SO BB BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+
120 109 14 56 107 31 .257 .323 .420 .743 109