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The Pirates made a flurry of roster moves before Friday's midnight ET deadline, setting the 40-man roster in advance of next month's Rule 5 Draft.
다음달 10일 윈터미팅 마지막날 열리는 룰 5 드레프트에 대비하여 벅스의 40인 로스터에 변화가 왔습니다.

As expected, the Bucs added pitchers Brad Lincoln and Bryan Morris to the roster, as well as outfielder Gorkys Hernandez. Lincoln, the organization's first-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, is in position to make his Major League debut at some point during the 2010 season. Hernandez and Morris are considered further away from the big leagues, but each was a highly touted acquisition in trades made by general manager Neal Huntington over the past two seasons.

The Pirates also elected to protect right-hander Ramon Aguero. Though his name is not as well recognized as the other three, Aguero's upside was too intriguing to leave him available to be taken by another club.

Aguero's performance slipped in 2008, but he showed an impressive rebound in '09. Aguero, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent in July '05, went 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 39 games (three starts) last year in low-A West Virginia, high-A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona.

"He's a potential back-end reliever," Huntington said. "He has a big arm and sinker. He's fearless and throws strikes."
일단 새로 추가되는 인물은 브레드 린컨(Brad Lincoln), 브라이언 모리스(Bryan Morris), 고키스 헤르난데스(Gorkys Hernandez), 라몬 아게로(Ramon Aguero)입니다.
린컨은 06년 드레프트 벅스의 1라운더출신으로 지금껏 부상과 부진으로 욕을 먹다가 올해 좋은 활약을 보이며 AAA까지 올라왔습니다.
모리스와 헤르난데스는 최근 다저스와 보스턴과의 3각트레이드 & 애틀란타와의 트레이드로 건너온 유망주입니다.
아게로는 내년에 25살의 릴리프인데, 올해 더블 A에서 강속구를 뿌리면서 부각되기 시작했습니다.

In addition to protecting these four Minor League players, the Pirates made three other roster additions. Jose Ascanio and Evan Meek were both reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, and right-hander Chris Jakubauskas was claimed off waivers from Seattle.

Jakubauskas, 30, made 35 appearances (eight starts) for the Mariners in 2009 and finished 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA. Pittsburgh plans to give Jakubauskas the opportunity to compete for a spot in next year's bullpen.
그 외에 60일자 DL에 있었던 호세 아스카니오(Jose Ascanio)와 이븐 미크(Evan Meek)가 40인 로스터에 복귀했고, 최근 시애틀에서 방출된 크리스 재커바우스커스(Chris Jakubauskas)를 클레임 걸었습니다.
재커바우스커스는 올해 카스텐스가 담당했던 스팟 선발(or 스윙맨)의 역할을 맡을 것으로 예상되네요.

In order to clear a roster spot for Jakubauskas, however, the Pirates made the somewhat surprising decision to designate right-hander Jeff Karstens for assignment.

Huntington explained the reasoning for the move as simply to give the club more bullpen flexibility. Karstens was going to enter '10 with no options remaining. Jakubauskas, on the other hand, does have options left, meaning that if he doesn't make the team out of Spring Training, the Pirates can easily send him to Triple-A to start the season.

"We feel like he and Jeff can fill a similar role on the club, but Chris has the options remaining," Huntington said. "It's a calculated risk."

The Pirates have 10 days to trade, release or outright Karstens to the Minors -- if he clears waivers. Huntington said the club will explore the trade market for the right-hander.
재커바우스커스를 로스터에 포함시키기기 위해 제프 카스텐스(Jeff Karstens)를 DFA시켰습니다. 카스텐스의 경우는 마이너 옵션이 없기때문에 이런 행동을 취했다고 하는군요. 반면 재커바우스커스는 옵션이 하나 남았다고 하네요.

Pittsburgh designated two other players -- catcher Robinzon Diaz and lefty Justin Thomas -- in order to finish clearing roster space for Friday's additions.

Though Diaz did fare pretty well offensively while he was with the big league club during parts of the '09 season, he remained behind Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo on the Pirates' depth chart going into next year. And like Karstens, Diaz was out of options, meaning that he would have been placed on waivers next spring if he hadn't made the Opening Day roster.

The Pirates have 10 days to trade or release Diaz, who could then become a Minor League free agent. Based on Diaz's reaction to spending the year behind Doumit and Jaramillo, the Pirates do not anticipate him showing interest in returning.

"We welcome him back, but the reality is that he was frustrated at times this year as guys passed him by," Huntington said. "It's our anticipation that he would sign elsewhere."

Without Diaz, catcher Erik Kratz moves up to third on the Major League catching depth chart. Huntington did add, though, that the Pirates will continue to explore free agents to see if the team can improve that depth.

"We feel comfortable with Doumit, Jaramillo and Kratz as our emergency third guy," Huntington said. "But we'll look at the Major League and Minor League market to see if there is somebody that complements our club."

Thomas spent less than a month on the Pirates' roster after being claimed off waivers Oct. 29. He had been expected to compete for a spot as a left-handed reliever in Spring Training, and that's still the Pirates' hope, assuming the lefty is able to sneak through waivers unclaimed.

"We think he can help," Huntington said. "We like Justin and are certainly hopeful that we are able to win the gamble. If he is able to get through, it really doesn't change his standing with the club. We just felt there were other young players that we had to get protected."
그리고 얼마전 시애틀에 의해 방출되어 벅스가 영입했던 저스틴 토마스(Justin Thomas)와 로빈존 디아즈(Robinzon Diaz)를 40인 로스터에서 제외시켰습니다.
토마스의 경우는 최근에 컨디셔닝 캠프로 PNC파크에서 훈련을 했는데, 헌팅턴은 그와 함께 하고 싶다고 하는군요.
디아즈의 경우는 카스텐스와 동일하게 마이너 옵션이 없기때문에 그를 계속 보유하려면 내년 오프닝데이때부터 로스터에 포함시켜야 하는데, 이미 빅리그 로스터 포수자리는 주전의 더밋(Ryan Doumit)과 백업인 하라미요(Jason Jaramillo)가 있기때문에 사실상 불필요한 자리입니다. 해서 이런 조취를 행한 것이라는군요.
일단 헌팅턴은 그가 돌아오기를 바란다는데, 다른 곳으로 갈 확률이 있다는군요.
40인 로스터에 포수 2명만 두는 위험부담을 덜기 위해 일단은 에릭 크라츠(Erik Kratz)를 포함시켰지만 오프시즌동안 제 3의 포수에 대해서는 꾸준히 관찰하겠다는군요. 근대 40인 로스터는 이미 꽉 찼는데 어떻게 포함시켰는지는 모르겠네요. 공식 홈페이지에 이름도 없고, Transactions을 찾아봐도 없던데....

아무튼 크라츠는 얼마전 발표된 AAA 시즌 후 올스타에 선정되었습니다. 이것은 유망주이건 아니건 상관없이 그 해에 좋은 활약을 한 선수를 선정하는 것인데, 319타수동안 .273/.337/.470 의 성적을 찍었습니다.

With Friday's moves, the Pirates have a full 40-man roster. If they want to make a selection in the Rule 5 Draft, they will have to clear yet another roster spot to do so.

When asked if the Pirates are likely to make a Rule 5 selection, Huntington remained noncommittal. "It's a possibility," Huntington said. "Not a definite. We feel like we've enjoyed some success in the last few Rule 5s and still have some time to evaluate rosters. If there's a luxury of picking second, it's that if there are two players we like, we can create the roster spot."

The Pirates left a number of Minor League players unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft, including infielder Shelby Ford, who was the club's third-round pick in 2006. However, if another team selects an unprotected player from the Pirates, that player would have to remain on the selecting club's 25-man roster through the entirety of the 2010 season or otherwise offered back to Pittsburgh for $25,000 -- half the cost for selecting him.
이렇게 40인 로스터가 다 찼지만, 다음달 열리는 룰 5 드레프트에서 선수를 영입할 건지에 대해서는 노코맨트라고 하는군요. 충분히 고려하고 있다고 하네요.

원래는 순번상 린츠버그 힐켓(Lynchburg Hillcats)이 와야하지만 힐켓은 현재 플옵에 진출했고 1라운드도 통과했기때문에 차후에 나올 예정인가 봅니다. 일단은 더블 A팀인 앨투나 커브를 찾아보겠습니다.

앨투나는 시즌초에 마이너 전체에서도 최악의 팀 중에 하나로 꼽혔습니다. 시즌 출발과 함께 8연패를 당하면서 시작한 앨투나는 전반기에 2연승 4번, 3연승 2번만 있을뿐 연패를 반복하는 팀중에 하나였습니다. 하지만 후반기 벅스의 CF자원들의 교통정리가 원활해지고, 알바레스가 콜업되면서 전반기보다는 훨씬 경쟁력있는 팀으로 발전했습니다.

Part 4 of a six-part series on the Pirates' affiliates as they finish their seasons.

Team : Altoona Curve

League : Eastern League, Class AA

Record : 62-80, last in Southern Division

Top hitter for average : Pedro Alvarez, 22, third baseman. What more can be said about an elite prospect who, in his first 60 games at the Class AA level, batted .333 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs?
Top hitter for average : 페드로 알바레스(Pedro Alvarez). 더블 A 첫 60경기만에 .333 & 13HR 40RBI를 기록한 타자에게 뭐라고 더 말하는게 좋을까?

Top hitter for power : See above. Then, factor into that 34 walks that brought a .419 on-base percentage. Nobody wanted to pitch to Alvarez and, when they did, he hit it a long way.
Top hitter for power : 위에 스텟을 봤겠지? 앨투나에서 258타석동안 .419의 출루율을 기록한 선수라는 것을. 그 선수를 상대로 정면승부한 투수는 잘 없었고, 만약 있었다면 그 투수는....

Top defensive player : Gorkys Hernandez, 22, center fielder. He did little at the plate after coming in the Nate McLouth trade -- .262, three home runs, just 9 of 17 in steals despite breathtaking speed -- but he was an exceptional fielder. The rest of the team? Not so much. The Curve's .969 fielding percentage was the league's worst.
Top defensive player : 고르키 헤르난데스(Gorkys Hernandez). 그는 맥클라우스 트레이드로 건너온 이후 타석에서 삽질- .262 & 3HR & 53%의 도루성공률-했지만 분명 수비수로는 뛰어난 선수이다. 헤르난데스외에 나머지 팀 맴버들은 어땟냐고? 앨투나는 리그 최악의 수비팀이다.

Top starting pitcher : Yoslan Herrera, 28, right-hander. He was 11-1 with a 3.23 ERA, but he is well up there in age to be considered a prospect. The one with the brightest potential is Tim Alderson, the lone acquisition in the Freddy Sanchez trade, though his performance -- and his stuff, as scouts saw his fastball fade into the 80s -- dipped down the stretch. Another to note is much-maligned Danny Moskos, who did better than expected as a starter: 11-10 with a 3.74 ERA and a healthy finishing kick. He still is seen as a future reliever, but a good year of starting never hurts.
Top starting pitcher : 요슬런 헤레라(Yoslan Herrera). 아주 좋은 성적을 냈지만 28살의 더블A선수를 유망주라고 부를 사람을 없을 것이다. 그 외에 트레이드로 데려온 팀 앨더슨(Tim Alderson)이 있는데 일단 그의 스터프는 퇴보했다. 벅스 팬들이라면 치를 떠는 이름이 있었으니 그 이름은 다니엘 모스코스(Danny Moskos)다. 모스코스는 일단 프로입문이후 부상없이 보낸 첫해이며 좋은 모습을 보여주며 시즌을 마무리지었다. 모스코스는 여전히 릴리프가 될것이라는 예측이 있긴 하다.

Top reliever : Ramon Aguero, 24, right-hander. A case of false identity and age could not mask that Aguero still can throw in the high-90s, and his cumulative 3.86 ERA got him elevated through three levels.

Director of player development Kyle Stark says : "Altoona endured a challenging season that saw a very poor first half, but a very competitive second half where they were among the best teams in the Eastern League. The team continued to compete and refused to quit. Individually, we saw some players continue to their development with promotions to Class AAA and others who emerged at Class AA. Jose Tabata battled through personal issues in spring training and hamstring issues early to have a successful season, moving closer to his goal of the big leagues. Jeff Sues struggled at Class AA, but earned a promotion to Class AAA and saw a return of his stuff to 2008 levels. Pedro Alvarez established himself as a potent middle-of-the-order bat and made strides defensively at 3B. Gorkys Hernandez matured as the season progressed and showed the physical tools that have him ranked as a top prospect. Brian Friday had a solid season overall, especially after missing some time with an inner-ear issue. A number of pitchers flashed progress, led by Danny Moskos's steady season (others include Michael Crotta, Tim Alderson, Jared Hughes, Michael Dubee, Ramon Aguero (jumping three levels), etc.)."
카일 스탁스의 한 마디 : 앨투나는 전반기 삽질, 후반기 대반격의 한 해를 보내며 지속적으로 경쟁력을 끌고 시즌을 마무리 지었다. 앨투나 소속으로 좋은 선수들이 콜업되거나 팀에 남아 시즌을 잘 마무리 지었다. 특히, 호세 타바타(Jose Tabata)는 스프링 캠프에서 개인적인 문제(부인이 아이를 유괴했습니다)와 햄스트링으로 힘들었지만, 좋은 모습을 보이며 콜업되었으며, 제프 슈스(Jeff Sues)는 더블 A에선 별로였지만 콜업되어서 작년의 좋았던 모습을 재현했다. 알바레스는 미래의 중심타자임을 증명하며 수비에서도 발전을 이룩했다.(하지만 야구월드컵 개막전에서 알바레스가 중요한 실책을 범했다죠?) 브라이언 프라이데이(Brian Friday)는 내이(inner-ear)로 고생했지만 전체적으로 솔리드한 시즌을 보냈다. 모스코스, 마이클 크로타(Michael Crotta), 앨더슨, 제라드 휴즈(Jared Hughes), 마이클 듀비(Michael Dubee), 아게로 등의 투수들이 좋은 모습을 보여줬다.

Final word : The Curve were a robust disappointment until Alvarez arrived in mid-summer, and their glaring lack of fundamentals in the field could underscore larger issues there.