So much for the All-Star Break being a break for the Pirates.
Today, the team told Tony Sanchez – last year’s first round pick who is out with a broken jaw – that he’s done for the season. That’s a real bummer, both because Sanchez looked poised to go to AA before the injury and because the Pirates’ catcher at the Major League level is Ryan Doumit.
Not content to just leave it at that, some good news was mixed with some bad news. The good news is that Jeff Locke – a part of the Nate McLouth trade – has been moved up to AA Altoona after pitching very well in Bradenton. The bad news is that he’s taking the spot of Tim Alderson – the sole return of the Freddy Sanchez trade.
Finally, the team has re-acquired former farmhand Brian Bixler from Cleveland in exchange for a player to be named later. While a player to be named later is rarely anything to get excited about, neither is Brian Bixler, who is 27 years old and still can’t hit AAA pitching despite it being his fourth year at the level.
