[ad_1]
The pirates announced today that they have released the catcher Francisco Cervelli. The 33-year-old was trying to come back from a concussion.
Today's move marks the disappointing end of Cervelli's generally excellent term in Pittsburgh. He has been part of the organization since 2015, moving from a former Yankees reserve to a high-quality, full-time backstop.
Chief Executive Neal Huntington issued a statement on this topic, Adam Berry of MLB.com covering on Twitter. The chief decision maker of the club's baseball operations explained:
"Out of respect and gratitude for Francisco, we chose to follow up on his release request to allow him to seize an opportunity that would potentially give him a chance to play more, as well as an opportunity this season to compete in the playoffs. . "
Cervelli owes $ 11.5 million this season, which is far too much to make it an attractive target for waiver applications. Instead, the Buc will continue to pay the rest, minus a proportional portion of the league's minimum, regardless of what part of the season he will devote to another MLB formation.
This case did not always seem like a dead weight. At the time, the $ 31-million extension was concluded for three years, preventing Cervelli from testing the free agency before the 2017 season, which seemed like a great value for the club. Cervelli missed much more time than expected due to an injury, but he still managed to make 404 appearances at the plate including 0.259 / .378 / .431 hitting last year. During his five seasons in Pittsburgh, he made a 100 OPS +, making him an average hitter in the league, which represents a good production rate for a reputable defensive receiver.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
[ad_2]
Source link