The Pirates took care of business today on and off the field. In Grapefruit league action, the Pirates dominated the Phillies for a 19-4 victory. After the victory, Manager Clint Hurdle announced that Jeff Locke will take the team’s fourth spot in the Opening Day rotation while Vance Worley will begin the season in the bullpen for long-relief.
Locke went 7-6 for the Pirates in 2014 with a 3.91 ERA in 21 starts with 89 strikeouts and 40 walks in 131 1/3 innings.
After struggling through the second half of the 2013 season, Locke began 2014 in the minor leagues before getting the call in early May due to injuries in the starting rotation. He went 4-0 in five starts in August, but again struggled down the stretch going 1-3 over his final five starts.
Worley — who was closely beaten out by Locke for the final spot in the rotation — also helped an injured Pirates rotation sustain itself going 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 17 starts with 79 strikeouts and 22 walks in 110 2/3 innings. The high point of his 2014 season came when he shut out the eventual World Champion Giants in San Francisco in late July.
If Locke were to falter, the two could switch positions moving Locke to the bullpen and Worley to the rotation.
Polanco extension talks resume
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Pirates have resumed contract extension talks with Gregory Polanco.
If Polanco and the Pirates were to agree to an extension, the team would have all three of their prized outfielders (Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen, Polanco) locked up through the 2018 season.
There is no word yet on any numbers or years involved in the extension talks or how deep into talks they are.
Stay with PSN as this story develops.
(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
