The Pirates have designated 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brandon Moss for assignment. Moss played in 133 games for the Pirates last season and he was 91 of 385 (.236 avg, .668 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 7 homers and 41 RBIs. In his two years with Pittsburgh, Moss played in 178 games in which he was 126 of 543 (.232 avg, .681 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 13 homers and 64 RBIs. Moss has been a huge disappointment since coming over from the Red Sox in the Jason Bay trade a year and a half ago. The Pirates have a lot of outfielders better than Moss so they won’t miss him.

The Pirates have appeared overmatched the last couple of years under manager John Russell. Russell led the Pirates to a 62-99 (38.5%) record in 2009. In two years with the Pirates, Russell is 129-194 (39.9%). Russell has been overmatched mostly because of the talent he has to work with which has been pretty awful up until now. Russell better win at least 70 games in 2010 or the Pirates need to try someone else.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MANAGER IN 2010: D

The Pirates knew they had to do something with the bullpen in 2010. 36-year old righty Octavio Dotel was signed to a 1-year deal to serve as the closer for the Pirates in 2010. Dotel pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He whiffed 75 batters while only giving up 54 hits in 62 1/3 innings last season showing that he still has electric stuff. But he walked 36 batters last season and that is way too many. Dotel has now pitched 11 years in the majors appearing in 562 games (34 starts) in which he is 46-39 with 83 saves, a 3.73 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. If Dotel is throwing strikes in 2010 he will be a big improvement over Matt Capps as the Pirates’ closer.

38-year old righty Brendan Donnelly will be the set-up man for the Pirates in 2010. He pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last season and he was 3-0 with 2 saves, a 1.78 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Donnelly has now pitched in 348 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 29-9 with 6 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. If he can stay healthy I think that Donnelly will be effective all year long for the Pirates in 2010.

28-year old righty Joel Hanrahan will likely start the year on the D.L. Hanrahan pitched in 33 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 0-1 with a 1.72 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Hanrahan pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Nationals & Pirates last season in which he was 1-4 with 5 saves, a 4.78 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

32-year old righty D.J. Carrasco is the kind of pitcher who can handle throwing a lot of innings out of the pen. He pitched in 49 games (1 start) for the White Sox last season and he was 5-1 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Carrasco can work multiple innings at a time while also spot starting if the Pirates need him to. He will be a asset for them in 2010.

26-year old righty Evan Meek looked decent for the Pirates last season and they hope he can keep up the good work in 2010. Meek pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Meek only gave up 34 hits in 47 innings last season showing that he has good stuff. But, he also walked 29 batters which is way too many.

28-year old righty Steven Jackson was solid as a rookie for the Pirates last year. Jackson pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last season in which he was 2-3 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. If he makes the Pirates this season I think he will pitch decent for them again.

32-year old righty Tyler Yates missed most of last season due to injury. Yates pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last season in which he was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He has pitched in 87 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Pirates and he is 6-5 with 1 save, a 5.06 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Yates does need to have better control if he is going to be effective for the Pirates in 2010 as he has walked 48 batters in his 85 1/3 innings for them the last two years.

24-year old Jose Ascanio pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last season. He pitched in 16 games (0 starts) overall last season for the Pirates & Cubs in which he was 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. He whiffed 20 batters in only 18 innings last season but he walked 9 batters. If his control gets better he could be effective for the Pirates as early as 2010.

31-year old lefty Jack Taschner has a good chance to make the team as a lefty specialist in 2010. He pitched in 24 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last season in which he was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. Taschner was terrible for the Phillies last season as he gave up 38 hits and walked 16 batters in only 29 1/3 innings. He needs to improve if the Pirates are going to use him in 2010.

32-year old lefty Javier Lopez is nothing more than a specialist if he makes the team. He pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last season in which he was 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA and a 2.49 WHIP. He has pitched 3 years in the N.L. appearing in 171 games (0 starts) in which he is 6-4 with 3 saves, a 6.09 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. I’m not a big fan of Lopez but the Pirates might not have anyone better for his role.

29-year old lefty Wil Ledezma has a big time arm but he has never been that successful in the show. He pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 0-0 with a 9.53 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP. Ledezma also pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year in which he is 1-3 with 1 save, a 3.49 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Ledezma has the highest upside of any of the lefty relievers in Pirates’ camp.

31-year old righty Vinnie Chulk pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Indians last season and he was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Chulk also pitched in 18 games (0 starts) last season in AAA-ball in which he was 1-0 with 4 saves, a 2.08 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2010: C+

The Pirates have claimed 25-year old righty starter/reliever Hayden Penn off waivers from the Marlins. Penn pitched in 16 games (1 start) for the Marlins last season in which he was 1-0 with a 7.77 ERA and a 2.27 WHIP. He has now pitched in 30 games (15 starts) in his three years in the majors and he is 4-6 with a 8.89 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP. Penn has given up 114 hits and walked 54 batters in only 80 major league innings in his career. Penn was once one of the most highly thought of prospects in the Orioles’ minor league system so it doesn’t hurt the Pirates at all to give him another chance.

The Pirates won’t have anyone older than 27 years old in the starting rotation when the 2010 season begins. 26-year old Zach Duke will likely be the Pirates’ #1 starter when the season begins. He started 32 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 11-16 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. In five years with the Pirates, Duke has pitched in 131 games (130 starts) in which he is 37-55 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Duke has never really lived up to the promise he showed as a rookie.

27-year old lefty Paul Maholm couldn’t follow up his solid 2008 season for the Pirates last year. Maholm started 31 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 8-9 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has also pitched 5 years for the Pirates just like Duke in which he has started 127 games. In those 127 games, Maholm is 38-44 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Maholm is mis-cast at the top of the Pirates’ rotation as he would likely be a #4 or #5 starter on a good team.

27-year old righty Ross Ohlendorf really had a outstanding year in 2009 and the Pirates hope he can repeat it. Ohlendorf started 29 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 11-10 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Ohlendorf only allowed 165 hits in 176 2/3 innings last season which is a very good sign for the future.

26-year old righty Charlie Morton will likely be the frontrunner for the #4 spot in the rotation for the Pirates in 2010. Morton started 18 games for the Pirates last year in which he was 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Pirates really hope that Morton steps up this year.

27-year old righty Daniel McCutchen appears to be penciled in as the #5 starter for the Pirates heading into 2010. McCutchen is the Pirates’ #21 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. McCutchen started 6 games for the Pirates last season in which he was 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He also started 24 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.

27-year old righty Kevin Hart will likely get some starts for the Pirates this season. He started 10 games for the Pirates last season after coming over from the Cubs in a trade and he was 1-8 with a 6.92 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. Hart gave up 74 hits in only 53 1/3 innings as a Pirate last season while walking 26 batters and that just won’t get the job done. Overall, Hart pitched in 18 games (14 starts) for the Cubs & Pirates in which he was 4-9 with a 5.44 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP.

24-year old righty rookie Brad Lincoln could also make a push for the starting job at some point in 2010 for the Pirates. He started 25 games in AA+AAA ball last season in which he was 7-7 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Lincoln is the Pirates’ #4 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America.

21-year old righty Tim Alderson was brought over last season from the Giants in the Freddy Sanchez trade last July. Alderson started 25 games in A+AA ball last season in which he was 10-3 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Alderson is the Pirates’ #7 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2010: C-