The Pirates have signed 33-year old lefty reliever Joe Beimel. Beimel pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last season and he was 1-2 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 532 games (23 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 23-31 with 4 saves, a 4.16 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Beimel came up with the Pirates back in 2001 and he pitched 3 years for them. He pitched in 164 games (23 starts) for the Pirates the first time around and he was 10-19 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Beimel will be much better for the Pirates this time around as he has turned into a solid reliever since leaving Pittsburgh. I like this signing for the Pirates.

The Pirates have signed 28-year old righty swinging catcher Wyatt Toregas to a minor league deal. Toregas played in 38 games in A+AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 29 of 128 (.227 avg, .694 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 5 homers and 14 RBIs. His only major league experience came in 2009 with the Indians. He played in 19 games for the Indians in 2009 and he was 9 of 51 (.176 avg, .463 OPS) with 1 run scored and 6 RBIs. Toregas will likely start the 2011 season in AAA and get a call to Pittsburgh if the need arises.

The Pirates have signed 30-year old righty reliever Jose Veras to a minor league deal. Veras pitched in 48 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last season and he was 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He only gave up 32 hits in 48 innings last season while whiffing 54 batters so he does have really good stuff. The Pirates will need to work on him with his control though as he walked 29 batters last season. Veras has now pitched in 176 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 12-9 with 3 saves, a 4.24 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Veras could very well be another nice asset in the bullpen for the Pirates next season as long as he’s throwing strikes. I like this pick up for the Pirates.

The Pirates have inked 31-year old righty reliever Jorge Julio to a minor league deal. Julio last pitched in the majors in 2009 for the Brewers when he worked in 15 games (0 starts) in which he was 1-1 with a 7.79 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Julio has now pitched in 453 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 17-34 with 99 saves, a 4.43 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He still has a big time arm so it doesn’t hurt for the Pirates to give Julio a chance to revive his career in spring training.

59-year old starting pitcher Bert Blyleven has been elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Blyleven pitched three seasons in Pittsburgh from 1978-1980. He pitched in 105 games (103 starts) in his three years with the Pirates and he was 34-28 with 3.47 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Blyleven as the Pirates’ top starting pitcher on the “We Are Family” World Champion Pirates of 1979. He pitched in 3 games (2 starts) in the post season in 1979 and he was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Blyleven pitched in 692 games (685 starts) in his 22 years in the majors and he was 287-250 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Blyleven only pitched for the Pirates three seasons but he will always have a spot in team history for his performance in 1979.