The Pirates have signed 34-year old lefty reliever Brian Tallet to a minor league deal. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals & Blue Jays last year and he was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA and a 2.18 WHIP. Tallet has now pitched in 242 games (36 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 16-25 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He will get a shot to win a job in the Pirates’ bullpen this spring.

The Pirates have signed 33-year old righty reliever Juan Cruz to a minor league deal. Cruz pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 5-0 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He has now pitched in 404 games (38 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 37-35 with 3 saves, a 4.13 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Cruz will try to win a job in the Pirates’ bullpen this spring and he will have a good shot of doing exactly that.

The Pirates have signed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera to a minor league deal. He did not pitch at all last season and he last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Nationals & Diamondbacks. Cabrera has pitched in 162 games (155 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 48-65 with 1 save, a 5.10 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. The Pirates might want to think of converting Cabrera into a reliever as he has a big time arm despite being really wild.

The Pittsburgh Pirates struck quick in free agency in landing catcher Rod Barajas, shortstop Clint Barmes and lefty starting pitcher Erik Bedard. Since then they have been trolling for bargains in the basement. Here is a look at the players they have added for the 2012 season so far:

In the field: The Pirates have signed Rod Barajas to take over as the starting catcher in 2012. He has random power but he won’t hit for much of an average. Shortstop Clint Barmes brings a solid glove and a decent bat to the Pirates’ infield. Like Barajas, Barmes has some power for a SS. The Pirates dealt for 3B/1B Casey McGehee. I think he will start over Pedro Alvarez at 3B when the 2012 season begins. The rest of the guys the Pirates have brought in will try to win jobs off the bench. Catcher Jose Morales, C/1B Jake Fox, 2B/SS Yamaico Navarro, 2B/SS Anderson Hernandez, 1B/OF Nick Evans, OF Nate McLouth and OF Brandon Boggs will alll get chances to win bench jobs for the Pirates this spring.

On the mound: The Pirates made a nice move in signing lefty starting pitcher Erik Bedard. He is a darn good pitcher when healthy and he should do well for the Pirates in 2012. Lefty relievers Doug Slaten and Jo-Jo Reyes will try to win jobs in the bullpen this spring. Righties Ryota Igarashi and Logan Kensing will also try to win bullpen jobs this spring.

Overall: It the Pirates can bring in a rock solid 1B like Carlos Pena, Casey Kotchman or Derrek Lee……they might be a surprise team for the whole year in 2012.

The Pirates have signed 31-year old lefty reliever Doug Slaten to a minor league deal. Slaten pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP. He has now pitched in 206 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 7-8 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Slaten will have a good shot of making the Pirates’ 2012 bullpen this spring.