The Pirates have traded 29-year old switch hitting catcher Luke Carlin to the Indians for a player to be named later. Carlin played in 63 games in AAA for the Pirates this year and he was 49 of 205 (.239 avg, .648 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 2 homers, 23 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. This was a good deal for the Pirates as Carlin wasn’t going to help them at any point in 2010.

The Pirates have dealt 27-year old righty swinging shortstop Brian Bixler to the Nationals for cash considerations. The Pirates had just recently traded a player to be named later to the Indians for Bixler. He only played in 11 games in AAA-ball for the Pirates this year and he was 6 of 35 (.171 avg, .423 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

The Pirates have claimed 27-year old righty reliever/starter Chris Resop from the Braves and they have also claimed 37-year old righty reliever Chan Ho Park off waivers from the Yankees. It will be interesting to see how the Pirates decide to use Resop. He pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Braves this year and he was 0-0 with a 22.50 ERA and a 4.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 3-3 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if the Pirates choose to use Resop out of the pen as he has been excellent as a starting pitcher in the minors this year. Resop has started 17 games in AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 6-3 with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP there.

Chan Ho Park pitched in 29 games (0 starts) for the Yankees this season and he was 2-1 with a 5.60 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He has now pitched in 452 games (287 starts) in his 17 years in the majors and he is 122-96 with 2 saves, a 4.37 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Park might do better in the N.L. plus Yankee Stadium is night too nice to right handed pitchers.

The Pirates have designated 28-year old righty reliever Steven Jackson. Jackson pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Pirates this year and he was 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA and a 2.68 WHIP. He has now pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Pirates and he was 2-4 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. I have a hunch that some team needing relief help is going to claim Jackson off waivers.

The Pirates have traded 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brandon Jones to the Tigers for a player to be named later. Jones played in 78 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Pirates this year and he was 59 of 265 (.223 avg, .617 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 4 homers, 21 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Pirates weren’t going to have a use for Jones any time soon so it was smart to trade him and get a little something in return.