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 got decent work from their starting rotation in 2011, but they are hoping for improvement out of this bunch. Here is a look at the starting rotation for 2012 as things stand right now:

#1: Erik Bedard: The Pirates signed 32-year old lefty Erik Bedard to a 1-year deal over the winter. He pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Mariners and Red Sox last year and he was 5-9 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Bedard has now pitched in 168 games (165 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 56-50 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Bedard is a very solid pitcher, but, he has only started 30 or more games once (2006 with the Orioles) in his first 8 years in the majors.

#2: Kevin Correia: 31-year old righty Kevin Correia started out last season like a ball of fire for the Pirates as he made the All-Star team, but he faded badly in the second half of the year. Correia pitched in 27 games (26 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 12-11 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Correia has now pitched in 258 games (131 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 48-54 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Pirates hope that Correia is more like he was in the first half of the 2011 season in 2012.

#3: Charlie Morton: 28-year old righty Charlie Morton really had a solid year in 2011 for the Pirates. He pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 10-10 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Morton has now pitched in 64 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Pirates and he is 17-31 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He has now pitched in 80 games (79 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 21-39 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. The Pirates hope that Morton turned the corner last season and keeps improving in 2012.

#4: James McDonald: 27-year old righty James McDonald had a so-so year for the Pirates in 2011. He pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 9-9 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. McDonald has now pitched in 42 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 14-14 with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. McDonald has the potential to win 15 games in the near future, if he gets his act together.

#5: Jeff Karstens: 29-year old righty Jeff Karstens had by far the best year in his major league career in 2011. Karstens pitched in 30 games (26 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 104 games (67 starts) in his first four years with the Pirates and he is 18-31 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Karstens has now pitched in 119 games (76 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 21-36 with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Pirates would be ecstatic if Karstens could repeat his 2011 production in 2012.

Brad Lincoln: 26-year old righty Brad Lincoln will likely be the first guy the Pirates call on if something happens to one of the other starters. Lincoln pitched in 12 games (8 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 2-3 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He has now pitched in 23 games (17 starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 3-7 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. The Pirates still like Lincoln, but he needs to pitch better when he gets the chance in 2012.

Jeff Locke: 24-year old righty Jeff Locke got a rude introduction to the show last year. He pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 0-3 with a 6.48 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Locke also pitched in 28 games (27 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 8-10 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Locke will likely get another shot for the Pirates in 2012, so he better be ready.

Jo-Jo Reyes: 27-year old lefty Jo-Jo Reyes is a longshot to make the Pirates’ starting rotation. He pitched in 29 games (25 starts) for the Blue Jays and Orioles last year and he was 7-11 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Reyes has now pitched in 70 games (62 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 12-26 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. If Reyes is starting games for the Pirates in 2012, something has gone horribly wrong for them.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: C

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.