PITTSBURGH — The Pirates have eight remaining arbitration eligible\u2019s players and have until Monday to offer arbitration before the midnight deadline. Those players include Jason Grilli, Joel Hanrahan, Garrett Jones, Jeff Karstens, Evan Meek, Charlie Morton, Chris Resop and Jose Veras.<\/p>\n
Hanrahan, Jones, Karstens, Meek, Morton and Resop are expected back next season. Grilli and Veras both were solid for the Bucs in 2011 and could return to shutdown the late innings in the \u2018pen as well.<\/p>\n
Below is how each bucco fared last season.<\/p>\n
Grilli, 35, posted a 1.93 ERA with Triple-A Leigh High Valley before signing as a free agent with Pittsburgh in July. Grilli made 28 appearance with the Pirates were he posted a 2.48 ERA over 32.2 innings of relief. Grilli also notched his first save –his third of his career and first in the Majors since 2009.<\/p>\n
Hanrahan, 30, was named to the National League All-Star game in his first full season as the Pirates closer. Hanrahan was one of six pitchers to notch at least 40 saves in 2011, and only the third in bucco history to accomplish that feat. Hanrahan finished with a 1.83 ERA over 70 appearances.<\/p>\n
Karstens, 29, had a team-leading 3.38 ERA while spending his first full season in Pittsburgh. Karstens begun the season in the bullpen, but established himself in the rotation by career-highs in wins (nine), starts (26), innings pitched (162.1) and strikeouts (96).<\/p>\n
Meek, 28, landed on the disabled list twice and missed a lot of the season with shoulder tendonitis. Coming off an All-Star season in 2010, Meek had a 3.48 ERA over 24 appearances in Pittsburgh this season. Despite an injury plagued year, Meek is expected back next season to fill in the late inning role.<\/p>\n
Morton, 28, led the staff with 171.2 innings pitched and his 10 wins finished second on the team, trailing only Kevin Correia (12). Morton surrendered just six home runs over the 2011 season –which was the fewest among all Major League pitchers with at least 110.0 innings pitched. Morton finished the season with a 3.83 ERA.<\/p>\n
Resop, 29, established career-highs in games and innings pitched with Pittsburgh in 2011. He ranked ninth among all NL relief pitchers in innings pitched (69.2) and eighth in strikeouts (79). Resop posted a 4.39 ERA over 76 appearances.<\/p>\n
Veras, 31, established career-highs in appearances (79), innings pitched (71.0) and strikeouts (79) with Pittsburgh last season. He was tied for second among NL relievers in appearances, trailing only Jonny Venters of Atlanta. Veras finished with a\u00a0 3.80 ERA.<\/p>\n
Photo credit: Yahoo! Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PITTSBURGH — The Pirates have eight remaining arbitration eligible\u2019s players and have until Monday to offer arbitration before the midnight deadline. Those players include Jason Grilli, Joel Hanrahan, Garrett Jones, Jeff Karstens, Evan Meek, Charlie Morton, Chris Resop and Jose Veras. Hanrahan, Jones, Karstens, Meek, Morton and Resop are expected back next season. Grilli and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[659,731,730,1302,622,729,1127,425,619],"class_list":["post-9131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional","tag-charlie-morton","tag-chris-resop","tag-evan-meek","tag-jason-grilli","tag-jeff-karstens","tag-joel-hanrahan","tag-jose-veras","tag-pirates","tag-pittsburgh"],"yoast_head":"\n