The Pirates have signed Vinnie Chulk to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, according to Rob Biertempfel via Twitter. That makes five NRI's the Pirates have going in to Spring Training.
Chulk is a pretty good risk in my opinion. He had a down year last year with Cleveland, posting a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings, but that was mostly luck as he had a 3.0 K/9 and a 7.5 BB/9 (no, I didn't reverse those). However, in 2007-08, Chulk pitched for San Francisco, combining for a 4.04 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, and a 2.3 BB/9 in 84.2 innings. His best season was 2007 in which he pitched 53 innings with a 3.57 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, a 7.0 K/9, and a 2.4 BB/9.
Chulk turns 31 later this month. The off-season tracker is updated with the signing.
Chulk is a pretty good risk in my opinion. He had a down year last year with Cleveland, posting a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings, but that was mostly luck as he had a 3.0 K/9 and a 7.5 BB/9 (no, I didn't reverse those). However, in 2007-08, Chulk pitched for San Francisco, combining for a 4.04 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, and a 2.3 BB/9 in 84.2 innings. His best season was 2007 in which he pitched 53 innings with a 3.57 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, a 7.0 K/9, and a 2.4 BB/9.
Chulk turns 31 later this month. The off-season tracker is updated with the signing.
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