External Transactions

Baseball is fairly unique.  Twenty-five players comprise a major league squad, but an organization has contractual control over significantly more than that amount.  They are prospects - players in the minor leagues.  Take a glance at a major league team today and a good portion of their players were in that teams farm system in the past.  That's one of the focuses of Buried Treasure - examining and evaluating the minor league system of the Pittsburgh Pirates because it's the lifeblood and foundation of the major league team.

However, there is more to baseball.  There are other ways to put players on the twenty-five man major league roster than through internal promotion from the farm system.  External transactions and acquisitions happen.  They play a role in the formation and future of an organization.  Often they are free agent signings, but trades are also included.  A majority of these notable external transactions involve major league players.  On Buried Treasure, that's Jimmy's expertise, although I will chime in from time to time.  Below is a list of articles - sorted by date - that cover external transactions performed by the Pirates.

01/21/2013 - Pirates Finally Set to Sign Francisco Liriano
01/17/2013 - Karstens Deal Finalized; Zach Stewart Designated for Assignment
01/17/2013 - Brad Hawpe Signed to Minor League Deal; Invited to Spring Training
01/16/2013 - Pirates sign Catcher Nick Hutchings
01/14/2013 - Jeff Karstens To Return to the Pirates
01/11/2013 - Pirates Sign Catcher Lucas May
01/10/2013 - Pirates Acquire Jeanmar Gomez
01/08/2013 - Liriano Picks up Injury, Deal with Pirates in Doubt
12/26/2012 - Joel Hanrahan Traded to Red Sox
12/22/2012 - Pirates, Red Sox Agree on Hanrahan Deal
12/21/2012 - Pirates and Francisco Agree to Two-Year Deal