Pirates cut Hart, name McCutchen fifth starter
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates completed their starting rotation this morning by cutting struggling Kevin Hart and naming Daniel McCutchen to the fifth spot.
Hart was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis, as were reliever Chris Jakubauskas and third baseman Neil Walker. Outfielder Brian Myrow, catcher Hector Gimenez and relievers Brian Burres, Wil Ledezma and Jean Machi were reassigned to minor league camp.
The camp roster is at 37.
Hart had a 15.43 ERA in Grapefruit League games and, in the eight total innings he pitched, walked a stunning 17 batters.
McCutchen has a 2.25 ERA in Grapefruit games and has walked one batter all spring.
General manager Neal Huntington stressed that, even though the fifth starter was settled, it might not stay that way. The Pirates have three off-days in the opening 15 days of their regular season, so the fifth starter is set to pitch just one game in that span: April 11 in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The fifth starter's next appearance would be April 24 in Houston.
Walker, a graduate of Pine-Richland High School, will expand from third base in Indianapolis to play right field, first base and perhaps second base, Huntington said.
Jakubauskas, claimed off waivers from Seattle, will vy for a spot in Indianapolis' rotation after a spring in which his fastball lost some life.
First Published March 23, 2010 8:33 am
