NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jason Grilli is in the house, and heading toward agreeing to terms. Somewhere.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that Grilli's agent said Grilli is nearing a deal, but would not specify where. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that 10 teams are in on Grilli.
What happens with Grilli will knock over some of the dominoes -- as such chains of events are called at the winter meetings -- and influence the Pirates' plans.
If Grilli decides to return to the Pirates, it makes it easier for the Pirates to trade Joel Hanrahan, though it still would not be a given. The Pirates won't trade Hanrahan for the sake of trading him. Grilli would give them a reliable closer for the next two years, assuming he signs a multi-year deal, until they can figure out another solution.
Signing Grilli also represents a risk for Neal Huntington. As well as Grilli pitched as a Pirate, he is 36, making the prospect of repeating his performance no guarantee. The last thing the Pirates need to do is spend, say, $7 million over two years on a reliever who is not effective. I don't see Grilli's effectiveness dropping off that sharply, but it is a possibility.
If Grilli goes elsewhere, will it change the Pirates' mindset on trading Hanrahan?
If there are several other teams involved, I find it unlikely that the Pirates win that bidding war. I say this not because of the money but because of how they would be spending it. Spending $17 million on a catcher who will play 130 games a season for two years is something the Pirates will do, but I'm not sure about spending heavily on a setup man who will pitch 60 innings.
-- Photo courtesy of Joe Sargent/Getty Images
First Published: March 24, 2016, 5:18 p.m.
