E6 - Pirates Decline Cedeno's Option

Unbelievable.

Everyone expected the Pirates to pass on the options of Paul Maholm and Ryan Doumit, but now the news comes out that they have also passed on Ronny Cedeno and will let him test free agency.

This one is just mind boggling. Sure, Cedeno is by no means a great shortstop, he's not even that good of a player, however, when you look at the Pirates situation, it makes all the sense in the world to bring him back.

Cedeno looks like an all-star when you compare him to Chase d'Arnaud and Pedro Ciriaco, who are the next best options in the system right now, and Cedeno would have only cost the Pirates $3 million for next year.

The improvement that Cedeno gives you over d'Arnaud and Ciriaco is EASILY worth $3 million, there is no arguing that. I understand he isn't the guy for the future, but right now it makes absolutely no sense to not bring him back.

Maybe management has plans at bringing someone in from the outside, but that seems unlikely to me. We'll have to see how it all plays out, but things aren't looking great for the 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates right now.

Much more to come on this and other subjects later.